California Hill State Forest

{{Short description|State forest in New York, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area | name = California Hill State Forest | iucn_category = | image = | image_caption = | location = Putnam County, NY, USA | nearest_city = | map = New York | map_width = 225 | map_caption = Location of California Hill State Forest in New York State. | coordinates = {{coord|41|26|18|N|73|46|23|W|display=inline, title}} | area = {{convert|982|acre}} | established = 2007 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = New York State Department of Environmental Conservation }}

'''California Hill State Forest''' is a {{convert|982|acre|adj=on}} New York State Forest in the towns of Kent and Putnam Valley in Putnam County, New York.<ref name=DEC_CHSF>{{cite web |url=https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/96633.html |title=California Hill State Forest |publisher=NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |accessdate=May 18, 2016}}</ref> The forest was created in 2007 when the state bought land that made contiguous three existing multiple use areas at Pudding Street, Gordon Road, and California Hill.<ref>{{cite news |title=NYS DEC Designates Newly Secured Lands as California Hill State Forest |newspaper=The Putnam County News and Recorder |date=2007-06-06 |url=http://www.pcnr.com/news/2007/0606/general_stories/015.html |accessdate=2009-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906151731/http://www.pcnr.com/news/2007/0606/general_stories/015.html |archive-date=2008-09-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is creating a system of mixed use trails for mountain biking (there is an existing, unauthorized, biking trail in the park), hiking, and hunting. The forest includes Lake Waywayanda and the Pudding Street Pond that contain a large variety of fish. Wildlife in the forest includes wild turkey, white-tailed deer, pheasants, and rabbits. Seasonal hunting is permitted in the forest, as is off-trail camping.<ref>{{Cite news|title=State Releases ‘East of Hudson’ Plan|last=Cronin|first=Brian P J|website=highlandscurrent.org|date=11 November 2022|url=https://highlandscurrent.org/2022/11/11/state-releases-east-of-hudson-plan/}}</ref><ref>https://www.meadowlandgmc.com/blog/5-best-places-for-camping-around-carmel-hamlet-ny/</ref>

==See also== *List of New York state forests

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:New York (state) state forests Category:Protected areas of Putnam County, New York Category:State forests of the Appalachians