Bayard Cutting Arboretum
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 6, 2025
Bayard Cutting Arboretum is a 691-acre public park located in Great River, New York.
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Summary
It was created by William Bayard Cutting and his wife Olivia in the early 20th century as a place to preserve and display trees and plants. There are many good reasons to visit, including its scenic beauty, diverse plant life, and historical significance.
Some specific points of interest to see at Bayard Cutting Arboretum include the Main House, which is a Georgian-style mansion built in 1928 and now serves as a visitor center and event space. The Formal Garden is also a must-see, with its terraced lawns, fountains, and statuary. The Arboretum also boasts over 3 miles of trails for hikers and bird watchers, as well as a pond and several streams.
Interesting facts about the area include that it was originally inhabited by the Secatogue tribe of Native Americans, and that the land was acquired by William Bayard Cutting in 1886. He and his wife began planting trees and developing the property into an arboretum in the early 1900s. The property was later donated to the New York State Park Service in 1953.
The best time of year to visit Bayard Cutting Arboretum is in the spring and summer months when the gardens are in full bloom. The park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy various events and programs throughout the year, including guided tours, concerts, and holiday celebrations.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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