Outdoors: History, scenery on a Hennig Preserve hike

Despite the preserve's proximity to the Capital Region — it's only about 20 miles west of Saratoga Springs — its remoteness, the tall trees and the little streams give it a distinct North Woods feel.

[...] it's located just south of the Adirondack "blue line."

The Hennig family donated the preserve's 606 acres to the community-based conservation organization Saratoga Preserving Land and Nature (PLAN) in 2010.

[...] volunteers have established a network of trails, tying the preserve to adjacent county forest lands.

In the parking area, a former preserve volunteer pulled over his pick-up truck to chat and began extolling the esker — a unique geologic formation — to be found on the preserve's blue trail and old charcoal pits that can be seen along the white trail.

There are additional cellar holes beyond the ones I saw close to the trail, and the remains of several more mills can be found along Cadman Creek.

[...] if the hiking at the Hennig Preserve ever gets old, the LeVine Preserve, also owned by Saratoga PLAN and located just a short distance away on Center Line Road, offers another 177 acres to explore.