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2 visitors walking along the trail with a close of up branches with pines

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Forest

Thain Family Forest
Year–Round

For thousands of years, this old-growth Forest has changed, adapted and survived. When you visit the Forest, you will walk along Native American hunting trails, see marks left by glaciers, and pass under trees dating back to the American Revolution. The unique beauty and ecological importance of the forest are one of the reasons why the founders selected this site for The New York Botanical Garden in 1895.

Today this is the largest uncut expanse of New York’s original wooded landscape. The Forest remains a magnificent reminder of the beauty and resilience of nature in the face of complex human-caused disturbances. To preserve the Forest for future generations the Garden manages invasive species, plants native plants, and performs research.

Check Back Next Fall for our Fall Foliage Tracker!

Download the Thain Family Forest Program 2008–2025 to learn more about ongoing forest restoration, education, and research.

Thain Family Forest in Winter and close up of yellow leaves over a path

Snow on the side of a birch tree

An orange leaf sticking up from the snow on the ground

Close up of tree bark with orange leaves. and snow on the ground

A path in the forest with leaves and snow on the ground and snow on the trees/branches

Close up of pale yellow, dry leaves with a visitor walking towards them

A single brown leaf with snow on it

Tree with small pink buds

Tree trunk with 4 small snowdrop flowers

Close up of green leaves and green flower coming out towards the forest path

Close up of green leaves

Path surrounded by fully bloomed trees and bushes with white flowers

Wetland surrounded by branches and trees

Sun peaking through tall green trees in the forest

Bird sitting on wood railing with leaves behind it

Tree bark lying on the ground with orange fungi growing

A path in the Thain Family Forest surrounded by green trees

Looking up at green leaves with the sun shining through them

Path of the forest surrounded by bright green trees

Aerial shot of the forest with the city in the background at sunset

Forest trail surrounded by multi-colored trees and leaves on the ground

Overhead shot of multi-colored trees and leaves and branches on the ground

Multi-colored leaf on tree trunk with moss

Multi-colored trees, leaves on the ground, and a visitor walking on the trail

Acorns, branches, and leaves on the ground

Multi-colored fall trees and their reflection in the river

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