Essex Land Trust and Other Designated Open Spaces
This map shows the properties owned by the Essex Land Trust along with other major protected passive recreation areas in Essex. These include several properties owned by the Essex Conservation Commission and jointly managed with the Essex Land Trust, as well as The Nature Conservancy's Turtle Creek Sanctuary. Below the town map is a list of all properties on the map indicating their size, number of trails, the name and contact number for the property steward and specifics about where to access.
For detailed downloadable individual property brochures which include a description and map, please navigate to the Trails page on this website.
Anyone interested in helping out with property maintenance or in becoming a property steward should email the Land Trust: info@essexlandtrust.org.
The following town map gives the visitor an overview of Town of Essex Open Space. It can be down loaded by clicking HERE.
Properties & Stewards
Bushy Hill/Platt – 137 acres – 4 trails – Stewards: Terry Stewart (860 304-1928), Richard Helmecki (860-767-2219) – Access: off Bushy Hill Road, Ivoryton.
Canfield-Meadow Woods – 300 acres – 15 trails – Stewards: Roger Field (860-767-8559), George Wendell (860-767-1593) – Access: Book Hill Woods Road, Dennison Road and Eagle Ridge Drive, Essex. Off of Route 154, Deep River.
Cross Lots – 15 acres – Multiple trails – Stewards: Al Macgregor (860-767-0693), Fred Szufnarowski (860-227-6416), Leif Owens (651-503-5485). Pollinator Garden, Pam Peters (973-809-6832) – Access: 40 West Avenue, Essex, diagonally across from the Essex Public Library.
Falls River, Falls River Park, Jean’s Island – 56 Acres – 5 trails – Stewards: John Matthiessen (860-1222), Wilk Miller (646-618-1906) – Access: at the end of Falls River Drive, off Main Street, Ivoryton. Canoe/Kayak access to Mill Pond at Falls River Park.
Fern Ledge, Farm Hill Estates – 17 acres – 1 trail – Stewards: Adrienne Brochu (860-767-9830), Steve Bancroft (860-767-2280) – Access: next to Middlesex Hospital Occupational Medicine facility, off Route 153, Essex.
North Cove & Great Meadow – 91 acres – No trails – Steward: Todd Samuelson (860-767-7298) – No public access by land. Canoe/Kayak access from Bushnell Street landing, Essex.
Heron Pond – 29 acres – 5 trails – Steward: Eric Leu (860-391-3652) – Access: Heron Pond Road, off Route 154, Essex.
James Glen (2 trails), Doanes’ Woods (4 trails), Woodja Hill (3 trails) – 40 acres –Stewards: Myron Stacks (860-510-3458), David Newbegin (860-767-9158), Dirk Samuelson (860-391-2250), James Daly (203-810-6960) – Access: Hudson Lane, Navy Lane, and Oxbow Lane, Essex.
Johnson Farm – 49 acres – 4 trails –Steward: Scott McCoid (869-227-6224). - Access: Reed Hill Road, Ivoryton. Pedestrian access off of Walnut Street, Ivoryton (no parking).
The Millrace – 7 acres – 2 trails – Steward: Scott McCoid (869-227-6224).– Access: at Main St./Walnut St. intersection and Ivory St., Ivoryton.
Morgana’s Place – Pocket park – Steward: Wilk Miller (646-618-1906) – Access: Corner of North Main Street and New City Street, Essex.
Osage Trails – 8 acres – 1 trail – Steward: Glenn Jacobsen (201-220-7480), David Sistare (860-941-9206). Diz Callender Perennial Garden, Pam Peters (973-809-6832): Access: Take Maple Avenue off North Main Street., onto Foxboro Point Road, Essex.
Pond Meadow – 25 acres – 2 trails – Steward: John Cosenza (860-767-0298) – Access: Park Road, off of Walnut Street, Ivoryton.
The Preserve – 923 acres (70 acres in Essex) – trails – Stewards: Myron Stacks (860-510-3458), Stuart Warner (201-240-4236) – Access: two parking locations on Ingham Hill Road, off of 153, Essex.
Stanley Park – Pocket Park – Steward: Wilk Miller (646-618-1906) – Access: Main Street, Centerbrook.
South Cove & Thatchbed Island – 8 acres – No trails – Steward: Paul Greenberg (860-767-7355) – Access: canoe/kayak launch from Essex Town Park, on Main Street, Essex.
Tiley Pratt – 9 acres – 1 trail – Steward: Myron Stacks (860-510-3458) – Access: on unmarked Kreis Lane off Laurel Road, Essex; look for Essex Land Trust sign.
Turtle Creek – 93 acres (66 in Essex) – Multiple trails – Steward: Dave Gumbart, TNC (860-568-6270) – Access: on Watrous Point Rd., off Route 154, Old Saybrook.
Viney Hill Brook – 104 acres – 6 trails – Steward: Frank Hall (860- 767-2355) – Access: Cedar Grove Terrace: passive recreation entrance; Hillside Drive: active, passive recreation and paw park entrance, Essex.
Windswept Ridge – 47 acres – 5 trails – Steward: Jeff Croyle (860-323-0039) – Access from 3 locations: behind Essex Financial offices, Route 153, Essex; at end of Windermere Way, off of Mare’s Hill Road, Ivoryton; at end of Windsor Lane, accessed from Edgewood Avenue, off of Main Street, Ivoryton.
