Mianus River Gorge is a 935-acre preserve in Bedford, New York, centered on the Mianus River gorge and renowned for its rare old-growth climax hemlock forest, recognized as a National Natural Landmark in March 1964. It holds a notable place in American conservation history because the first 60 acres purchased there in 1954, with help from The Nature Conservancy, became that organization’s first land preservation deal. The protected area later grew through additional donations and land purchases. Shaped by retreating glaciers, the gorge also contains significant geological features, diverse plant life, Havenmeyer Falls, and roughly fifteen miles of marked hiking trails.