Rushing Creek Preserve

(Buffalo Audubon Society)

Visited January 8, 2023

Google Map Address: The preserve is across the road from 1778 Bard Road, Cassadaga, NY

Parking: Room for 2+ cars along the road edge

27 degrees, no breeze, 10:40-11:15 AM

No restroom facilities available

The preserve is free to enter.

According to the sign, no pets are welcome. Due to the mud, thorns, and briars, I was very happy that I had left Wesley at home.

There were no established walking trails. I followed deer prints for my meander. This preserve has a small tributary of the west branch of Conewango Creek. It was burbling along quite musically for my visit today. Unless you are a diehard birder or tree enthusiast, I would give this site a pass unless the Audubon Society undergoes major trail creation.

I walked .59 miles during my visit. The thorns snatched my hat off my head numerous times; I have tears in my jacket and thorns in my hands. Exploring a new place can be fun, but this was not.

There are no trails. There was less than an inch of snow on the day I visited but the natural space was mostly mud, thorns, and briars.

This is NOT a stroller-friendly environment.

I did not see anyone while on this property.

I did see two empty beverage cans, one near the road.

No mosquitos today but I imagine this would be a mosquito's dream in warmer weather.

I saw deer hoof prints, coyote prints, and squirrel prints. There were mosses, ferns, cattails, goldenrod and a variety of tree species including hemlocks, willows, shagbark, and what I believe were hawthorn.

Audubon web page with brief reference: https://www.buffaloaudubon.org/our-preserves.html

This page has a nice entry about the trees: http://www.ents-bbs.org/viewtopic.php?t=6231

Nearby:

Five miles away where Bard Road and Route 60 meet in Cassadaga, there is a Tim Hortons and a gas station.

As viewed from the road edge.

I followed the deer tracks into the woods.

I parked near this sign on the side of the road.

Looks like someone cut back the brush a bit so the sign could be viewed from the road.

The preserve is across the road from 1778 Bard Road. This may provide a Google Maps reference that could be helpful.

View of the property from the road.

Prickers, briars, and thorns in abundance

First water I crossed.

Rushing Creek

Ferns and cattails. I imagine this is very swampy in the spring.

I followed a deer trail. I climbed up this embankment on my way back to the car.

Once section of the deer trail I followed was very well travelled.

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