Five Rivers Environmental Education Center

What a hidden gem! Nature trails, ponds with benches invite you to nature watch all year ’round. Free to the public, the trails are on NY Department of Environmental Conservation property. In the summer, there are bees, bats, songbirds, butterflies, beavers, raptors to see. There are many educational classes for all ages. I have taken a Geocaching 101 before.
Be sure to visit the Visitors Center, where you’ll find maps, brochures and a huge collection of stuffed wildlife and rehabilitating live animals.
Five rivers is getting a makeover with new buildings and driveway being constructed at the time of this review. This will ensure safety and preserve the educational capacity of the Center.
On today’s visit, I spotted two deer helping themselves to berries on trees in an orchard specifically planted to offer winter nutrition to wildlife (see photo). These particular trees hold their berries all winter long to ensure food is available to animals even during the coldest season.
There is much to enjoy at 5 rivers, mostly due to the diligence of Friends of 5 Rivers, who organize and teach many of the classes and whose dedicated staff and volunteers over the years have invested in developing the area and programs. Even if you don’t end up learning about any of the history or don’t take a class, 5 rivers is a nice break from the city to clear your head and connect with nature.

Best place in the Bethlehem area to go for a nature walk or to cross country ski in the winter. The trails are well maintained. My favorite hiking trail is the one by stream called the Vlomankill Trail. The North Loop is flat so I like to cross country ski on it.

Spent a wonderful day here! The trails are beautiful and varied. It’s great for kids because there are multiple short-​ish trails, so you can do as many or as few as everyone has energy for. Beaver Tree Trail has lots of fun boardwalks and scenic outlooks over the pond. Bring binoculars!

Dont bother beautiful place but Kitty the director was cold and nasty on the phone.

What a great place to seek relief from the suburban life. A little nature oasis in the middle of housing developments. Five Rivers has at least 6 or 7 different trails, a few ponds, streams, deer, turkeys, ducks, you name it. A great place to take a walk in the summer or snowshoe in the winter (they rent snowshoes for cheap). Not a bad place to take a nature-​loving date too, beats the other suburban options.
Go to Five Rivers, enjoy the peace and quiet and please give them a donation, we need to support community nature preserves.