Chapal Farm consists of three properties - Patrell, Pizzini, and Boot Rock - that make up the beautiful and unique 109-acre Preserve that protects 3000 feet of the Eightmile River, a nationally designated Wild & Scenic River.
Chapal Farm Preserve includes several different trail options. The 1.1 mile red trail begins in the meadow going around the entire Patrell parcel with its Ice-Age geological features including eskers and kettle ponds. The 0.2 yellow trail winds down the esker, through the woods ending at Baker Lane. The 0.1 mile section of the blue trail connects across Baker Lane to the Pizzini blue trail. Additionally, there is an ADA compliant path leading from the the parking lot to the foot bridge over the Eightmile River, providing accessible fishing opportunities
Chapal Farm also provides habitats for a variety of wildlife as it contains vernal pools and perched wetlands that are home to many amphibians. Additionally, the forest cover of mixed hardwoods helps protect the riverbanks and maintain cool water temperatures essential for a healthy fish population. Old fields on the property provide habitat for ground-nesting birds and other wildlife. Chapal Farm is also part of the Lyme Forest Block Important Bird Area, making it a wonderful location for viewing migratory and overwintering woodland birds
Chapal Farm allows fishing along the Eightmile River. It has a paved trail providing handicapped access to the river. It is one end of the 14-mile Goodwin Trail that stretches from East Haddam to East Lyme. It offers stunning views of the Eightmile River from a 75-foot volunteer-built footbridge.
The 42-acre Patrell Property was acquired in 2007 by a coalition of land preservation organizations - the Towns of East Haddam and Lyme, the State of Connecticut, the Nature Conservancy, and the East Haddam Land Trust and the Lyme Conservation Land Trust.
The property was owned by the family of Oliver and Kay Patrell, who originally had the property approved for subdivision and listed for sale. An appraisal at that time gave the property value of $1.1 million. When approached with the idea of creating a preserve, however, they agreed to take the property off the market and negotiate a sale that would still meet their financial needs. Without the family’s willingness to work with the partner organizations and their desire to see the land conserved, this acquisition would never have become a reality.
The Pizzini Parcel and Boot Rock Preserve were acquired from the Pizzini family niece. The Pizzini family once used the property as a summer camp. The Boot Rock portion is so named by the Pizzini family because of the sole-shaped rock along the Eightmile River just north of the footbridge.
Learn more about the preserves on the Eightmile River website.
Heading east on Route 82, pass the junction with Route 156, look for a blue sign on your right for Chapal Farm/Boot Rock, about 50 yards from the junction. Parking is on a gravel base, trail starts to the left of the kiosk.
Turn onto Route 156. Follow Route 156 about 1/2 mile. Turn left onto Baker Lane. The entrance to the parking area is about 1/3 of a mile on the left.
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