Making connections is key to smart land conservation.
Update: East Haddam Land Trust has one pending land acquisition that will connect existing conserved properties to create a larger greenway for wildlife and allow for extended public hiking and increased opportunities for connecting with nature. Click below to learn more.
Outings
& Events
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Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans on hikes on our preserves.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Stay up to date on our events ... subscribe to our weekly emails.
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New Year's Day Hike and Gathering
Wednesday, January 1, 2025, 1-3 pm (hike), gathering until about 5 pm
We ring in 2025 with a members-only hike followed by a gathering and sharing of warm-up foods. Members should register by 4 pm on December 28, 2024,
by emailing events@ehlt.org. Those who register will receive more information on the hike and gathering location.
Non-members are invited to join at www.ehlt.org
before registering for the hike and gathering.
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Stewardship Work Party
Saturday, January 18, 9:30 am to about noon
Location TBD.
Coffee and doughnuts at 9:15. Work begins at 9:30.
Woods Walk
Sunday, January 12, 1-3 pm
Pete Govert will lead this hike at Shugrue Farm Reserve, a 225-acre town of East Haddam open space property. The hike will be about 2 miles. Meet at the parking area off Lake Hayward Town Road. Hikers are invited to bring post-hike treats to share along with EHLT refreshments.
Words from the Woods Book Circle
Monday, January 13, 1:30-3 pm
Our Book Circle is a collaboration between East Haddam Land Trust and the East Haddam Library System at the Rathbun Library, Main Street, East Haddam. The January read is The Forest Unseen, A Year's Watch in Nature by David George Haskell. Check at the Rathbun for copies of the book.
Interested in the topic but didn’t finish the book? Join the gathering and hear others’ insights!
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January Thaw Social
Saturday, January 25, 7-9 pm
Warm Your Spirits with Botanical Sips and Natural Wine at this unique community fundraiser benefiting East Haddam Land Trust and the River Valley Personal Care Products Project, providing essential hygiene items to our neighbors.
Join us at Ballek's Garden Center to escape the winter chill in the warm greenhouses while indulging in a variety of handcrafted cocktails (or mocktails) made with fresh botanical ingredients, craft beers, natural wines and locally sourced canapés.
Tickets are $50 and include drinks and food and a complimentary East Haddam Land Trust Membership. Purchase tickets here.
Whether you're a cocktail connoisseur or just looking for a fun night out, this event is perfect for everyone!
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Woods Walk
Sunday, January 26, 1-3 pm
Join us at our newest preserve, Mangano-Mazzella Farm Preserve (aka Honey Hill Farm). Naturalist, Steve Dedman will lead us through this 123-acre property with about 2 miles of trails. Parking is directly across Honey Hill Road at the Saunders Preserve. Hikers are invited to bring post-hike treats to share along with EHLT refreshments.
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Bells of East Haddam - Finders Keepers
Get out on a trail to search for one of the Bells of East Haddam.
Bells are hidden within arm's reach of the trails at an EHLT preserve.
If you find a bell you may keep it, but just one bell per person, please.
Any bell finder not already an EHLT member will be given a free 1-year membership.
Follow the link for more information. Happy hunting!​​
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Check back here and on our Facebook page for event postponements, cancellations, or updates.
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.
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Find printed preserve trail maps at East Haddam's Municipal Office Complex.
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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.
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Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans on hikes on our preserves.
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. Find downloadable trail maps on each preserve page:​
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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 :
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Our Latest
on Instagram
Scroll through photos of our preserves, hikes, paddles, and other activities.
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