Bolton Landing, NY - my introduction to Up Yonda Farm came courtesy of the Lake George Winter Carnival, which included a naturalist-led snowshoe hike in its activity lineup. Although we didn't make the tour (sold out), we drove up anyway to see if we could rent snowshoes to hike the trails on our own. Fortunately, there were plenty of snowshoes to go around - including kids/toddler sizes! - despite the tour group before us which I was afraid would clear out the snowshoe racks. But that was not at all the case! Rick and Linda at the Center could not have been lovelier or more helpful. Rick walked us through the trail map, pointing out where the tour group had gone (who would've broken in the snow for us), and being mindful of the fact that we were hiking with a small child who may or may not have a meltdown somewhere along the way, and how far into the hike it is likely to happen, from experience. I pulled out AllTrails to help with navigation, and Rick told us he actually created the GPS tracks for the property in the app! There are 3 miles of hiking trails across the 73-acre property, well marked with blazes and easy to follow. The woods were so beautiful and serene in the fresh snow. My child enjoyed the StoryWalk on the Sugar Trail and had me read the story to him. In addition to the educational exhibits in the farmhouse welcome center & museum (including some cute turtles!), the Center offers a variety of environmental education programs throughout the year (birds, butterflies, wildlife, night sky, hikes, field guides, crafting, seasonal events, etc.). It is now maple sugaring season so you can learn about the process and visit the sugarhouse when it's open. In the summer, you can see the butterfly garden, picnic by the pond, and explore the grounds with vistas of Lake George. We loved our visit to Up Yonda Farm, and the snowshoe hike turned out to be the highlight of our weekend. What a magical experience for all seasons! read more

See all

I recently visited Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center for their maple-making tour and absolutely loved it! This was my first time visiting and it was such a fun experience. The snowy setting made it even more special. We walked along a path through the woods while learning about how maple syrup is made. It was really interesting to hear about the history of maple sugaring and see the progression of tools that have been used over time. One of my favorite parts was the tasting. At the very beginning we got to try raw maple sap, and later we tasted the syrup fresh after it had been made. It honestly changed my mind about maple syrup -- I used to not like it, but tasting it fresh made me appreciate it so much more. There is plenty of parking, and the bathrooms are right next to the parking lot. After parking, you walk up to the main house to check in. The tour starts off to the side of the house near a fire pit, which was a nice gathering spot. At the end of the tour they served French toast sticks with different maple syrups to try, which was delicious and a perfect way to finish the experience. Overall, this was such a fun family-friendly event. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique outdoor activity and a great way to learn about maple syrup! read more

See all

Wonderful site for individuals and families who want to get outdoors and learn about the environment. Exhibit, museum, sugarhouse, pond, wetlands and hiking trails are beautifully laid out and accessible to everyone. Every family visiting the Lake George region should spend some time here. Very reasonable fees of just $6 per car. read more

Hidden gem! Great for kids. I loved the hike, turtles, butterfly garden, and museum. I also enjoyed the kinetic sand exhibit. So fun! Looking forward to coming back with kids as they get older. read more

Fun place to take little ones. We caught a frog and enjoyed the story walk and sensory garden.

Fantastic county-run teaching farm nestled in the hills just above Lake George, with hiking trails and self-guided tours. There's also a little museum with hands-on exhibits, a toddler area, and some impressive taxidermy at the second barn just past the caretakers' house. They run a series of special teaching programs and events, check out the website for details. Today we went for their maple sugaring demonstration, which was a very gentle and kid-friendly tromp around the sugar maples followed by a visit to their sugaring house. Nicely done and informative without being way over the kids' heads. This also looks like a big place for birders; there is a sort of mini-museum of bird house types and some special signs to not disturb the birders as you hike along. There are restrooms here right by the parking lot (open during the farm's hours, in case you need to just take a pit stop; and even the restrooms have a little educational schtick - you can learn from the display how recycling-composting toilets work!). $4 to park a car, on an honor system collection, and they charge for some of the programs, but it's a pittance for the fun and edutainment. Guides and maps are at the trail heads near the restrooms in the lower parking lot; go up to the house to the right for information on programs (and the museum is the second barn around the corner). There's a cool house model bird house and a big statue of a bear the kids will enjoy in the driveway roundabout by the big house. Warmly recommended for a place to let your kids get their wiggles out and maybe learn a thing or two, and the uphill hiking trails look promising. read more

Up Yonda Farm - Map and information kiosk at the parking lot. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Bolton Landing, New York

See all

My son enjoyed feeding the turtles very much. The snapping turtles Helga and Ringo were his favorite. He also loved fishing at the pond. The view from the summit was breathtaking. read more

Took our 3 year old. Loved it. Beautiful hiking trails suitable for children of all ages. Tons of shade and an outdoor classroom sensory garden. Lovely way to spend a few hours read more

Last minute decision to go snowshoeing and it was so much fun! Staff was great and knowledgeable and it was an affordable addition to our weekend getaway! Amazing view of Lake George makes it worth the trip too! read more

My boyfriend and I were planning a road trip and our first stop was staying at the sagamore. I wanted to find some fun local daytime activities for us to do. We had such a fun experience at up yonder farm. We learned all about the history behind maple tree tapping and even tasted the Sweetwater! After our tour we can say we highly recommend this farm for any of their daytime tours! read more

Up Yonda Farm - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Bolton Landing, New York

Highly recommended. Went on a guided snowshoe adventure through the nature preserve. As a first time snowshoer, I was a little nervous, but the staff was encouraging and helpful. Check-in and snowshoe rental were seamless, as the staff was well-prepared. The adventure was led by a naturalist and experienced hiker/snowshoer who shared interesting information about wildlife and the ecology and geography of the area. Enjoyed the excellent view of Lake George as well as the bonfire and hot chocolate at the end. Will definitely return in the future. read more

Very nice place especially to bring the kids. The help there is very knowledgeable and they are eager to talk to the kids. Skip the beach or the arcade one day and bring your kids to see this, they'll love it. read more

Perfect place to go with children. Excellent hands-on museum, presentations, and trails.