I recently visited Hamilton College in Clinton, NY with the SO to explore the hiking trails there.
We parked on campus, close to Root Glen, followed those paths, and then explored the Kirkland Glen loop from there.
I was very impressed with the love put into Root Glen – clean, well cared for, and extremely welcoming.
And SO MANY TREES!!! And you can learn about them here, too.
[From Google:] Hamilton College has at least 125 tree species on its campus, according to the Hamilton College Arboretum. This collection includes about 65 species within the Root Glen, a specific forested area of the arboretum. The larger arboretum, a 1,350-acre area, is a key feature of the campus for preservation and academic study.
However, we were shocked by the number of invasive earthworms gathered in the creek. Masses!
While they can be helpful for your lawn, they’re a huge problem to the lush forests in the northeast US.
Here’s more [from Google]:
Earthworms appear in New York’s running waters because invasive Asian jumping worms (Amynthas spp.) thrive in moist, organic-rich environments and are easily transported via boats, bait, and soil, while also potentially being washed into waterways during heavy rains and flooding. Unlike native worms wiped out by glaciation, these invasive species can survive for extended periods in oxygenated water, and their presence is a symptom of a wider invasion that degrades soil ecosystems.
Recommended reading:
Invasive Asian Jumping Earthworms – Cornell Cooperative Extension
Meet NY’s newest invasive species, the ‘Asian jumping worm,’ coming soon to a garden near you – New York Upstate
We continued on, taking in all the things – big, small, and in between.
We saw a sign that said “leaving Root Glen”, which was our cue that we found our way to the Kirkland Glen trails.
The first thing I noticed was that it’s less manicured than Root Glen, more natural, yet still very well cared for. The team tending to this land is doing an incredible job.
As we finished the big loop back toward the college, we came across this little creepy statue – previously someone’s art project that has been sitting there for who knows how long now.. (I’m curious!)
We had to walk through the campus a bit on our return to the car, and it was nice seeing the architecture, some of the art, and the maze of walking paths.
What an enjoyable little trip! I loved my short time here.
Oh, Kae. 
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