When starting at the Bushy Hill Road trailhead, the first trail junction is a man-made pond once used for watering livestock. Keeping left on the blue trail you will encounter a large “wolf” tree. It is an ancient white oak that once provided shade to grazing animals in what was then an open field. Continuing down the blue trail and bearing left on the red trail will bring hikers to a short steep descent into a pleasant glen on the Falls River. At this location the sharp eyed will on the far bank see the ruins of an ancient rude bridge. It is presumed to have been used for moving farm animals and lumber across the Falls River.
Continuing on the red trail and keeping left along the river, hikers cross a series of small bridges and ultimately a reach a viewing bench near a cascade and "Elephant Rock" along the green trail. Continuing on and keeping left leads to a bridge at the top of another cascade along the blue trail. The hike is nearly over when the pond seen at the beginning of the walk comes into view.
The forest canopy consists of oak, hickory, birch, beech and ash trees. Red maples dominate wet regions and younger forest areas are full of red cedar, dogwood and black cherry. In wet areas the understory features spicebush, sweet pepper bush, cinnamon fern, skunk cabbage, false hellebore and cardinal flowers. In dry areas the understory consists of mountain laurel, various ferns and wildflowers including violets, Solomon’s seal, rattlesnake plantain, partridgeberry, lady’s slipper, indian pipes and wintergreen.
The properties abound with wildlife: white-tailed deer, fox, raccoon and squirrels may be seen, along with a host of birds, including woodpeckers, crows, hawks and owls. Springtime brings warblers, sparrows, thrushes, vireos, and flycatchers.
Bushy Hill Preserve and Platt Property are contiguous totaling 137 acres separately owned by the Town of Essex and the Essex Land Trust. Much of the land in these properties was used for agriculture beginning in the mid 1800s. The traces of old farm and logging roads crisscross the properties and serve as the backbone of the trail network. There are lively streams and several wetland areas that feed the Falls River. The Platt property is mostly lowland adjacent to the Falls River. The original Bushy Hill land was purchased in 1974 by the Town of Essex from Adelaide M. Warner with the help of state and federal funding. The Essex Land Trust acquired the Platt property in 2007.
Our preserve rules and dog policy can be found on the Essex Land Trust website.
There are two trailheads, both are accessed by following Main Street, Ivoryton to Bushy Hill Road. The first and more difficult to walk is a steep, narrow and often wet trail between #25 and #27 Oak Ledge Dr. This entrance does not have designated parking. The second and more popular trailhead is between #60 and #68 Bushy Hill Road. It has parking for three or four cars.
Please be respectful of the neighbors and do not block access to their driveways or property.
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