St. Matthew's Woods and Arthur Ketchum Memorial Sanctuary: We Get Religion in the Woods

Bridge over Beaver Dam River, St. Matthew's Glebe. Bedford, New York; Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

Entering Ketchum Sanctuary.

Woodland Chapel on the Blue Trail.

Rustic Bridge over River. Charlie's swimming below.

Soft forest floor, hemlock and cedar gorge gives an Adirondack feel to Ketchum Sanctuary and The Glebe.

Feast your eyes on the forest at St. Matthew's Woods and Arthur Ketchum Memorial Sanctuary via some pictures, and then drive up to Bedford, New York for the real thing. You will find the start of the blue trail in the far back parking lot of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church.

You could spend an hour or two exploring these trails over 26 acres with your dog; they join the woodlands behind St. Matthew's -- called The Glebe -- to the Ketchum Santuary. Don't miss the rustic chapel in the woods, not far from the church, on the blue trail.

Water Features: Descend the blue trail from the parking lot, and soon you will hear the sound of a rushing river. You'll see it snaking though the bottom of a mini-gorge as the trail approaches and runs alongside. Your lazy owner will want to sit on one of the benches on the river's edge; if he's been good to you, let him! Arthur Ketchum does not feel like anywhere else in Westchester, in part because of the sound of this rushing river. Swim or wade; shake yourself off as close to your owner as possible.

Feel: The cedars and hemlock gorge and decidous woods -- as well as the rustic bridges over the rushing stream, and the little chapel in the woods -- give this place an Adirondack vibe.

Did We Meet Other Dogs, and Were They Leashed?: Yes! Yes, we did, and they were as free and wild and naked as the day they were born. There was a silky terrier puppy and a two-year-old King Charles. At eleven o'clock on a Wednesday morning in spring, these were the only two groups we encountered.

Wild Animal Sighting of the Day: A fluffy orange fox we mistook for a large cat.

The Biggest Surprise: A rustic, open air "chapel" in the woods.

Nearest Dunkin' Donuts: 176 North Bedford Road, Mt. Kisco

Getting There: 382 Cantitoe Road, in Bedford, New York.

I-684 to Exit 4; turn right onto Rt. 172, South Bedford Road; at the T-intersection turn left onto Route 22 heading north into Bedford Village; stay on 22 and continue for roughly 1.5 miles past the center of town. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is on your right. Park in the far back parking lot.

Signs to Help You Out: