Van Epps Preserve
Date: 2021 and 2023
Size: 22.6 Acres
Location: Beacon Road – Route 42
Purchased by the Land Trust
Access to the hiking trail from Route 42 occurs via an 8-foot wide pasture road that passes by an open area bordered by a grove of conifers. This property is a gateway to the Naugatuck State Forest which abuts it on the north, and to the Mendell’s Folly trail system south of Route 42. Parking is located on the north side of Route 42 on a wide verge at the metal gate to the entrance.
NEW: To navigate Mendell’s Folly trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Ida Carrington Lowell Land
Date: 1968
Size: 27 Acres
Location: Cedar Road
Gift of Marion Jenkins
The first piece of property given to the Land Trust, the Ida Carrington Lowell Land, is a 27-acre tract of beautiful woodlands off Cedar Road on the west side of Bethany. Park on Cedar Road Cul-de-sac and walk west (on our right of way) along the stone wall until you get to the entrance at the break in the stone wall.
Mendell’s Folly
Date: 1971
Size: 125 Acres
Location: Beacon Road
Gift of Elizabeth L. “Tibby” Mendell
Encompassing 125 acres, Mendell’s Folly is the largest property owned by the Bethany Land Trust. It is located off Route 42, straddling the border between Bethany and Beacon Falls, and features a trail system covering 1.5 miles. Note: See map for new access points. Parking is available at the terminus of Northrop Road (then walk down the woods road or enter through the Woodward Preserve), or at the Van Epps Preserve, or along Mesa Drive. Limited parking is available on the south side of Route 42 at the Beacon Falls boundary.
NEW: To navigate Mendell’s Folly trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Whispering Pines Preserve
Date: 2023
Size: 49 Acres
Location: north of Briar Road
Gift of Irene Stahl
Whispering Pines, donated to the Land Trust by Irene Stahl, contains woodlands, streams and historic features that have been lovingly tended by both Irene and her late husband, Carlton Stahl. The Land Trust trail crew has restored a bridge across Bladen’s Brook and trails now connect Whispering Pines with the town’s Carrington Preserve and the Land Trust’s Bethany Farms trail systems. Roadside parking is available at the trailhead on 30 Briar Road.
NEW: To navigate Whispering Pines Preserve trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Hidden Brook Preserve
Date: 2024
Size: 36.1 Acres
Location: 89 Russell Road
Purchased by the Land Trust
Hidden Brook was purchased from the Giovanelly Family and contains woodlands, streams and a wooded swamp. The trail follows the unimproved portion of Atwater Road, winding 3/4 of a mile around the swamp and crossing a small stream, where it connects with the town’s Carrington Preserve and the Land Trust’s Whispering Pines and Bethany Farms trail systems. Roadside parking is available along Russell Road west of 103 Russell Road.
NEW: To navigate Hidden Brook Preserve trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Three Sisters Preserve
Date: 2023
Size: 20 Acres
Location: Amity Road
Purchased from the Connecticut Water Company
Acquired with funds generously donated to the Land Trust by the Zdru Family Fund, this parcel includes land in Bethany, Naugatuck and Prospect. The property has Beacon Hill Brook, a Class III Trout stream, a 0.5 mile hiking loop and an uplands portion that rises almost 300 feet higher, featuring steep escarpments on both sides of a spectacular ravine. Parking is available across the road from the trail entrance on Amity Road.
NEW: To navigate Three Sisters Preserve trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Welch Parcels
Welch’s Way Cedar Meadows Trail Easement
Date: 1994 Date: 1993
Size: 50′ x 700′ Size: 0.44 Acres
Location: Sperry Road Location: Carrington Road
Gift of Susan Chafee Welch Subdivision set aside
Cedar Meadow Scenic Easement Hunt Welch Conservation Easement
Date: 1993 Date: 1998
Size: 0.7 Acre Size: 18.2887 Acres
Location: Carrington Road Location: Sperry and Carrington Roads
Subdivision set aside Gift of Susan Chafee Welch
Hunt Welch Preserve North
Date: 2000
Size: 3.526 Acres
Location: Carrington Road
Gift of Susan Chafee Welch
Edna L. Delano Nature Sanctuary & Rodell’s Roost for Robins
Delano Sanctuary Rodell’s Roost
Date: 1996 Date: 1999
Size: 2.48 Acres Size: 3.67 Acres
Location: Amity Road Location: Falls Road
Gift of Hubert and William Delano Gift of Janet and Michael Rodell
Bethany Farms*
Date: 1997
Size: Size: 71.86 Acres (10 open space parcels) 2 Acres (easements)
Location: Bethmour & Russell Roads
Subdivision set aside
Hein Trails*
Date: 1997
Size: 6.68 Acres (open space parcel) 4 Acres (easements)
Location: Gift of Norvin and Jeanne Hein
Hershman’s Hollow
Date: 1998
Size: 2.24 Acres
Location: Litchfield Turnpike
Gift of Dorothy and James Hershman
Hall Property
Date: 1996
Size: 8.08 Acres
Location: Downs Road
Gift of John and Betty Shaw
Luke Hill Preserve
Date: 2004
Size: 11.99 Acres
Location: Luke Hill and Amity Roads
Subdivision set aside
Shaw Property
Date: 1995
Size: 10 Acres
Location: Sperry Road
Gift of Marjorie Shaw
Podgwaite Preserve
Date: 1998
Size: 8 Acres
Location: Carrington and Cheshire Roads
Gift of Ruth and Dorothy Podgwaite and Elizabeth Schwenk
Kleeman/Egger Property Raymond Stronk Memorial Site
Date: 1996 Date: 1994
Size: 2.43 Acres Size: 0.5 Acres
Location: Amity Road Location: Grant Road
Gift of James Kleeman & M. David Egger Gift of John Pease
Niederman/Sizer Field
Date: 2005
Size: 3.25 Acres
Location: Sperry Road
Amber Fields Scenic & Conservation Easement
Date: 1990
Size: 3.272 Acres + 0.5 Acres
Location: Pinebrook Crossing
Subdivision set aside
Donnelly Property
Date: 1996
Size: 1.1 Acre
Location: Anthony Court
Gift of John Donnelly
Clements Trail Easement
Date: 1992
Size: 20′ x 1000′
Location: Carriage Drive
Subdivision set aside
Watch Hill Trail Easement
Date: 2003
Size: 2,500′ by varying width
Location: Mesa Drive and Falls Road
Subdivision set aside
Liuzzi Trail Easement
Date: 1997
Size: 20′ x 1,260′
Location: Litchfield Turnpike
Subdivision set aside
Old Dayton Road Easement
Date: 1993
Size: 50′ x 915′
Location: Dayton to Luke Hill Road
Subdivision set aside
Split Rock Trail Easement
Date: 1998
Size: 25′ x 1,400′
Location: Split Rock Drive
Subdivision set aside
Podoloff Trail Easement
Date: 2002
Size: 25′ x 800′
Location: Russell Road
Gift of Jody Podoloff
Spykman Preserve (Easement)
Date: 1995
Size: 110.1 Acres
Location: Schilf, Old Mill, and Bethway Roads
Gift of Patricia Winer and Angelica Harter
Carrington Preserve
Date: 2014
Size: 73.75 Acres
Location: Bethany Farms and Farm View Roads
Purchased by the Town of Bethany
NEW: To navigate Carrington Preserve trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Veterans Memorial Park Trails
Size: 149 Acres
Location: Beacon Road
purchased by the Town of Bethany
NEW: To navigate Veterans Memorial Park trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Bethany Airport Trails
Size: 112 Acres
Location: Amity and Fairwood Roads
purchased by the Town of Bethany
NEW: To navigate the Bethany Airport trails using your phone, download a georeferenced map here and load the Avenza App (free). Additional information is provided at the bottom of this page.
*Note: The Bethany Farms and Hein Trails parcels and easements are considered one parcel and one easement for statistical purposes.
GEOREFERENCED TRAIL MAPS: A georeferenced trail map can be used with the free Avenza Maps PDF Reader to view your real-time location on the trail map! The Connecticut Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection provides basic instructions for downloading the App and loading a trail map. Click here.