Cameron-Murtfeldt Sanctuary: Saw Mill River Audubon

View of Cameron-Murtfeldt entrance
Entrance of small walking trail at Cameron-Murtfeldt
completed Spring 2003 by a Chappaqua Girl Scout.
[Photo courtesy: Sarah McGrath]

Location: Kipp Street and Douglas Road, Chappaqua
Size: 7 acres
Trail: 400 feet - wood chips
Habitat: Red maple swamp

Please note:
Parking extremely limited.
[Google Map]
[General property map]

Cameron-Murtfeldt Sanctuary consists of two wetland parcels on either side of Kipp Street at its intersection with Douglas Road in Chappaqua. [Directions]

Cameron-Murtfeldt Sanctuary was first protected by the New Castle Land Conservancy. [History]

Trees found in this sanctuary include Red maple, American beech, Tulip tree, Slippery elm, Green ash, White oak, and Red oak.

Shrubs in the sanctuary include Highbush blueberry, Spicebush, Winterberry, and various Viburnums.

Seasonal plants in the sanctuary include
Cinnamon fern, Sensitive fern, Skunk cabbage, and Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

There is a small stream to your left as you enter the trail. Near the stream is a natural bench formed by a fallen tree.

Lush understory of Red maple swamp
at Cameron-Murtfeldt Sanctuary

History
A total of six acres lying on either side of Kipp Street was given to the New Castle Land Conservancy in 1971 by Mrs. Marion Murtfeldt and the Cameron family as a memorial to Mrs. Murtfeldt's son. When the New Castle Land Conservancy merged with Saw Mill River Audubon in 1975, ownership of the property was transferred to Audubon. The Weddle family donated an additional 1.3 acres to the sanctuary in 1975.

Directions
Cameron-Murtfeldt Sanctuary is located on Kipp Street in the hamlet of Chappaqua, in the Town of New Castle. Kipp Street is off Route 120, Quaker Street, approximately ½ mile north of the Route 120-Chappaqua exit of the Saw Mill River Parkway. Turn onto Kipp Street and proceed to the intersection of Kipp Street and Douglas Road, where the sanctuary is located. Parking is limited to one car at a time. We suggest parking on the side of Kipp Street close to the sanctuary sign.

Please remember that a sanctuary is where all life is respected. Please do not injure or remove any animals or plants from our sanctuaries.

For protection of the wildlife and habitat, camping, fires, biking, hunting and motorized vehicles are not permitted in any of our sanctuaries.

Our sanctuaries are maintained by a part-time caretaker and volunteers on trail maintenance days. A group of volunteer "Trail Walkers" monitors individual sanctuaries and reports on their conditions. [More About Trail Walkers]

General Property Map
Cameron-Murtfeldt Sanctuary
This map is offered for general reference purposes only and,
in no manner, is intended as a legal depiction of boundaries.
Numbers on adjacent residential parcels indicate house numbers.

For more information about Cameron-Murtfeldt Sanctuary, please contact the office of Saw Mill River Audubon.

Online Maps for Sanctuaries with Walking Trails

[Brinton Brook Sanctuary] [Choate Sanctuary] [Graff Sanctuary]
[Haas Sanctuary] [Pinecliff Sanctuary] [Pruyn Sanctuary]

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