Location
Directions: The Preserve is located at the end of New Road in Chippewa Bay. After passing the River Bay Adventure Inn, continue straight ahead, up a slight rise into the woods. A small parking area will be on your left about a quarter-mile further.
Chris Murray Photography
Photo Credit Jake Tibbles
Photo Credit Bridgett McCann
Chris Murray Photography
Photo Credit Bridgett McCann
Explore Chippewa Bay Preserve!
Nestled along Chippewa Creek, this 60-acre preserve features forest and wetland habitats, serving as a vital wildlife corridor within the Adirondacks to Algonquin (A2A) Wildway. Part of the Frontenac Arch, an ancient ridge of Canadian Shield rock, it supports wildlife movement across the Eastern Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, connecting the Adirondacks to Canada.
This preserve offers trails for hiking, birding, and wildlife watching. Enjoy forested landscapes, wetlands, and an observation deck overlooking Chippewa Bay, home to Bald Eagles, Osprey, and Common Terns.
The Frontenac Arch
The Thousand Islands region lies on ancient rock that is part of the Canadian Shield, some of the oldest rock on Earth. Uplift has brought some of this rock to the surface in a ridge known as the Frontenac Arch. This Arch extends from the Grenville Province region of Canada to the Adirondack Mountains in New York. Significant erosion of the overlying rocks has occurred and you can see outcrops at the surface throughout the region. The geological events that formed the Frontenac Arch created a unique migratory corridor across the Eastern Great Lakes system, allowing for animals to safely pass along a binational critical wildlife highway. Click for more information here.
Preserve History
Once part of a farm, this preserve sits on a ridge marking Hammond Plain’s northern edge. Settled by Scottish immigrants, Hammond thrived on sheep and dairy farming, with Chippewa Bay serving as a key port for transporting local produce and Rossie iron ore. Today, recreation and seasonal tourism are the area’s main industries.
Explore More Preserves
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Crooked Creek Preserve
The largest Class 1 wetlands complex in the Thousand Islands. A perfect place to paddle and see wildlife.
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Fort Haldimand Preserve
The remains of a British fort, built and occupied during the American Revolution, sit on the head of Carleton Island in Cape Vincent.
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Grindstone Island Preserves
Howard-Smith and Rusho Farm Preserves, the Heineman Family Songbird Forest and Potters Beach.
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