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Nature Centers in the Finger Lakes

Mossy Bank Park and Nature Center

Mossy Bank Park Rd.

Bath, NY 14810

Location

Mossy Bank Park is located at the end of Mossy Bank Park Road in the Town of Bath in Steuben County. There is also a small pond that you will pass on your way to the park at the intersection of Mossy Bank Park and Davenport Hill roads that is part of the park complex.

General

Mossy Bank Park is a 167.5-acre park owned by the Village of Bath even though it is not located in the village. It is comprised of the pond mentioned above, the park, and the Ted Markham Nature Center. There is also a look-out area that is accessible by car for those with mobility problems.

The park proper provides picnic tables and a pavilion, a playground, and bathrooms. The nature center is open by chance as it is staffed by volunteers.

Hiking

The park has several miles of color-coded trails. These are well worn, but you should carry a copy of the trails map with you as they do wind and intersect frequently.

Overlook (Purple) Trail Self-Guided Tour

Spruce (Red) Trail Self-Guided Tour

Trail Map (jpg)

Overlook

You can park near the playground and walk a short distance to a sheltered overlook or you can drive down the road through the trees if you wish. The overlook provides a lovely view of the Village of Bath and the Cohocton River.

There is another overlook that is not accessible by car, but it is only a short distance from the first and well worth to extra walking to get there. Facing the sheltered overlook, walk to the last concrete abutment on your left. There, you will find an inconspicuous gravely path. Take it 50 ft./15 m. or so until it intersects with what is the green escarpment trail. Turn right. Go only a short distance, the opening will be on you left. There is no guardrail.

Biking

Biking on any of the rural roads in the area is possible, but you will need to be good at climbing hills. There are no biking trails in the park.

Wildlife

Mossy Bank Park has a wide variety of birds. Besides its nesting bald eagles and ospreys, you are also likely to see Canada geese, great blue herons, various woodpeckers, swallows, sparrows, grosbeaks, thrushes, vireos, and warblers, Eastern phoebes, peewees, ovenbirds, American goldfinches, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, northern cardinal, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, mourning doves, scarlet tanagers, American crows, and ravens.

Butterflies, too, abound. Here are some of the ones you are likely to see: clouded sulphur, cabbage white, Baltimore checkerspot, Eastern tiger swallowtail, northern crescent, common wood nymph, European skipper, red and white admirals. You should be able to spot monarchs on migration.

Native Plants and Fungi

Mossy Bank Park has a lovely woods. It is especially known for its variety of native plants and fungi. Look for these mostly in the spring before the weather gets too hot. (The picking of plants and fungi is not permitted.)

Brochure

Photos