Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Shawangunk, New York.
Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge is a federally protected open grassland in New York state. It covers a broad expanse of native meadow plants and walking paths that cross the flat terrain in several directions.
The land was used as Galeville Military Airport during World War II, where pilots trained before going overseas. After the airport closed, the site was designated a federal wildlife refuge in 1999.
The refuge holds special meaning for those who seek to observe wildlife in its natural setting. Many return repeatedly to experience the different birds that appear across seasons.
The refuge can be entered from a few different points along its edge, each giving access to the network of paths. The flat terrain makes walking easy at any pace, though the open fields offer little shade on warm days.
The old runway surface is still visible beneath the grass in places, a reminder that the land was paved before it was rewilded. In winter, Short-eared Owls hunt low over the fields at dusk, which draws visitors who time their arrival for the last hour of daylight.
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