Quadricentennial Challenge

Catskills Live! Trails & Wilderness Association issues a challenge to all — venture forth and seek all 15 Quadricentennial Challenge geocaches. Go to many great places throughout Ulster County — visit the shores of the Hudson, feel the cool air in an historic cement mine, enjoy our small parks, ride on our rail trails, summit two Catskill peaks, and savor the breath-taking view from Gertrude's Nose in Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Bask in our county's treasures with family and friends, exercise your body, and build lasting memories. Specially minted commemorative Quadricentennial geocoins are being released from Challenge geocaches in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the exploration of New York State by Henry Hudson. All 15 Challenge caches will be available this summer. Funding for the Challenge was provided by Ulster County and the Hudson River Valley Greenway.

Esopus Meadows Preserve

The Esopus Meadows Preserve is located in the Town of Esopus along the Hudson River, south of Kingston, in northeastern Ulster County, New York State. This 93-acre preserve is owned and managed by Scenic Hudson.

Its 3,500 feet of shoreline provide an excellent opportunity to see both the shore of the Hudson River and the 1871 Esopus Lighthouse out in the river. This is the only wooden lighthouse remaining on the Hudson River. The shoreline projects prominently out into the Hudson.

The Preserve's impressive 2-mile trail network encompasses trails along the Hudson River, through woodlands, alongside wetlands, and above the Klyne Esopus Kill.

Scenic Hudson's website provides much information and an excellent map depicting the Preserve's Red (0.6 mile), Blue (0.5 mile), Yellow (0.7 mile), and White (0.2 mile) trails.

In addition to the land trails present, Esopus Meadows Preserve provides a stop with facilities for paddlers from the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail.

Shallow freshwater tidal flats just offshore of the Preserve are among the Hudson River's most important spawning grounds for striped bass. These ³Esopus Meadows² are also important habitat for other fish species including American shad, black bass, white perch, largemouth bass, carp, brown bullhead, yellow perch, and shiners.

No doubt, many of these fish species were of great importance to indigenous Native Americans and to Henry Hudson, as they are today for recreational and commercial fishing.

The Esopus Meadows Preserve actively promotes nature study and outdoor recreation. The Preserve is ideally suited for aquatic educational activities, birdwatching, wildlife observation, hiking, snowshoeing, picnicking, fishing, and various environmental studies.

The environmental center there is open by appointment. Portions of the Preserve are accessible to people with handicapped mobility.

The Cache

The cache is strategically located close to both the White trail (which can readily be accessed via segments of the Blue and Yellow trails) and the Hudson River Water Trail stop along the Hudson River. This cache is superbly located for paddling geocachers. Access via land entails a moderate round-trip hike of about 1.2 miles. The cache consists of a 2-liter cylindrical poly bottle filled with kid-friendly items and, initially, four NYS Quadricentennial Challenge geocoins designed to travel throughout the world. This geocache was approved by Scenic Hudson.

Parking

Please Cache In and Trash Out!