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Description
Southworth Preserve
57 acres in Mansfield, CT
Parking: Room for one car near 41 Dodd Rd Mansfield, CT
Trail Map Trails: 1 mile Rating: ★★☆☆☆
The Southworth Preserve has been owned by the town for nearly a decade and thanks to a 2017 Natural Area Management Plan we have a rough timeline of expected progress. There isn’t currently a trail system here though it is a short-term goal with the aim to be completed by 2019. There has been work completed on a multi-use trail in Spring 2018 according to this event.
I revisited the Southworth Preserve in October 2018. I had previously visited in June after the NEMBA work party event had happened, but my guess is that they started on the Mansfield Hollow property and worked towards the preserve. On that hunch, I parked at the gate across from Holiday Hill and followed the woods road into Mansfield Hollow State Park.
Hiking
Sure enough, there was a small trail a tenth of a mile in that made its way to the north end of Chapin’s Pond. The trail then followed the slope between the pond and the agricultural field to the gate on Dodd Rd. There is a trail through the grass to the backside of the field that can only be used when the agricultural field isn’t active. There is also a fork on the slope trail the works its way along the northern property line of the preserve until it meets the dam just off Rt. 89. The trails are geared to mountain bike singletrack because they were created by Quiet Corner NEMBA.
I think future trails will connect to the eastern section of the property. I’ve been told there was a mill in the area south of the dam, so possibly some ruins but have not bushwacked there myself. In the meantime, the trails at Southworth connect to the many trails of Mansfield Hollow, the iron bridges section of the Nipmuck Trail, and are just across Rt. 195 from Schoolhouse Brook.
History:
Established as a town park in 2008.
Links:
2017 Southworth Preserve Management Plan
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Last updated Oct. 23, 2018
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