With the first day of Spring approaching and warmer temperatures in the air, residents will seek more outdoor activities. A benefit of living in the backcountry is the proximity of numerous walking and hiking trails. Within a few minutes and miles, there are six properties from which to choose. While these offer similar terrain and sights, are open from sunrise to sundown, and have dog restrictions, there are slight differences among the sites to consider.
BABCOCK PRESERVE: One of the Town of Greenwich Parks is located on North Street. The entrance to a small parking area is about a half mile above the Merritt Parkway. It consists of 300 acres and 7 miles of trails with loops of various distances. This is a well-known and popular venue that attracts families and dogs (leashes required) on trails through wooded forests with no spots to rest or view.
FAIRCHILD WILDFLOWER SANCTUARY: A part of the Greenwich Audubon, this 135-acre spot sits by itself on North Porchuck Road with a parking lot above the intersection of West Old Mill Road. This site has eight trails and a variety of terrain that includes a deep shaded gorge, wetland meadow, marsh with boardwalk, stream, and pond with seats to observe and listen to water birds. This is a quiet sanctuary with few visitors and a wide selection of plants in a natural setting. Bring boots for walking around the wetland area.
CONVERSE BROOK PRESERVE: Owned and managed by The Greenwich Land Trust since 2022, this new 80-acre addition to the backcountry is located on Cherry Valley Road between Bayberry Lane and Old Mill Road. There’s no sign at the entrance, but there is a clearing and parking lot with a map and structure by the opening to the trail. Horses are allowed on some of the trails, which are well-marked. The Converse Brook flows through it with a couple of bridges. This a good place for short walks and quiet places to sit. There are not many visitors.
NICHOLS NATURE PRESERVE: This is another smaller site with 94 acres owned and managed by The Greenwich Riding and Trails Association (GRTA.) The site was purchased from The Nature Conservancy in 2004. It is located off the northern part of Bedford Road on West Lane, which dead ends at the entrance to the preserve. Parking is on the side of the lane in front of the gate. There are no bikes or dogs allowed. Horses are allowed, and horse jumps are located off the trails. One drawback to the area is the noise from nearby I-684 in New York State.
GREENWICH AUDUBON CENTER: A well-established property since 1943, the center has a number of educational services and events at 613 Riversville Road at the intersection with John Street. The 290-acre site has trails that are open every day (the Center building itself is open only 4 days a week). There is a small lake between two ridges, which attracts visitors, as well as an upper meadow and field with good bird watching. This typically is a popular place to hike or walk with elevation changes.
FOUNDATION HOUSE: This is a privately owned 80-acre site at 124 Old Mill Road with a 100-year-old manor house as the center of the estate. In 2021, the new owner changed Old Mill Farm’s name to Foundation House. The center is committed to being a local, safe place for robust meetings, workshops, lectures, and events. At the same time, a 2.5-mile trail was created with fences around the perimeter of the grounds for residents to walk with their dogs. The trail does not include access to the immediate grounds near the manor itself. There is a separate entrance to the trail through a gate to the right of the gated driveway for the cars of walkers. The trail loop in spots is very close to the noisy Merritt Parkway, which interrupts the otherwise quiet surroundings. There are often only a couple of walkers there at a time.
