Date visited: 2/12/2021
This park features a wide open meadow. I imagine the lack of shade could make this a tough hike in the summer. Of course, we arrived in the middle of winter on a cold day, so that wasn't a problem! A part of the loop trail wasn't packed down and we basically had to make our own path.
Date visited: 2/12/2021
We tackled this on a winter day. Most of the path we followed was well worn down and easy to traverse, but a portion of the trail wasn't packed down so we had to trudge through. The dogs didn't seem too bothered by it. The trail actually starts in Haddam, but the majority of it is located in Durham. The pond itself was frozen over and covered with snow, so you can't really tell it's actually there. The picture below is from the Haddam section.
Date visited: 3/20/2022
This is pretty much a mowed path around a field, with an old barn. The foot bridge leads to an alternate exit. It was the first day of spring, and I was thinking to myself that it's a good thing the ticks weren't out yet because this place would be crwawling with them.... Well, I guess now that spring has sprung, so did the ticks, because I was pulling them off the dogs the rest of the afternoon!
Date visited: 6/9/2024
This preserve can be accessed from behind the elementary school off Saybrook Road outside of school hours. There are a series of trails here. We hiked the "Swan Hill Loop" trail from the All-Trails app. There is an access path behind the school that leads to a clearing and the main trail head. From there we followed the path, which crosses Bible Rock Brook over a bridge that sways as you walk over it. The loop starts on the other side of the bridge, and features a 200 foot climb. We went clockwise around the loop, where the loop had a more gradual incline. Three quarters of the way through, we reach the peak, which sports a scenic view of the Connecticut River off in the distance. The last quarter of the loop down was very steep. This was more challenging than many of the trails we tackled recently, but generally not too difficult of a hike.