Stewart State Forest Explained

Stewart State Forest
Map:New York
Location:Orange County, New York, US
Nearest City:Newburgh
Coordinates:41.493°N -74.16°W
Area:6700acres
Established:1999
Governing Body:New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Stewart State Forest is a state forest in Orange County, New York, United States. It is located West of Stewart International Airport and North of Rock Tavern. It comprises a mix of wetlands, fields and forest.

It offers of gravel roads and of hiking trails.[1] Activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, bird watching and fishing.

Wildlife includes white-tailed deer, coyotes, bobcats, wild turkeys, great blue herons and hawks.

History

Most of Stewart State Forest land was formerly in farm or residential use. It was acquired in the 1970s by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to establish and develop Stewart International Airport.[2]

In March 1999, New York State Governor George Pataki announced the effective transfer of 5,200 acres from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to permanently preserve the land. Another 1,600 acres were transferred in June 2006.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stewart State Forest . New York State Department of Environmental Conservation . June 29, 2022.
  2. Web site: Stewart State Forest Unit Management Plan, December 2006. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation . June 29, 2022.