Trail Talk: Sylvan Glen Park Preserve

As soon as I saw those tracks, I knew it would be a magical hike. The obvious claw marks and the size, a little over an inch long, led me to believe that they came from a canine. Usually when I see canine tracks they lead me to some kind of adventure. I pointed them out to my hiking partner, and we decided to put ourselves in the paws of a fox for a while. As we walked, we looked a few feet ahead for the next track. We followed those tracks like a couple of eight year olds on a treasure hunt.

The tracks followed the trail in a straight line for a while, and then veered to the left up a rocky ledge. We lost the tracks, but as we followed the trail, we found them again and noticed that this fox had been following the trail as well. Then came the magic. The fox, and the trail, had brought us straight to an abandoned quarry site.

Looking around, we could see granite structures, metal machinery, cables, and the pinnacle: an old, deep quarry. My trail partner and I looked around gingerly with our minds on safety. Looking down into the quarry was an exhilarating but slightly unnerving experience. My imagination ran wild, as I saw history nestled between the trees and underneath leaves and vines. I imagined workers mining the rocks and running the pulleys to drag huge chunks of granite up and out of the quarry hole.

Sylvan Glen Park Preserve was once a nineteenth century granite quarry owned by Mohegan Granite. They supplied honey-colored granite to many places, including the cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City. In the 1920’s, the quarry was modernized with diesel-electric generators and, with hundreds of workers, it was the largest employer in Yorktown. The business continued until 1941, when a decrease in manpower due to the war, as well as a decrease in demand for granite, led to the end of the company. In 1981 the property, which now totals 180 acres by including adjoining properties, was purchased by the town of Yorktown. 

Sylvan Glen Park Preserve is an excellent and easy day hike. The trail system totals just below three miles and, despite a couple steep ascents, it is a relatively easy hike for a relaxed afternoon. The most interesting route to take is the High Quarry Trail. Take the white trail from the parking lot to the blue trail loop. The blue trail leads you to a view down into a granite pit. You will also see pieces of abandoned quarry equipment, a rock bridge, and even an old explosive shed made out of stone. There are no longer explosions in the quarries, but if you are lucky, that sly fox may just reveal itself in its own bright, rust-colored flash.                     

Get There and Hike: From Route 202 West, turn right onto Lexington Avenue. After 0.6 miles, turn right onto Morris Lane. Go straight and the parking lot will be ahead at the bottom of the hill. Always remember when hiking to check the map and weather before you go out. A water bottle and tick repellant is a must. Be careful around the quarries, there are still loose stones and potentially unsafe areas if you leave the trail.