Grindstone Island Preserves

Explore Grindstone Island Preserves

Grindstone Island, the fourth largest island in the Thousand Islands, is a treasure of natural beauty and history. Though there’s no public transportation to the island, TILTrek tours offer opportunities to explore inland Grindstone. The island’s Preserve’s are open to the public, with access by boat or select tours.

Grindstone Island Nature Trail

The Grindstone Island Nature Trail, nearly two miles long, connects Canoe Point and Picnic Point State Parks on the eastern end of Grindstone Island in Clayton. Maintained by the New York State Office of Parks and TILT, the trail winds through forests, crossing a boardwalk with views of the St. Lawrence River and vital wetlands that filter water, retain floodwaters, and support wildlife. Accessible by boat only, visitors can dock at either state park’s public docks to reach the trail.

Potters Beach Preserve

Potters Beach Preserve boasts one of the few naturally occurring sandy beaches in the Thousand Islands, a popular spot for generations. This Preserve stretches inland to include 200 acres of mixed hardwood forest and a mosaic of wetland habitats. TILT purchased the beach in 1995 to ensure it remains open to the public year-round, offering a place for recreation and relaxation for visitors of all ages.

Location: 11225 N Shore Road, Clayton, 13624

Howard-Smith and Rusho Farm Preserves

The Howard-Smith and Rusho Farm Preserves feature historic grassland habitats that TILT helps reclaim through mowing and brush-hogging, in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Grassland bird species, which require expansive open areas to nest and raise their young, are supported here, as this habitat is rapidly disappearing due to development and changes in farming practices. The Heineman Songbird Forest serves as a breeding ground for neotropical migratory songbirds, which need undisturbed leafy canopies to avoid predators while nesting.