Sheep Farm

Sheep Farm

Groton Open Space Association

63 acres in Groton, CT

Parking: Shoulder parking near 248 Hazelnut Hill Road, Groton, CT

Trail Map          Trails: 3.5 miles      Trail Difficulty: Easy to Moderate ⓘ Rating System:Easiest – Paved, Accessible Trail
Easy – Dirt, mostly smooth and wide
Moderate – Rolling terrain, variable width, standard rocks and roots
Difficult – Steep elevation and/or challenging
Strenuous – Likely long or technical segments with possible drops/exposure.     Rating: ★★★☆☆ ⓘ Rating System:★☆☆☆☆ – Unmaintained, short hike, or not much to explore
★★☆☆☆ – Enjoyable short hike usually for locals
★★★☆☆ – Great hike with highlights, worth seeking out
★★★★☆ – Great area to explore worth repeat visits
★★★★★ – Must-see

I started my hike from the main parking area off Hazelnut Hill Road.  I first explored the sweeping picnic area around the entrance complete with picnic tables, a rocky ledge with both plastic and rustic wood chairs, and the site of the farm foundation ruins.  The ruins are the Samuel Edgecomb house, which dated to the early 1700s.

I then hopped on the red trail heading downhill on well worn path past a large glacial erratic though alternatively you could take the yellow trail to catch the properties old well.  The yellow and red trails briefly meet and overlap for a stretch, splitting again right before Fort Hill Brook.  I took the yellow trail further down for a view of the waterfall along the brook.  A well built bridge brings you across and there are more chairs in this beautiful spot.  The falls are maybe a combined 10 feet tall with the main drop about 5ft tall. I’d love to revisit after a solid rain because I’m sure it expands across the more of the ledge to drop in several places.

I was pressed for time so I took the white blazed trail next to the falls, climbing past a small broken dam for what must have been mill. I then took the blue trail north to connect to the red loop.  This works its way through the forest to meet the same brook further upstream at set of sloping cascades.  The trail then enters a couple switchbacks along interesting rock features before returning to the far edge of the main parking area.

I hope to return soon to explore the southern yellow, blue, and white trail sections.

History:

Preserved in 2010.  The Groton Open Space Association received the Excellence in Land Conservation Award: Outstanding Land Acquisition Effort from the Connecticut Land Conservation Council in 2011. From the GOSA site:

This property had been in continuous use as a farm since the 18th century and well into the 1990’s. The Groton Town owned Jabez Smith House Museum nearby on Route 117 and the Sheep Farm were once part of the same property. Samuel Edgecomb, Jr., purchased the land and the active grist mill in the 1750’s. Many of the early 18th-century farm features are well preserved including a grist mill dam, the mills’ water control foundation, a second mill site, and water controlled channel through a narrow rock gorge. The activities of an early owner, Samuel Edgecomb, are mentioned frequently in the historic Hempstead Diaries.

Links:

• Sue Sutherland – The Sheep Farm

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Last updated June 10th, 2024