Phillips Creek State Forest
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
1,682 acres3.4 mi of trail
3-Red Trail1-Yellow Trail2-Red Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Ward
Few parks or trails are on the map in Ward
The biggest trail networks: Phillips Creek State Forest (3.4 mi), Plumbottom State Forest (0.9 mi), Vandermark State Forest (0.7 mi). 25% of Ward’s land is conserved, about 4,649 acres. 4,677 acres are parks and preserves, 12,181 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
25%
4,649 acres · of 29.2 sq mi of land
Trails
8.2 mi
0.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
4,677 ac
12,181 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
59%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
2,303 ft
Bliven Hill
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Phillips Creek State Forest, with 3.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Plumbottom State Forest
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
586 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Vandermark State Forest
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
2,354 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Palmer's Pond State Forest
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
26 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Who protects it
4,649 conserved acres
25% of Ward’s land. Who manages Ward’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation4,649 ac
State Conservation Area · 4,649 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vandermark State Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 2,355 | Open |
| Phillips Creek State Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 1,683 | Open |
| Plumbottom State Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 585 | Open |
| Palmer'S Pond State Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 26 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Ward
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Peaks in Ward
Bliven Hill2,303 ft elevation
DirectionsCampgrounds in Ward
State Route 244 Horse CampIn Phillips Creek State Forest · NYDEC
DirectionsTrails & water
3 named trails
Named trails
Horses · 2.9 miUnpaved · 2.6 mi
3-Red Trail1.7 mi
1-Yellow Trail0.7 mi
2-Red Trail0.5 mi
When to get out
The best walking months in Ward: May, August and September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 15.2 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 34 | 42 | 56 | 68 | 75 | 79 | 77 | 70 | 58 | 46 | 35 |
| Rain (in) | 2.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
February is the driest month (2.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 79 °F). 4.2 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Ward →
Next door
Ward and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| West Almond | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Amity | 5% | 0.1 | 470 | 54% | B |
| Andover | under 1% | 0.2 | 25 | 52% | C+ |
| Scio | under 1% | 0.1 | 3 | 27% | D |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Ward
Where can I hike in Ward?
The longest trail networks: Phillips Creek State Forest, 3.4 miles; Plumbottom State Forest, 0.9 miles; Vandermark State Forest, 0.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Ward’s trails?
Phillips Creek State Forest and Plumbottom State Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Ward?
35,832 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Ward or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 4,677 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Ward neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →