North Woods Nature Preserve - Ballston Lake (NY)

3 /5 Mary Esch: Pretty pond and stream, some nice trails through a wooded ravine in the middle of the Country Knolls neighborhood. No parking lot, you just park beside the curb between two houses. The trail goes along back yards for a ways. The pond is picturesque and there’s a nice bench beside it. There are more mosquitoes than I’ve seen in any hike this summer. Incredible numbers. Maybe that’s why my dog and I had the place all to ourselves on a sunny July afternoon. One good point is that trails are largely sandy, making them far less muddy than in some area nature preserves.

5 /5 Ben Kagan: this is a lovely nature preserve in the middle of a nice family friendly neighborhood. the fact that children can explore the woods in a safe environment close to their home is invaluable. several eagle scout projects have been completed in this area to increase accessibility and safety. seeing the change of season in this natural habitat is beautiful.

5 /5 Jeremy Herrey: Very nice woods and a beautiful pond with a bench. Very relaxing and surprisingly serene given the location.

4 /5 Terry Hudson: Weird area to start but then it gets quiet. Was there after a rain and it was a bit smelly and buggy but overall well maintained and easy to follow. Good for a short beginner hike with kids.

1 /5 Jeff Kuhne: This is mostly trails through Country Knolls. They go behind peoples houses and are uncomfortably close to where families with children are. People who have a small amount of forest equivalent in most places to a 40 or 50 foot wide swath of trees with a trickling stream bed going through it arent pleased to have strangers walking through their back yards where their children are. So dont be surprised if the Sheriff is called if you plan to hike these areas. They are in many places impassable without going on to home owners properties to get around muddy areas. If you want to hike an actual nature preserve in Clifton Park, consider the area around Vishers Ferry.