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

• Official Connecticut Site
• CTMQ – The Nature Conservancy

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