Pember Nature Preserve

The Pember Nature Preserve, donated to the Pember Library and Museum in 1979, encompasses 125 acres of forest, wetland and fields on both sides of Black Creek, a tributary of the Battenkill. The mission of the Pember Nature Preserve is to provide a refuge for the region’s native wildlife and plant species.

Over two miles of trails wind through the Preserve, marked by a system of blazes and wooden signs. Visitors to the marsh walk on elevated walkways and a footbridge is over Black Creek. An observation platform at the edge of Black Creek allows people to observe wetland wildlife. In 1987, at the Granville School District deeded the Porter Schoolhouse to the Pember Library and Museum for use as a nature education center. The neglected one room schoolhouse has been restored and has been in use as a classroom since 1990. The Porter Schoolhouse is one point of entry to the Preserve; the other is located at the south side of the Preserve on South Grimes Hill Road.

The Preserve is under the umbrella organization of the Pember and the Museum staff function also as the Preserve staff. Seasonal naturalists are hired for the summer months, and function as staff for the Porter Schoolhouse, offering special programs and hikes each weekend during the summer.

Eight nature trails are available for use at the Preserve, open year round from dawn to dusk. Individual walks range from .25 miles to almost 2 miles, varying from easy strolls to moderate hikes. Trail maps are available at both entrances to the Preserve and at the Pember Museum. No emergency telephone, toilet or drinking water facilities are available at the Preserve.

The Pember Library and Museum of Natural History maintain the Pember Nature Preserve as an outdoor education classroom and a sanctuary for native plants and animals. We are conserving a variety of natural habitats, and developing the preserve in a way that will serve the public interest and have limited impact on its natural character. Primary Access Points And Trail Heads
The Pember Nature Preserve is located eight miles south of Granville on Route 22 in the town of Hebron. The Preserve has two entrances for your convenience. One is on route 22 halfway between Salem & Granville at the porter schoolhouse. The other entrance is north of the school on South Grimes Hill Road approximately 1/8 mile west of Route 22.

Wildlife Species Often Seen
Wild Turkey, Great Horned Owl, River Otter, Wood Duck, Canada Geese, Black Bear, Bobcat, Moose, White Tailed Deer, Black Capped Chickadee, Woodcock, Ruffed Grouse, Wood Turtle, Painted Turtle, Garter Snake, Ribbon Snake, Coyote, Green Frog, Spotted Salamander, Red Spotted Newt

Best Seasons And Times For Viewing
View the wildlife year round at the Preserve.

Don’t Miss This When Visiting
Woodland Wildflowers – Lady Slipper Orchids, Trillium and Jack in the Pulpit

Related Sites Or Experiences
Pember Museum of Natural History

Additional Notes
Please observe these rules while visiting the Pember Nature Preserve:

No hunting, trapping or fishing
No motor vehicles of any kind
No horses or pets on trails
No picnics, camping or fires
No collecting, picking of flowers or digging of plants
Fees
no
ADA Accessible
no
Tours Are Offered
yes
Site is Child-friendly
yes
Site is Pet-friendly
no
Comments
My family and I tried hiking through these trails this weekend and everything was grown over and could barely get though. Needs way better up keep. We ended up turning around and going to Carter’s pond in Greenwich. Much better trails.

Mandy, 6/18/2016

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