If you have never been in this part of Staten Island, you are missing some of the most beautiful forested and wetland areas in the area. Yes, there are closer places to park to reach the cache, but then you would miss the wonderful trails. Why not make this an adventure! I guarantee you will be amazed as you reach the cache location. Quite simply, this cache should be on everyone's list and not be missed.
If you start at the suggested trail head you will enter North Mount Loretto State Forest which at one time was the home of a boy's orphanage. The girl's orphanage was located across Hylan Blvd in what is now known as Mount Loretto Unique Area.
The 74-acre North Mt. Loretto State Forest is a unique and diverse green space in southern Staten Island. The property includes both mixed hardwood forest and wetland habitats. These features make it a beautiful area to hike and one of the best places to spot amphibians in the area.
The trails will lead you from North Mount Loretto State Forest into Long Pond Park Preserve. Long Pond’s history stretches back for thousands of years, beginning with the Wisconsin Ice Sheet. Twelve to fifteen thousand years ago, a huge sheet of ice blanketed the area, hundreds of feet thick. The pressure of the ice caused depressions in sections that had weak underlying rock layers. As the ice receded, these sunken areas formed wetlands such as Long Pond and Pam’s Pond. As a result, areas of stronger underlying rock were left above sea level. This topographical feature, known as “knob and kettleΑterrain,” can be seen throughout much of Staten Island. The extreme southern and southeastern portions of the island were not covered by the Wisconsin Ice Sheet and therefore do not exhibit this type of terrain.