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Leon Levy Preserve

The Leon Levy Preserve, formerly the Bell property, was purchased by the Town of Lewisboro in 2005. It is 383 acres of forest and wetlands located in the watersheds of both New York City and Stamford, and provides a portion of their drinking water supply. The purchase was made possible by a $5-million-dollar contribution from the Jerome Levy Foundation and $500,000 from the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation.

Shelby White, whose late husband, Leon Levy, was the Levy Foundation’s primary benefactor, worked with the Town, the Lewisboro Land Trust and the Westchester Land Trust to assure that this largest tract of undeveloped land in Lewisboro would always be preserved and protected and accessible to the community.

The preserve has an extensive trail system and ruins of the Black mansion (1899-1979) and other outbuildings.

In 2015, the Leon Levy Native Plant Garden was added by Lewisboro Land Trust with a grant from the Levy Foundation.

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Look out for...

Wetlands rich in wildlife, a ravine with 25 foot cliffs, diverse hardwood forest, rare plants such as Purple Milkweed and Blue Cohosh; native plant garden adjacent to parking lot.

Habitats found in this preserve

All Preserves

Brownell Preserve ~ Goldens Bridge

Fox Valley Town Park ~ Goldens Bridge

Frederick P. Rose & Rockshelter Preserves ~ Cross River

Grossman Preserve ~ Waccabuc

Hunt-Parker Sanctuary ~ Goldens Bridge

Indian Brook Assemblage ~ (Grierson, Yarrow, and Mt. Holly Preserves) – Goldens Bridge

John Jay High School XC & Community Trail ~ Cross River

Leon Levy Preserve ~ South Salem

Lewisboro Town Park ~ South Salem

Long Pond Preserve ~ Waccabuc

Love Preserve ~ Vista

Marx Preserve ~ Goldens Bridge

Mountain Lakes Park ~ South Salem & North Salem

Mt Holly Sanctuary ~ Katonah

Old Church Lane Preserve ~ Vista

Old Field Preserve ~ Waccabuc

Onatru Farm Park & Preserve ~ Vista

Pine Croft Meadow ~ Waccabuc

St. Paul’s Chapel Trail ~ Vista

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation ~ Cross River

How to get there

Directions: The main entrance and parking lot is on Route 123 (Smith Ridge Road) just south of the intersection of Route 35. There is room for horse trailer parking and turnaround.

Download Trail Map