Land Trusts

Land trusts are abundant in our state preserving properties of all sizes from development.  There are 117 land trusts in Connecticut protecting 190,550 acres of land for hiking and recreation, ecological buffer zones, wildlife habitat, and undeveloped spaces. As of 2024 there are

  • 89 single town land trusts
  • 22 multi-town/regional
  • 6 statewide

Land trusts are mostly non-profit and community based, seeking to preserve the forests, river corridors, farmland, watersheds, marshes, scenic vistas, and hiking trails in a given town or region.  Land Trust are also largely volunteer operated and are a great way to get involved in your area.

A complete directory courtesy of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council can be found here:

Currently only the largest and regional land trusts are listed here.  As this site continues to develop I hope this page will provide a more polished and complete representation of Connecticut’s land trusts.

Schlaf Farm

★★☆☆☆

60 Springfield Rd, Somers, CT 06071, USA

Schlaf Farm Northern Connecticut Land Trust 38 acres in Somers, CT Parking: Small lot near 60 Springfield Rd, Somers, CT Trail Map        Trails: 0.5…

Scantic Riparian Area

★☆☆☆☆

68 Durkee Rd, Somers, CT, USA

Scantic Riparian Area Northern Connecticut Land Trust 40 acres in Somers, CT Parking: Small lot under the powerlines near 68 Durkee Rd, Somers, CT Trail Map   …

Nipmuck Woods

★★★☆☆

207 CT-190, Stafford Springs, CT 06076, USA

Nipmuck Woods Northern Connecticut Land Trust 79 acres in Stafford, CT Parking: Medium sized pull-off near 207 CT-190, Stafford Springs, CT Trail Map        Trails:…

Swann Farm

★☆☆☆☆

125 Reeves Rd, Ellington, CT 06029, USA

Swann Farm Northern CT Land Trust 56.21 acres in Ellington, CT Parking: Small pull-off near 125 Reeves Rd, Ellington, CT Trail Map       Trails: 0.5 miles …

Sunset Hill

★★☆☆☆

41.930942, -72.439089

Sunset Hill Northern Connecticut Land Trust 14 acres in Ellington, CT Parking: Park on the road between 151 and 153 Porter Rd, Ellington, CT Trail Map   …

Alice Fern Bruce Preserve

★★☆☆☆

Alice Fern Bruce Preserve, Middletown, CT, USA

Alice Fern Bruce Preserve Berlin Land Trust 47 acres in Berlin, CT Parking: Currently can only be accessed through Giuffrida Park from the south or by road… Read more…

Nut Plains Woods

★★☆☆☆

GLCT Nut Plains Preserve, Guilford, CT, USA

Nut Plains Woods / Nut Plains Park Guilford Land Trust 116 acres in Guilford, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 21 Edwards St, Guilford, CT Trail Map …

Highland Pond Preserve

★★☆☆☆

261 Bell St, Middletown, CT

Highland Pond Preserve Middlesex Land Trust 30 acres in Middletown, CT Parking: Shoulder parking near 261 Bell St, Middletown, CT Trail Map           Trails:…

Tanner Marsh Brook

Unexplored

609 Tanner Marsh Road, Guilford, CT, USA

Tanner Marsh Brook Guilford Land Trust 5 acres in Guilford, CT Parking: Shoulder parking near 609 Tanner Marsh Rd, Guilford, CT Trail Map      Trails: 0.42…

Broomstick Ledges

★★★★☆

GLCT Broomstick Ledges, Guilford, CT, USA

Broomstick Ledges Guilford Land Trust 141 acres in Guilford, CT Parking: Parking across Rt.77 at Bluff Head, medium lot near 4391 Durham Rd, Guilford, CT Trail Map …