Rushing Stream (or Creek) Preserve

Visited January 8, 2023

Google Map Address: The preserve is across the road from 1778 Bard Road, Cassadaga, NY

Parking: Room for 2+ cars along the road edge

27 degrees, no breeze, 10:40-11:15 AM

No restroom facilities available

The preserve is free to enter.

According to the sign, no pets are welcome.  Due to the mud, thorns, and briars, I was very happy that I had left Wesley at home.

There were no established walking trails.  I followed deer prints for my meander.  This preserve has a small tributary of the west branch of Conewango Creek.  It was burbling along quite musically for my visit today.  Unless you are a diehard birder or tree enthusiast, I would give this site a pass unless the Audubon Society undergoes major trail creation.

I walked .59 miles during my visit.  The thorns snatched my hat off my head numerous times; I have tears in my jacket and thorns in my hands.  Exploring a new place can be fun, but this was not.

There are no trails.  There was less than an inch of snow on the day I visited but the natural space was mostly mud, thorns, and briars.  

This is NOT a stroller-friendly environment.

I did not see anyone while on this property.

I did see two empty beverage cans, one near the road.

No mosquitos today but I imagine this would be a mosquito's dream in warmer weather.

I saw deer hoof prints, coyote prints, and squirrel prints.  There were mosses, ferns, cattails, goldenrod and a variety of tree species including hemlocks, willows, shagbark, and what I believe were hawthorn.

Audubon web page with brief reference: https://www.buffaloaudubon.org/our-preserves.html

This page has a nice entry about the trees:  http://www.ents-bbs.org/viewtopic.php?t=6231

Nearby:

Five miles away where Bard Road and Route 60 meet in Cassadaga, there is a Tim Hortons and a gas station.