Events

John Burroughs Slabsides Geology Ramble

Location

John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary at Slabsides
500 Burroughs Drive, off Floyd Ackert Rd.
West Park, NY 12493

County: Ulster
Region: Mid Hudson

Date(s)

• August 30, 2025, 9:00AM (rain or shine)

Detailed Times/Hours 9:00 am to approximately 11:00 pm. Rain or shine. Afterwards, from 11:30 am until 4:00 pm, you are invited to tour John Burroughs' rustic 1895 cabin retreat "Slabsides," a National Historic Landmark and a Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area of Special interest. Through works written there about nature, John Burroughs had a profound impact on the emerging conservation movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. He inspired generations of readers to head out of doors and national leaders to preserve land and its wildlife.

Details

Event Type Walk/Hike Description The rocks were one of naturalist John Burroughs' favorite aspects of the Slabsides location, but even he did not realize that the rocks represented sediments eroded from a Himalayan-scale mountain range nearly 400 million years ago. Since they were deposited in a shallow sea, the sediments were repeatedly caught in continental collisions, which bent them and stood them literally on end. As if that wasn't enough, they were most recently scraped clean by a mile-thick sheet of glacial ice which melted a mere 14,000 years ago. Join former Vassar College professor of earth sciences Jeff Walker for a hike to read the many stories in the rocks of the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary. The trails are part of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail System. SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Organization Hosting the Event John Burroughs Association Phone Number (845) 384-6556 Contact Email joan@johnburroughsassociation.org

Registration

Advance registration required.
August 27, 2025, info@johnburroughsassociation.org Register early as space is limited.

Additional Information

Tallus piles and some moderately rough terrain on well-developed trails, many with stone pathways and steps.
Additional Equipment Required: Wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes and considered bringing bring water and bug repellent.

Trip Duration (hours): 2
Difficulty: Moderate
This event is NOT Suitable for children under: 12
Length (miles): 1.5
Boots Needed: No

Family Friendly: Yes
Barrier Free or Wheelchar accessible? No