Our 2026 membership campaign is active now.
Every donation advances conservation of our natural resources.
Join us or renew your membership here.
Outings
& Events
Visit our new EHLT Events Calendar to learn of more planned events.
Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans on hikes on our preserves.
Dogs must be leashed at all times
while on EHLT preserves.
Visit the 'Our Preserves' page
for info on each preserve with trails or use our Interactive Trail Map. Use the contact link at the bottom of this page to report trail issues.
Counting steps as part of your exercise routine?
Preserve-like terrain averages about 2080 steps per mile. The length of each trail is listed on the printed maps for each preserve available at the trailheads and downloadable from the interactive trail map and on each preserve webpage.
Color Blind Trailblazing
The blue & red trails at our Miller Farm Preserve are now blazed with a white "B" for blue and "R" for red to help colorblind hikers follow the trails more easily.
Please share your impression of this change by emailing trail.monitor@ehlt.org.
Hunting Season
Hunting is not permitted on EHLT preserves but may be permitted in areas adjacent to some EHLT preserves.
Please, for your safety, always wear orange when in the woods during hunting season.
More Chances to Explore Nature
East Haddam Land Trust and Lyme Land Trust are working together to encourage participation in our individual and jointly sponsored events.
For information on events offered by our neighbors at Lyme Land Trust, visit their Events page. You may want to join their Tuesday or Wednesday morning hikes/walks or attend one of their other events.
Stay up to date ... subscribe to our weekly emails.
Thursday, January 1, 2026 1-5:30 pm
New Year's Day Hike & Gathering
EHLT members are invited to greet the first day of 2026 with an invigorating outdoor trek followed by a friendly gathering. Our annual New Year's Day Hike at Burnham Brook Preserve will be either a more strenuous hike over changing elevations or a relaxed wander through the Burnham Brook fields. You may choose your hike based on your level of comfort. We will then gather in the Goodwin House, the former home of Richard Goodwin, one of EHLT's founding directors, and the current location of EHLT's office for food, refreshments, and warm conversation.
Please RSVP no later than December 28.
If you donated to EHLT in 2025, you are a member through 2025.
If not, you may join here. We would love to welcome you to our community.
Sunday, January 11, 1-3 pm
Woodland Wander
This slower-paced hike, at Chapman Pond Preserve and led by land trust directors, is designed for those who like casual walks through the woods with time to explore nature. The trails have changing elevations. We suggest using poles and wearing sturdy hiking shoes. Meet at the parking area just off a sharp bend in the northern end of River Road in East Haddam. Leashed dogs are welcome to come along with their owners. Walkers are invited to bring light snacks to share along with EHLT refreshments for an after-hike tailgate.
Monday, January 12, 1:30-3 pm
Words from the Woods Book Circle
Each month, book circle participants discuss different nature science writings. For this gathering, we will share thoughts on Is A River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane. Meet at the community room of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, on the opposite side of Main Street, East Haddam, from Rathbun Library. The book circle is a collaboration between East Haddam Land Trust and the East Haddam Library System. Check at the Rathbun Library for copies of each month's book, You are welcome to join even if you haven't read or completed the book.
Tuesday, January 13, 6:30 pm
Barberry, Mugwort, and Bittersweet, Oh My!
Invasive plants are choking out the native plants in our region. Join us to learn how to manage these invasive plants from Jim Natale of Wilder Gardens, LLC, who specializes in invasive plant management and native plant landscaping.
You will learn about invasive species and the harm they cause to our landscapes, and how to create your own native plant landscape. Plus, Jim will show examples of his completed work, explain the processes involved, provide a list of plant species he uses, and will answer your questions.
East Haddam Land Trust and Lyme Land Trust, in cooperation with the East Haddam Library System, invite you to East Haddam Grange Hall, 488 Town Street, East Haddam. We hope to see you there.
Friday, January 23 & Saturday, January 24, 7-9 pm
January Thaw
Join us for our Second Annual January Thaw, a warm-hearted winter gathering at Ballek's Garden Center, Maple Avenue, East Haddam. Partake in botanical cocktails, canapés, and natural wine to lift your spirits.
This is a fundraiser benefiting East Haddam Land Trust and River Valley Personal Care Products, a nonprofit providing items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo/conditioner, incontinence products, diapers, menstrual products, deodorant, and similar items to those in need.
Tickets are $75 per person. Please register here. We hope to see you there!
Visit our new EHLT Events Calendar
to learn of more planned events this month.
Check 'Our Preserves' for info on each preserve with trails or use our Interactive Trail Map.
Use the contact link at the bottom of this page to report trail issues.
Visit a
Preserve
The East Haddam Interactive Trail Map provides trail, parking, and general information for trails maintained by East Haddam Land Trust, the Town of East Haddam, and The Nature Conservancy.
Find printed preserve trail maps at East Haddam's Municipal Office Complex.
We also have preserves and easements without trails where access is not practical or landowners maintain the use of the property.
Please note, hunting is not permitted on EHLT preserves, but please wear orange during hunting season as a safety precaution.
Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans on hikes on our preserves and must remain leashed at all times.
We currently protect 900+ acres of land in preserves and through property easements. Many of our preserves have marked hiking trails open to the public.
Enjoy hiking at East Haddam Land Trust preserves with trails. Use our Interactive Trail Map on your mobile and desktop devices for information on East Haddam Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Town of East Haddam trails. Leashed dogs may accompany hikers on East Haddam Land Trust trails and must remain leashed at all times. Find downloadable trail maps on each preserve page.
East Haddam Land Trust
preserves with trails:
-
Mangano-Mazzella Farm Preserve (aka Honey Hill Farm)
East Haddam Land Trust preserves with historic sites:
Town of East Haddam and Nature Conservancy open-space with trails :
-
Chapal Farm Preserve
-
Davison Memorial Walking Park
Contact
Us
We welcome curiosity and will reply to your questions as promptly as possible.
Message Us
Contact Us
Mail:
East Haddam Land Trust
P.O. Box 122
East Haddam, CT 06423
Email:
Phone:
(860) 484-3458