Berry Pond Preserve

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Last Updated: December 20, 2025

Berry Pond Preserve is a 285-acre nature preserve located in the town of Pittsford, New York.


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Summary

The preserve is known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse habitats, including wetlands, meadows, and woodlands. There are several good reasons to visit Berry Pond Preserve, including hiking, birdwatching, and nature photography. Visitors can explore the many trails that wind through the preserve, or enjoy a picnic in one of the designated areas.

One of the main points of interest at Berry Pond Preserve is the eponymous Berry Pond, which offers a serene and peaceful setting for visitors to enjoy. The pond is home to a variety of aquatic plants and animals, including fish, frogs, and turtles. In addition, the preserve is home to several species of rare and endangered plants and animals, making it an important site for conservation efforts.

Interesting facts about Berry Pond Preserve include its history as a former farm and quarry, which has left a lasting impact on the landscape. The preserve is also home to several unique geological features, such as glacial erratics and bedrock outcroppings.

The best time of year to visit Berry Pond Preserve is in the spring and summer, when the weather is mild and the flora and fauna are in full bloom. However, the preserve is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy hiking and snowshoeing in the winter months.

Overall, Berry Pond Preserve is a beautiful and unique natural area that is well worth a visit for anyone interested in exploring the natural wonders of New York.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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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