Good for: BIRDING | HIKING
The Litchfield Land Trust offers approximately 13 miles of trails on five preserves. The heavily-wooded, 340-acre Prospect Mountain Preserve, for example, features more than six miles of trails, a high plateau, a 1,350-foot summit elevation, rock outcroppings, stone walls, former nickel mining sites, and more. Head here for details about all the preserves and trail maps.
Good for: BIRDING | HIKING
Litchfield Hills Audubon Society’s Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary, located on Route 254, was originally owned by longtime member and active birder Margery Boyd. She kept a daily record of the birds seen on the property for three decades! After her death in 1992, her cousin and heir gave the property to the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society. The 106 acres have well-marked trails, two ponds, a brook, and lots of birds, of course. More info and a trail map are found on their website.
Good for: BIKING | HIKING
The Litchfield Community Greenway is a work in progress and the completed sections are popular, especially as part of an extended way to experience the main property of White Memorial. In fact, a portion of the greenway overlays on White Memorial trails, and in the fall of 2021 the greenway added an impressive new boardwalk along a section of Bissell Road. The gorgeous map for the greenway, which roughly follows the route of the old Shepaug Valley Railroad, beautifully contextualizes the greenway’s connection to the town.
Good for: BOATING | FISHING | HIKING
Mount Tom State Park along Route 202 on the southwestern edge of Litchfield near the Washington border offers boating and a beach for swimming in the summer, and it’s popular in all seasons for the uphill hike to a signature stone tower at the top offering stunning panoramic views. More info can be found on the website.
Good for: BIRDING | HIKING | HORSEBACK RIDING | SNOWSHOEING
Topsmead State Forest (cared for by the Friends of Topsmead State Forest) is anchored by the English Tudor style “cottage” of Edith Morton Chase, built on land she received from her father, Henry, president of Chase Brass & Copper Company of Waterbury. In 1927 Ms. Chase purchased the adjacent Buell Farm, and on her death 1972 she left the estate to the State of Connecticut to preserve its natural beauty. The trails flow through woods and open meadows emanating from the cottage at the top of the mead. Check the website for details on visiting and cottage tours, and make sure to look at the great series of Lectures on the Lawn under Events.
Good for: BOATING | FISHING | SWIMMING
At 947 acres, Bantam Lake is Connecticut’s largest natural lake and a four-season haven. Much of the shoreline is owned by the White Memorial Foundation, whose hiking trails and Point Folly campground offer terrific lake views and access. The lake is popular for boating of all types, water-skiing and water sports, fishing, and swimming, as well as ice fishing, skating, and ice yachting in the winter. The Connecticut Ice Yacht Club has been a fixture on the lake at Point Folly for nearly 50 years.
Good for: BIKING | BIRDING | BOATING | HORSEBACK RIDING | FISHING | HIKING | SNOWSHOEING | CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
White Memorial Foundation safeguards 4,000 acres of preserves, much of it nestled against Bantam Lake, with 40 miles of trails crossing varied geography and habitats. The most famous may be the boardwalk trail around Little Pond, while the most intriguing may be the Ice House Ruins Trail. The conservation center and nature museum are located at the main property and offer family-friendly events year-round.