Broomstick Ledges

I hiked through the property while backpacking the first 30 miles of the New England Trail in Fall 2024. I was hiking north-bound coming from the RWA Genesee Recreation Area, but if you’re hiking this as a day trip it’s more likely you’re coming from either Bluff Head or the Rockland Preserve.

I came in from the southeast corner of the property and turned right at the trail junction to head north on the Mattabesett which is briefly downhill on an old forest road before briefly climbing along the rocky slope above it before rejoining. This is the eastern wing of this blue blaze trail and passes through a recently logged section of private property then into the Rockland Preserve where I stayed overnight at the Godman Group Campsite.

Back at the trail junction the next morning I headed downhill into the ledges. The namesake ledges here are entirely forested but provide every possible combination of trail and rock feature you could hope for.  Climbing atop a rock ridge with a forested view, through a rocky ravine, around a massive erratic, between the narrow gap of a tree and a ledge, alongside cone shaped outcrops, and a rocky scramble up a slope. Of course all this makes the trail a bit more challenging but was some of the best selected trail I’ve hiked in quite some time. The rocks here are mainly gray schist, which was originally sea bottom.

I just wish there was a true blazed loop on the property and slightly easier access but this property is a hidden gem.

Heading north: Bluff Head / Northwoods

Heading south: Genesee Recreation Area

The land trust acquired the property from the descendants of George Etzel of Branford for $2.15 million in September 2008.

• Guilford Land Trust – Broomstick Ledges Protected, Largest Acquisition in Land Trusts History (2008)
• CTMQ – Mattabesett Trail: Section 5 (2008)
• CT NET: Section 9