Date visited: 11/1/2021

This nature preserve features a one and a half mile loop trail that runs along side Falls River. There's a short climb up some rocks, but otherwise it's a pretty easy trail.

Date visited: 2/20/2021

This is a hiking area located mostly in Essex, that goes through a conservation area along side the Connecticut River. The start of the trails are in Old Saybrook. The snow was packed which made for an easy hike around the loop trail.

Date visited: 4/25/2023

This is a nice short, but sweet trail that runs just over a mile. It is half woods and half open field. It was the perfect after work hike.

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Date visited: 4/25/2023

This is a tiny triangle shaped park in the center of the village of Ivoryton in the town of Essex. It's size is less than one acre. We drove by, and thought it would be a nice spot to take some photos. After I started, I saw a sign that said dogs are not allowed in the park from April 1st to October 1st. Really? C'mon Essex! What gives? (There was a dog poop bag dispenser in the parking lot, so definitely some mixed messages here). Adjacent to the park is the Ivoryton Playhouse, so we took some photos over there too. There's really not much to do here anyway, but I can't for the life of me think of any good reason that dogs aren't allowed during the summer months.

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Date visited: 5/11/2021

This area, simply called "The Preserve" is a 963 acre area located in Old Saybrook, Essex and Westbrook. Most of it is owned by the State of Connecticut, with a small section owned by Essex Land Trust. There are great trails here. We walked a loop trail that All-Trails calls "Pequot Swamp Pond Trail". This trail was almost entirely located in the Old Saybrook section of the preserve, with a small section in Essex. The picture below is from the Essex portion.