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Hiking trail (yellow blazes)
Hiking trail & cross-country
ski trail (red blazes)
Redding Land Trust Trails
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The Nature Conservancy's
Lucius Pond Ordway /
Devil's Den Preserve
Saving Nature
Visitor Use
A Patchwork of Habitats
The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation
organization working around the world to protect ecologically
important lands and waters for nature and people. Working
in all 50 states and more than 30 countries, we have protected
more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of
rivers worldwide.
Devil’s Den was created not only to protect the plants and animals
within its borders, but also to allow people to enjoy them. We
welcome you to hike, bird watch and take photos, but please refrain
from any activities that disturb the natural environment or other
visitors. Restroom facilities are not available.
Lucius Pond Ordway/Devil's Den Preserve is the largest
contiguous nature preserve in southwestern Connecticut, with
1,756 acres of woodlands, wetlands, streams, rock ledges and
rugged north-south ridges. Many of these ridges provide scenic
overlooks of the surrounding countryside.
The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut has protected more
than 50,000 acres across the state, maintains more than
60 local preserves and has approximately 28,000
members.
For More Information
Visit nature.org/connecticut.
Find Us on Facebook
Facebook.com/CT.NatureConservancy
The Nature Conservancy’s Devil’s Den Preserve
P.O. Box 1162, Weston, CT 06883
(203) 226-4991 · email - theden@tnc.org
The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut
55 Church Street, Floor 3, New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 568-6270 · email - ct@tnc.org
Directions to Devil's Den Preserve
For GPS navigation, direct to 33 Pent Road, Weston, CT.
From the Merritt Parkway: Take exit 42 for CT-57. Go north
on CT-57 for 3.8 miles, then bear right at flashing light to
follow CT-53 for 1.7 miles. Turn left on Godfrey Road West
and drive 0.5 miles. Make a right onto Pent Road. Road ends
at parking lot.
From I-84: Take exit 3 for US-7 S. Follow US-7 for 10 miles
and turn left onto CT-107. Take the first right onto CT-57.
Turn left onto Godfrey Road West and drive 0.6 miles.
Make a sharp left onto Pent Road. Road ends at parking lot.
JOIN TODAY...
The Mission of The Nature Conservancy
is to conserve the lands and waters on
which all life depends.
•• Trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
•• Hiking is permitted only on blazed trails.
•• Cross-country skiing is permitted on red-blazed trails, but
requires 8" to 10" of snow to clear rocks and stumps.
•• Hikers under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
•• Dogs, horses and other pets are not permitted.
•• Mountain bikes, motorized vehicles and firearms are
prohibited.
•• Visitors may not hunt; trap; rock climb; fish; boat; swim; ice
skate; collect plants, animals, minerals or artifacts; release
animals; smoke; build fires; camp; or drink alcoholic beverages
within the preserve.
•• Please remove all trash and belongings when you leave.
Some 20 miles of trails offer opportunities to visit diverse features
including Godfrey Pond, a mill pond created in the 1700s; the
Saugatuck Wildlife Refuge, an extensive shrubby marsh along
the West Branch of the Saugatuck River; the Great Ledge, a high
rock formation with a spectacular view; and Ambler Gorge, a
picturesque ravine and stream with a rocky cascade.
Sturdy walking or hiking shoes are recommended, as many trails
are rocky. We suggest these round-trip walks for your enjoyment:
[1] Laurel Trail around Godfrey Pond (1.1 miles, easy); [2] Pent,
Saugatuck and Ambler trails to Ambler Gorge, return via Den and
Pent Trails (2.8 miles, moderate); [3] Laurel and Godfrey trails to
portable sawmill, return via Sap Brook, Hiltebeitel, Deer Knoll,
Harrison and Pent trails (3.3 miles, moderate); [4] Devil’s Den
grand tour via Pent, Den and Bedford Trails, return via Aspetuck,
Perry and Laurel trails (5.6 miles, moderate).
yes!
I want to help preserve Earth's precious lands
and waters by making a special contribution.
Enclosed is my tax-deductible donation of:
$
A donation of $10 or more grants you an annual membership to the Conservancy.
Name (please print)
Address
A History of Devil's Den
Archaeological evidence indicates Devil’s Den was occupied by
semi-nomadic Native Americans as early as 3000 B.C. Its
overhanging rock formations were used as short-term shelters
during hunting.
More recently, historical records tell us that David Adams sold the
land to Nathaniel Squires in 1767. Squires is believed to have built
an oscillating sawmill during the American Revolution. Its wood
was used primarily to build homes for the colonists. The Godfreys
later bought the pond, sawmill and four acres from the Squires,
and four successive generations ran the mill for 95 years.
Planning Your Trip
Trail junctions are marked with numbered posts that correspond
to numbers on the map (see reverse). These posts also support
yellow directional signs, which point toward the shortest route
back to the parking lot at Pent Road. Trails with red blazes are
suitable for cross-country skiing; those with yellow blazes are for
walking only; and those with white blazes are part of the Saugatuck
Valley Trails system. Be sure to take a map!
and help protect Earth's
natural habitats
The presence of stone walls and foundations suggests that some of
the land in Devil’s Den also was used for agriculture, but forestry
was its primary industry from the early 1700s until about 1930.
An Oasis for Species
Biologically, Devil’s Den is valuable because it is part of a much
larger, species-rich landscape that encompasses nearly 15,000 acres
of continuous forest. The preserve is home to 145 species of birds,
23 species of mammals and 475 varieties of trees and wildflowers.
Cover: Godfrey Brook © Sally Harold/TNC; Top Left: Saugatuck
Reservoir © Stephen Patton/TNC; Top: Godfrey Pond © Carlota
Heed; Top Right: mountain laurel on the Ambler Trail © Carlota Heed
In the 1800s and up until about 1920, charcoal was produced at as
many as 30 sites throughout the preserve. The charcoal was used
for many purposes, including fueling iron forges. When
technology advanced, charcoal was no longer in such high demand,
and this type of production ceased.
In 1966, Katharine Ordway, a local philanthropist, began
donating the funds that enabled The Nature Conservancy to
purchase the original 1,400 acres of Devil's Den. Today, the
preserve is 1,756 acres and hosts more than 40,000 visitors each
year.
Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.
Publication date 02/2012.
City State Zip
Email
Payment Method:
Check enclosed, payable to The Nature Conservancy
Please charge my:
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Card No.
Expiration
Signature
Please mail this form and any donation check to:
The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut
Connecticut Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 6015
Albert Lea, MN 56007-6615
or donate online at nature.org/connecticut
NDDDTR AILMAP
The Nature Conservancy is a private 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to conserving the
lands and waters on which all life depends. Annual membership dues include $4.00 for
four issues of Nature Conservancy magazine. A copy or summary of the latest Financial
Report and Registration files by this organization may be obtained by contacting The
Nature Conservancy at 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Virginia 22203 ·
(800) 628-6860.