Roughly three miles long, the Macsherry Trails takes outdoor enthusiasts to a trailhead off of Indian Point Road in Hammond. On the hike, you will pass beaver ponds and meander through woods in one of the most significant wetlands on the St. Lawrence River. The trail leads to the Crooked Creek, providing a fantastic view of Chippewa Bay at the "Old Boyscout Camp", before circling back to the trailhead.
The history of the Crooked Creek Preserve is quite intriguing. Once part of the Day Farm, the Preserve was acquired by the Land Trust in 1998 with the help of a grant from the Sweetwater Trust. In 2000, the children of Richard and Mary Macsherry donated the resources to build the Macsherry Trail, in honor of their parents' 50th wedding anniversary.
For more information, please visit the Thousand Islands Land Trust online, or contact:
Take State Route 12 to the border between Jefferson and St. Lawrence County (6.1 miles east of Alexandria Bay). Turn north toward Kring Point State Park, then turn immediately right onto Indian Point Road (a dirt road). This road is marked private, but visitors to the Macsherry Trail are welcome. Travel approximately 3/4 mile to the parking area on the right.
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Some of the wood used to get you through wetter areas or mud aren't quite solid, so while easy to get over, it can have a slight see-saw effect if another person steps on the opposite side.
We were there in early September, with decent weather. It was particularly dry, to the point that the areas that obviously had mud at other times were cracking the earth. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm assuming after rains or wetter seasons, this could be a totally different experience.
Wildlife activity is at a slower point this time of year, but that still left us walking away with a dozen birds ( Red-Wing Blackbird, Nuthatch, BlueJay, Warblers, Woodpeckers, and a Barred Owl ), one whitetail deer, plenty of pollinators, black squirrels and chipmunks.
There was only one other couple on the path with their dog, they were leaving as we arrived and to the best of our knowledge our 3 hours, there were three hours completely alone.
The trail distances are TO THAT POINT, not as a loop. Meaning if you read it as 1.8 miles to the Crooked Creek Overlook ( and yes, it's worth it as it's a beautiful spot ), it is a full 3.5 mile walk out and back.
The overlook at the beaver pond is well worth a visit, and is a very gentle and easy walk.