Operated by Saw Mill River Audubon
The park today
Graff Sanctuary occupies a wooded ridge above the Hudson River in the Town of Cortlandt, between Furnace Dock Road on the north and Briggs Lane on the east. Three short blazed trails — about 1.2 miles in all — wind among mature trees (tulip trees give one trail its name), rock outcrops and glacial erratics, with river views from the blue River View Trail. Great horned owls nest in the sanctuary, typically beginning by February, and their calls can sometimes be heard in late afternoon or early morning. There are no restrooms or other public facilities.
History
Howard Graff donated this 29-acre woodland ridge property to the National Audubon Society in 1975, with Saw Mill River Audubon (SMRA), the local Audubon chapter, managing it. In 1991 ownership of Graff Sanctuary was transferred outright to SMRA, which has held and maintained it since.
The property carries traces of earlier use: stone walls, several glacial erratics and other rock formations, and a small historical stone structure believed to have been used for water storage.
Trails
From SMRA's official trail map: Tulip Tree Trail (white, 0.47 mi), Jack-in-the-Pulpit Trail (red, 0.31 mi), River View Trail (blue, 0.42 mi). The red trail runs in from the Briggs Lane entrance along a stone wall; the white trail runs the length of the sanctuary from the Furnace Dock Road entrance, passing the old stone structure.
Visiting
- Hours
- Dawn to dusk, seven days a week.
- Parking
- No parking lot. For the easier Briggs Lane entrance (N 41.2257, W 73.9124), park on Briggs Lane itself, taking care not to block neighbors' driveways, then walk up the last driveway on Briggs Lane (SMRA's map notes access up the driveway at 20 Briggs Lane), veering left to follow the red-blazed trail along a stone wall. The other entrance is on Furnace Dock Road (N 41.2274, W 73.9163).
- Getting there
- Briggs Lane runs west off Route 9/Warren Road area south of the village; the sanctuary sits between Briggs Lane and Furnace Dock Road. SMRA describes the end of Briggs Lane as the easiest access.
- Rules
- Free and open to all. Dogs are permitted only on leash and with their owner; SMRA prohibits commercial dog walkers and allows at most two dogs per person. Groups larger than six people or three vehicles must contact the SMRA office in advance.
Accessibility
Natural-surface ridge trails reached by walking up a driveway or from a road shoulder; not wheelchair accessible.
| Step-free access | No |
|---|---|
| Accessible parking | No |
| Accessible restroom | No |
| Surfaces | Unpaved woodland footpaths over a rocky ridge; no restrooms or other public facilities. |
Links
Sources
- Saw Mill River Audubon — Graff Sanctuary — retrieved 2026-08-13
- SMRA Graff Sanctuary trail map (PDF) — retrieved 2026-08-13
- Saw Mill River Audubon — Sanctuaries Overview (hours, dog policy, group policy) — retrieved 2026-08-13
- Village of Croton-on-Hudson Parks Information and Trail Guide (2013) — retrieved 2026-08-13
Researched 2026-08-13.