Bushy Hill/Platt
137 acres – 4 trails. Stewards: Elizabeth Stulga (215-847-1183), Terry Stewart (860 304-1928), Gordon Laing (860-581-0589). Access: off Bushy Hill Road, Ivoryton. Dogs must be on leash.
Canfield Meadow Woods
369 acres in Essex and Deep River – 15 trails. Stewards: Tom Soboleski (860-304-1503), George Wendell (860-767-1593), Chuck Grusse (860-767-7577). Access: Book Hill Woods Road, Dennison Road and Eagle Ridge Drive, Essex, and off Route 154 in Deep River.
Cross Lots
15 acres – Multiple trails. Stewards: Al Macgregor (860-767-0693), Mark Kafez (860-581-0526). Pollinator Meadow, Lisa Krall (860-305-5786). Access: 40 West Avenue, Essex, diagonally across from the Essex Public Library.
Doanes’ Woods, James Glen, & Woodja Hill
40 acres – Doanes’ Woods (4 trails), James Glen (2 trails), Woodja Hill (3 trails). Stewards: Mike Augusta (860-772-7280), Mark Kayfez (860-581-0526), David Newbegin (860-395-9035), Dirk Samuelson (860-391-2205), Ben Baylis (860-853-8355). Trail Monitor: Gery Barry. Access: Hudson Lane, Navy Lane, and Oxbow Lane, Essex.
Falls River Preserve, Falls River Park, Stanley Park, & Jean’s Island
56 Acres – 5 trails. Stewards – Falls River Preserve, John Matthiessen (860-227-3284) and Steve Hall (703-992-4705); Falls River Park and Stanley Park, Gordon Laing (860-581-0589); Jean’s Island: Bob & Sue Cornell (860-227-0104). Access: at the end of Falls River Drive, off Main Street, Ivoryton. Canoe/Kayak access to Mill Pond at Falls River Park on Falls River Drive.
Fern Ledge & Farm Hill
17 acres – 2 trails. Stewards: Dwight Fowler (802-324-6482), Jeff Hutchinson (860-395-7456). Access: next to Middlesex Hospital Occupational & Environmental Services facility, off Route 153, Essex and from the end of Carol Lane.
Heron Pond
29 acres – 5 trails. Steward: Mike Cunningham (617-947-2745), Co-Steward: Frank Hall. (860-989-0632). Access: Heron Pond Road, off Route 154, Essex.
Johnson Farm
49 acres – 4 trails Steward: Mark Carroza (860-951-5853) Birds Steward: John Mikstay (917-696-0589). Trail Monitor: Mark Brustelon. Access: Reed Hill Road, Ivoryton. Pedestrian access off Walnut Street, Ivoryton (no parking).
Morgana’s Place
Pocket park – Steward: Wilk Miller (646-618-1906). Access: Corner of North Main and New City Streets, Essex.
Osage Trails
8 acres – 1 trail. Steward: Eric Tillman (203- 249-8158). Elizabeth ‘Diz’ Callender Perennial Garden, Pam Peters (973-809-6832). Access: Take Maple Avenue off North Main Street to Foxboro Point Road, Essex.
The Preserve
968 acres – 10 trails extend 6.5 miles. Stewards: East & West: Dick Hollyday (917-952-3643 ) and Dwight Fowler (802-324-6482) – West: Todd Samuelson (860-304-7790). Trails vary in difficulty from easy to moderate. The Essex section comprises 71 acres with access of the East and West sections from Ingham Hill Road, off Route 153 or Plains Road.
Thatchbed Island & South Cove
8 acres – No trails or public access. Stewards: Paul Greenberg (860-767-7355), Bob & Sue Cornell (860-227-0104). Access to South Cove from canoe/kayak launch at foot of Main Street and from Essex Town Park, on Main Street, Essex.
Tiley Pratt Pond
9 acres – 1 trail. Steward: Corrine Terry (770-547-8649. Access: on unmarked Kreis Lane off Laurel Road, Essex; look for Essex Land Trust sign.
Toby Hill Ridge
23 acres (13 in Essex & 10 in Westbrook) – 2 trails. Steward: Eric Tillman (203-249-8158). Access: Toby Hill Road, off of Pond Meadow, Ivoryton.
Turtle Creek
96 acres (62 in Essex & 34 in Old Saybrook) – 5 trails. Stewards: Wright & Deb Carreau (860-372-5293), Co-Steward: Paul Robinson (917-699-9007). Access: on Watrous Point Rd., off Route 154, Old Saybrook. Beach and canoe/kayak access from Connecticut River. Dogs must be on leash.
Viney Hill Brook Park
104 acres – 6 trails. Stewards: Tom Soboleski (860-304-1503), Kay Tucker (860-767-0397). Access: Cedar Grove Terrace: passive recreation entrance; Hillside Drive: active, passive recreation and paw park entrance, Essex. Dogs must be on leash.
Windswept Ridge
47 acres – 5 trails. Stewards: Jeff Croyle (845-323-0039), Corrine Terry (770-547-8649). Access from 3 locations: behind Essex Financial Services office, Route 153, Essex; at end of Windermere Way, off Mare’s Hill Road, Ivoryton; at end of Windsor Lane and Edgewood Avenue, off Main Street, Ivoryton.
