The Great Swamp is aptly named. Erase all images of Shrek’s swamp from your mind, and replace it with a wonderland with swirling water reflecting the vegetation above it.
A gently moving stream winds through the larger body of water paralleling Route 22 for miles. At times you'll hear the traffic on Route 22, yet the sounds of the 180 species of birds drowns out most other sounds. The Swamp is a "birding" paradise; I marvel at the variety of birds I see there that I have never seen in my own yard just five minutes away. When you're gliding on the water, it’s hard to believe that you are so close to civilization, yet totally engulfed by nature at the same time. 
There is ample evidence of beaver activity: nibbled branches, lodges, and dams. The beavers are often swimming nearby and sometimes, if you're lucky, scrambling over land in full sight.
Access to The Great Swamp is just a few miles south of Pawling. For directions, type: “Great Swamp, Patterson, NY” into Google maps for the Patterson access to the Great Swamp. Drive approximately one mile on the dirt road to its ends. You can launch a canoe or kayak in the shallow area.
You'll have a great adventure on The Great Swamp.
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