Leave the road; take the trails.
― Pythagoras
Our hiking trails are free and open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from dawn to dusk. The Sanctuary maintains 669 acres with 8.5 miles of interconnecting trails. Frequently asked questions are below.
Our Natural Science Museum, located at the entrance to our preserve, is home to live animals (including rabbits, birds, and turtles) and educational exhibits. Our two restrooms are located within. Entry is free and the building is open 7 days a week, 9 AM - 5 PM. There are picnic tables located around the Nature Center which are ideal for eating your lunch and for bird watching.
Our Store is located in our Nature Center. We sell books, t-shirts, genuine New York Maple Syrup, and more. Purchases help support Westmoreland’s trails, conservation work, and educational programs. All members receive a 10% discount on regularly-priced store items.
We also have a Terrace Garden, located next to our Nature Center. This fully fenced-in area features a pond which is home to frogs and turtles. It also has a playhouse and benches and is ideal for picnicking. The Garden is a favorite of small children, their parents, and individuals who need a place to relax. It is also wheelchair accessible.
Gallery of Our Preserve
Frequently Asked Questions
Our trails, parking and Natural Science Museum are free. Generous donations by our visitors help maintain the preserve and are deeply appreciated. Donations can be made at the Natural Science Museum, our kiosks, or online.
Yes. Additionally, our trail intersections have permanent maps and are numbered to help you orient yourself. We also have trail maps available at our kiosks, inside the Natural Science Museum, and online.
The Easy Loop trail (the tan trail located in the center of the Educational Campus map below) is great for kids and takes you down to Bechtel Lake, which has benches and dock for observing wildlife. The Educational Campus also has tree identification signs and a fern garden located off of Easy Loop trail.
Yes. Over 300 species of birds have been documented at Westmoreland Sanctuary. We have a variety of habitats including fields, forest, streams, and three different ponds. These are home to diverse birdlife including warblers, sparrows, raptors, and waterfowl. We offer programs for bird lovers of all experience levels.
In our Natural Science Museum, we have a bird-watching window and comfortable couches located on the second floor. This window looks out onto our feeders where you can see birds such as American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, and Baltimore Orioles.
We also have nesting boxes located in Wheeler Field (Point of Interest 13, located at Intersection 1, the intersection between Easy Loop and Catbird trail) and Catbird Field (Point of Interest 18, located along Catbird trail) which are utilized by different songbirds, including Eastern Bluebirds.
Westmoreland also is a federally licensed bird-banding station. We have partnered with Westchester Community College for their Nature & the Environment series. We offer courses in bird banding, winter tree identification, salamanders, and snakes.
- No dogs
- No smoking
- No alcohol
- No littering
- No fires or barbecues
- No camping, skiing, ice skating, swimming, bicycling, or motorized vehicles
- No fishing, hunting, or trapping
- No collecting plants, animals, or natural objects
We love seeing and caring for our wildlife friends and we cannot do that effectively if we allow dogs on to the preserve.
Dogs scare away the very animals we work to protect. The dogs’ predator smell will linger for hours, days, and even weeks afterwards– driving away other animals, sometimes permanently.
Our water is clean and potable (rated AA-S by the NYS Department of Conservation) and is used by over 100,000 residences in New York and Connecticut. Dog waste accounts for as much 30% of the bacteria found in reservoirs. It is important that our water remains clean for our wildlife and people like you. For more information about our conservation work, click here.
BOOKS
- Birding, Gardening, and Hiking Guides
- Plant and Critter Identification Guides
GIFTS
- Jewelry
- Westmoreland sweatshirts, shirts, and hats
- Wildflower packets
- Animal stationery
CHILDREN'S ITEMS
- Books
- Animal Figures
- Bracelets
- Toys
Yes, all members receive a 10% discount.
From the North:
Take I-684 South and get off at Exit 4 toward Mount Kisco/Bedford. Turn right onto NY-172 N/W. Turn left onto Chestnut Ridge Road.
From the South:
Take I-684 North and get off at Exit 3N. Take NY-22 North/Armonk Bedford Road/Bedford Road and turn left onto Chestnut Ridge Road.
Westmoreland is closed for the following holidays:
- New Year's Eve & New Year's Day
- Thanksgiving and the Friday following Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
No, the care of injured wildlife is only allowed to be done by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. These individuals are licensed by the State of NY to take care for injured wildlife. For a list of wildlife rehabilitators visit the Department of Environmental Conservation website to find a rehabilitator in your area.