Jane E. Lytle Memorial Arboretum

The park today

The arboretum is a quiet woods-and-wetland preserve wrapped around a large central swamp, with streams, mature woods and abundant birdlife. A rough hiking loop circles the swamp with several branch offshoots, and the quarter-mile boardwalk lets visitors — including wheelchair users — get out over the wet woods to the gazebo. It is a carry-in, carry-out preserve with no restrooms or other facilities.

The arboretum is also a node in the village trail network: the Highland Trail connects from the north, linking the arboretum to Saw Mill River Audubon's Brinton Brook Sanctuary, and a ten-foot-wide easement across the High Oaks subdivision connects the trails east to Hixson Road.

History

The arboretum began with about 20 acres of woods donated in 1983 by philanthropist Samuel Rubin, with deed restrictions limiting future use to wildlife habitat and conservation education. The Village of Croton-on-Hudson holds the property; in 1994 local residents incorporated the nonprofit Croton Arboretum and Sanctuary, Inc. to create and steward a nature preserve on the Rubin land under a renewable lease from the village, with the village and the Town of Cortlandt each appointing liaisons.

In 1995 the preserve was renamed the Jane E. Lytle Memorial Arboretum in memory of Jane E. Lytle, one of the organization's founding directors, after her death. The preserve later grew to roughly 22 acres with the addition of a two-acre parcel from the estate of Irwin Mann, which was rezoned PRE (Parks, Recreation and Education) to prevent future development; published accounts date the addition to 2004 and the rezoning to 2010.

Volunteers built the trail system — hiking paths around the central swamp, bridges over streams and wetlands, and a quarter-mile wheelchair-accessible boardwalk (designed by Dan Ferguson Sr. of Ferguson Carpentry, Inc.) with bench pullouts and a large gazebo for wildlife observation. The organization runs educational programs and has hosted Eagle Scout projects and garden tours.

Trails

A loop trail system circles the central swamp with branch offshoots, plus the quarter-mile wheelchair-accessible boardwalk with bench pullouts and a gazebo. Connections: the village Highland Trail from the north (continuing to Brinton Brook Sanctuary) and a 10-foot easement to Hixson Road on the east. The nonprofit posts a trail map on its website; the arboretum also appears on the village trails guide map.

Visiting

Hours

Dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, except during severe weather. The Fox Lane gate closes at dusk, after which cars cannot exit.

Parking

A small parking lot at the end of the entrance road at 10 Fox Lane; the access road crosses the Hudson National Golf Club property and is open during daylight hours. A bike rack is near the parking area (bicycles are not allowed on the trails).

Getting there

Enter from Fox Lane: the entrance road crosses the golf course to the arboretum's small lot. On foot, the arboretum can also be reached via the Highland Trail from Brinton Brook Sanctuary or the end of Arrowcrest Road, and via the easement path from Hixson Road.

Rules

Free. Carry in, carry out. Dogs must be leashed; walk only on cleared trails. No bicycles on trails, no fires or grills, no hunting or trapping, no removal of plants, no foraging. The preserve does not spray for insects — bring repellent in season.

Accessibility

Links

• Croton Arboretum and Sanctuary, Inc. (official site)
• Visitor information
• Trail map
• Village of Croton Parks & Trails Guide (PDF)