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The Nature Conservancy

Explore Connecticut’s Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy was started in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951 and the Connecticut Chapter was co-founded in 1954 by Dr. Richard H. Goodwin and Dr. William A. Niering.  The chapter’s goals have been to identify critical lands, protect them, and steward them for the future.

At one time the chapter held over 18,000 acres across 70 different properties.  Though many have been transferred to states, towns, and land trusts.  The Connecticut chapter has about 12,000 members.

Links

Property List:

  • Burnham Brook –★★– 2.2 miles – A great hike except that it can be too overgrown to navigate easily, two memorial plaques along the loop
  • Cathedral Pines
  • Chapman Pond –★★★– 3 miles – A hiking loop with cascades and a Connecticut River camping area
  • Dennis Farm Preserve –★★– 2 miles – Out and back trail that connects to the 4H Camp
  • Devil’s Den
  • Gladys Foster Preserve –★★★– 3.3 miles – The preserve is small but allows access to the Cossaduck Bluffs section of the blue blaze Narragansett Trail
  • Griswold Point
  • Hollenbeck Preserve
  • Iron Mountain
  • Lord Cove Preserve
  • Milo Light Nature Preserve
  • Poquetanuck Cove –★★– 1.5 miles — A short loop trail with views of the cove
  • Ordway Preserve
  • Pleasant Valley Preserve
  • Pratt Cove Preserve
  • Rock Spring –★★– 3 miles – Occasionally overgrown trails in the Little River Valley that lead to an natural spring
  • Selden Creek –★★– 1.5 miles – A secluded ravine trail leads to views of Selden Creek and Selden Island State Park
  • Spiderweed Preserve –★★★– 2.7 miles – Highlighted by the ruins of a house on the property rugged trails continue to a rocky top and seasonal view
  • Sunny Valley Preserve
  • Weir Preserve

River to Ridgetop North

★★★★☆

Johnston Preserve, Birch Hill Road, Lyme, CT, USA

River to Ridgetop North Pleasant Valley Preserve, Jewett Preserve, Johnston Preserve Lyme Land Trust, Lyme Town Park, The Nature Conservancy 920 acres in Lyme, CT  Parking: North… Read more…

Mount Higby

★★★★☆

41.539191, -72.744306

Mount Higby Blue Blaze Trail and The Nature Conservancy in Middlefield and Middletown, CT Parking: Middle: Shoulder parking at the end of Preston Ave, Meriden, CT South… Read more…

Dennis Farm Preserve

★★☆☆☆

21 Dennis Rd, Pomfret Center, CT, USA

Dennis Farm Preserve The Nature Conservancy 380 acres in Pomfret, CT Parking: Small pull of near 21 Dennis Rd, Pomfret Center, CT Trail Map      Trails:…

Cossaduck Bluffs

★★★☆☆

41.461780, -71.906116

Narragansett Trail: Cossaduck Bluffs / Gladys Foster Preserve CFPA Blue Blaze Trail / The Nature Conservancy / Connecticut State Forest 755 acres in North Stonington, CT Parking:…

Poquetanuck Cove Preserve

★★☆☆☆

41.475123, -72.045024

Poquetanuck Cove Preserve The Nature Conservancy 234 acres in Ledyard, CT Parking: Small lot near 191 Avery Hill Rd, Ledyard, CT Trail Map         …

Spiderweed Preserve

★★★☆☆

41.518443, -72.599637

Spiderweed Preserve Middlesex Land Trust 157 acres in Middletown, CT Parking: Shoulder parking for about 5 cars near 80 Dripps Road, Middletown, CT Trail Map     …

Burnham Brook Preserve

★★☆☆☆

41.461261, -72.320150

Burnham Brook Preserve The Nature Conservancy Property 1,122 acres in East Haddam, CT Parking: Shoulder parking before 2 Dolbia Hill Road, East Haddam, CT No Official Trail Map … Read more…

Rock Spring Preserve

★★★☆☆

286 Pudding Hill Rd, Scotland, CT, USA

Rock Spring Preserve The Nature Conservancy 450 acres in Scotland, CT Parking: Small pull off near 286 Pudding Hill Rd Scotland, CT Trail Map         …

Chapman Pond Preserve

★★★☆☆

41.445753, -72.435977

Chapman Pond Preserve The Nature Conservancy and East Haddam Land Trust Property 700 acres in East Haddam, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 187 River Rd, East…

Walden Preserve

★★★☆☆

41.480951, -72.275345

Walden Preserve The Nature Conservancy managed by The Salem Land Trust 426.98 acres in Salem, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 191 Hagen Rd, Salem, CT Trail…

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