Macricostas Preserve

Started from the parking lot the trailhead sits just over the bridge installed in 2020.  There is a short loop through the Judea Garden a small community garden, but the majority of trails fork to the right towards Bee Brook.  Passing a bench dedicated to a former president of the Steep Rock Association, cross the bridge over Bee Brook, walk the long boardwalk, and take the log lined steps up among into the field.  This area is fantastic for bird watching with bird houses dotting the fields.  I even spotted a blue heron gliding its way to Meeker Swamp.

Walking through a tree line leads to an active hay field which has its own 1.2 mile loop around its edge.  I hiked over to the backside and took the short side trail to the Meeker Swamp viewing platform (built in part by volunteers like John Aiello).  The platform is a good 10 feet tall looking down over the swamp and a signboard highlights the area’s designation as an Audubon Important Bird area, part of the Shepaug Forest Block.

Back on the yellow trail you’ll cross Bee Brook again (on a newly rebuild Clarke’s Bridge built in spring 2022) and another series of boardwalks before making the steep climb to the first overlook.  It is a challenging climb, but well worth the effort.  The Macricostas Overlook has views south down over the field you just hiked through and beyond to the hills of Washington.

Past the overlook is another climb towards Waramaug’s Rock.  The ground does eventually level out and the humid (at least in June) buggy lowlands are replaced by breezy highlands.

Waramaug’s Rock is an amazing view, easily in my top 10 for the state.  The rocky area has three good views north down to Lake Waramaug and west towards New York.

There is also Waramaug’s Trail which leads steeply down to June Road along the lake.  This trail dates back to at least the 70s and was once the main way to reach the overlook. It was officially protected in 2012.