Saratoga Spa State Park Nature Center Mineral Waters Tour

Author: Alexandria S.

Summary: Saratoga Spa State Park is a New York state park in Saratoga Springs. There are beautiful trails, classical architecture and the famed mineral waters that historically brought many a New Yorker seeking a cure from a range of ailments.  

Date: Observations and data recorded on February 5th, 2023.

Site/location: Saratoga Spa State Park Creekside Classroom is located at Geyser Loop Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Distance from Camp Hudson Pines: 19 miles

Participants: 37 year old, 36 year old, 8 year old, 5 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old

Length of Observation: 45 minutes

Links:  https://parks.ny.gov/parks/saratogaspa

https://parks.ny.gov/environment/nature-centers/21/details.aspx

Activity: We were excited to take the recurring mineral waters tour offered by the Creekside Classroom at Saratoga Spa State Park. It was a great experience! We met our tour guide outside of the Creekside Classroom by a campfire.

The tour consisted of viewing 6 different underground water sources, 5 of which were available to taste. With each new taste, our guide explained the mineral composition of the water (and some had quite strong tastes!) as well as for which ailments people drank them medicinally.

It was such a fun tour and is great for anyone, but especially those interested in geology.

Reflections: The mineral waters tour starts at the Nature Center. The Nature Center is called the "Creekside Classroom," and you need to put Creekside Classroom into your GPS to arrive there instead of another section of the park. 

Bring containers! The water is available publically and for free and the water from the underground spring is very popular. There were many people there filling up jug after jug! 

We brought back some jugs and jars to bring some home with us.