The Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a 4,400-acre (1,800ha)county park located in the towns of Pound Ridge and Lewisboro in Westchester County, New York. It is the largest park in the county and offers diverse terrain, extensive hiking trails, nature programs, and recreational facilities.
History
Originally part of the Cortlandt Manor land grant, the area began as farmland in the early 1700s.
In 1925, Westchester County acquired over 4,000 acres (1,600ha) to form Pound Ridge Reservation. It was renamed in 1938 to honor William L. Ward, the county park supervisor and key parks advocate.
From 1933 to 1940, it hosted a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp (SP‑9 / Camp Merkel), where workers constructed trails, picnic shelters, bridges, and the Trailside Museum.
Geography and ecology
Spanning nearly 7sqmi (1,800ha), the reservation includes mixed hardwood forests, streams, wetlands, and sandstone ridges. It contains over 35 miles of marked trails used for hiking, cross‑country skiing, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Landmarks include:
Trailside Nature Museum: a nature education center built by the CCC, showcasing native wildlife.
Boutonville Oak: an ancient oak tree of local legend and ecological significance.
Recreation and facilities
The park supports year-round activities:
over 35mi (56km) of multi-use trails
Cross‑country skiing and snow‑shoeing in winter
Camping with lean‑tos and vintage CCC-era shelters
Fishing, picnicking, and educational programming at the Trailside Museum
It is also host to several organized events and athletic competitions, including the annual Leatherman's Loop, a 6.2mi (10km) trail race.
Ecological importance
A large and contiguous wildland buffer near suburban areas, the reservation provides habitat for various wildlife species and helps preserve region-wide ecological connectivity.
↑Kjellström, Björn (1983). Ward Pound Ridge Reservation N.Y.: a Westchester County nature reservation and recreation area: recreation map, hiking--jogging--ski touring--orienteering / this map sponsored by SILVA Division of Johnson Camping, Inc., Binghampton [sic], N.Y. Pound Ridge, N.Y.: Bjorn Kjellstrom and Nature Museum of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation [distributor]. LCCN84697492.
↑Pessoni, Philip A. (July 1995). Historical notes on the great south lots 9 & 10 and the undivided lands behind Bedford of the Van Cortlandt Manor, 1640-1940: now known as the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Boutonville, New York: P.A. Pessoni. LCCN96110041.
