Moss Lake Preserve in Allegany County

A glacial kettle-bog with a floating sphagnum mat and boardwalk trail near Houghton, NY

Moss Lake Preserve, located two miles south of Houghton in Allegany County, centers around a rare 15-acre kettle-bog lake that The Nature Conservancy calls “one of the best intact kettle-bogs in New York.” The preserve spans 82 acres and was born of ice and time—roughly 15,000 years ago, a stranded block of glacial ice melted, leaving a steep-sided basin that slowly filled with water. Over time, a floating mat of sphagnum moss spread across the surface, forming a delicate ecosystem rich in biodiversity. The site was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973 and is still protected and managed by The Nature Conservancy.

A living sponge

Sphagnum moss is more than a groundcover—it’s a living super-sponge. Its hollow leaves can absorb up to twenty times their weight in water, acidifying the environment and creating ideal conditions for bog-loving species such as cranberries, leatherleaf, sundews, and pitcher plants. As the moss grows, it forms peat, gradually building the bog outward from the lake’s center.

Walking the loop

A one-mile loop trail guides visitors through a mix of hemlock forest and open wetland. The first 0.3 miles features a wheelchair-accessible crushed-stone path leading to a 150-foot boardwalk that floats over the moss mat, offering sweeping views of the bog and its quiet beauty. The rest of the trail loops through gently rolling terrain, though some sections can be damp or uneven. Please remain on the trail—especially the boardwalk—as the moss mat is fragile and easily damaged.

Wildlife and webs

According to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Moss Lake is an official Watchable Wildlife Site. Visitors may encounter dragonflies skimming across the water, frogs calling from the mat, and seasonal flocks of songbirds flitting through the trees. One of the preserve’s tiniest highlights is the intricate bowl-and-doily spider web—an inverted “bowl” suspended above a lacy “doily,” woven by the diminutive Frontinella pyramitela, which favors the preserve’s moist, mossy shrubs.

Visitor tips

Wear waterproof footwear, especially after a rain—portions of the loop can be muddy or soft. Spring and early summer offer peak wildflower and bird activity, while fall adds brilliant color to the surrounding hardwoods. Insect repellent is recommended.

Practical details

Cost: Free

Season & hours: Dawn to dusk, year-round (no restrooms or facilities)

Parking: Ten-car trailhead lot at 9149 Sand Hill Road, 0.9 miles east of NY-19 (GPS: 42.3986° N, 78.1847° W)

Distance from Rochester: 90 minutes / 78 miles (get directions)

More information: nature.org/moss-lake-preserve | 585-546-8030

Kettle-bog cousins

While Moss Lake stands out for its scale and intactness, similar glacial features can be found closer to Rochester. Devil’s Bathtub in Mendon Ponds Park is a deep, spring-fed kettle hole believed to be meromictic. Sylvan Waters in Mount Hope Cemetery is a landscaped kettle pond nestled among Victorian gravestones.

Whether you come for the stillness, the science, or the delicate webs catching morning light, Moss Lake Preserve offers a rare glimpse into the natural history of Western New York—one that’s still unfolding, inch by inch, on the moss beneath your feet.

Have you explored Moss Lake Preserve?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.