Most of the preserve is hardwood forest with scattered wet areas and brooks. In 2012, Land Trust volunteers completed the construction of a sturdy bridge across Roaring Brook. This bridge joins the west side of the property to the main body of the preserve, allowing access for nearby residents.
The white trail has some long, moderate elevations and leads close to the pond. The yellow trail is accessed from the white trail or from Woodmont Circle. The red trail can be accessed from the white or yellow trail. It is fairly flat terrain through the forested areas of the preserve.
The blue trail can be accessed from the yellow trail or from the Sheepskin Hollow Road parking area. This trail follows along some waterways and to a lovely seasonal waterfall. The purple trail connects the blue and red trails. The orange trail connects the yellow and blue trails.
Part of the preserve is open water and swamp, with active beaver colonies. The beaver dam is at the southern end of the pond, near where a man-made stone dam was once located. Local legend supports the idea that the pond was mucky, and an entire team of horses was lost in it.
The shallow pond is surrounded by buttonbush, alder, tussock sedge, sweet pepperbush, and other emergent wetland vegetation. The pond is part of the headwaters for Roaring Brook, which eventually flows into the Connecticut River at Hadlyme. Roaring Brook is bordered by huge boulders and picturesque cascading waterfalls.
This preserve is part of the Lyme Forest Block Important Bird Area.
From Route 82, take Mt. Parnassus Road (Route 434) east for about 3 miles. Turn right on Sheepskin Hollow Road. Continue to the small dirt parking area on the left.
From Route 82, take Mt. Parnassus Rd east about 3 1/2 miles. Turn right on Warner Road. Turn right on Ridgebury Road. Park in the cul-de-sac. The trailhead is facing south, marked by white blazes, between the last two houses in the cul-de-sac.
From Route 82, take Mt. Parnassus Rd east about 3 1/2 miles. Turn right on Warner Road. Turn right on A.P. Gates Road. Turn right on Woodmont Circle. The trailhead is on the right, marked by the yellow blazes.
Success! A new password has been emailed to you.
