Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy protects more than 13,000 acres of land including 41 working farms, over 160 wildlife sanctuaries, and 21 nature preserves open to the public with hiking trails.

About Our Trails

NCLC protects and maintains 21 trail systems for your enjoyment year-round, each with different features, characteristics, and levels of difficulty. Whether you want a leisurely stroll through a meadow, an intense hike up a mountain, or a prime birdwatching spot, we have something for you.  Our trails generally have natural surfaces that may include constructed footbridges, steps, boardwalks, natural obstacles, and a range of habitats and terrain. Each trail map indicates whether a trail is an easy, moderate, or difficult hike, as well as the approximate trail length.

Our trails are open from sunrise to sunset, dogs must be on a leash, and all trash carried out. Motorized vehicles are prohibited except for power-driven mobility devices. There is no guarantee of winter maintenance in parking areas and all trails are to be used at your own risk. Please contact NCLC with any questions at info@ctland.org. We are happy to make suggestions for trails that may be the most suitable for you.

Accessible Trails

For our friends with (and without) mobility aids, devices, or equipment, we recommend visiting Wimisink Preserve in Sherman with a 330-foot-long boardwalk accessible from the parking lot. The northern boardwalk has a gentle slope and is 5-feet wide with curbing.  The boardwalk extends onto a protected 57-acre freshwater wetland complete with a wildlife and bird viewing platform with a bench and a railing. Bring your binoculars or just enjoy the fresh air and sounds of nature! Visit the Wimisink Preserve page for photos and a map.

Explore by Car

Don’t want to leave the car? Explore the Town of New Milford’s Barn Quilt Trail, where 19 historic barns have been adorned with a unique wooden “quilt” square painted by the Village Center for the Arts.  Two of the sites you’ll drive past are working farms owned and protected by NCLC: Smyrski Farm Preserve and Hunt Hill Farm Preserve.

We hope you enjoy hiking our trails!