The Baxter Street Conservation Area, 25 acres, with the Valley View Cemetery and a Public Works area, make up an almost 42-acre parcel of Town owned open space. The 2.5 acres of wetlands that surround the brook do not have trails and will be left in its natural state.
There is an old woods road, which is the trail, that runs across the property in an east/west direction. The trail ends shortly after crossing a brook at an old stone wall. Please do not continue onto the neighboring private property.
The elevation ranges from a high of 720 feet on the western side down to 660 feet on the eastern side. It is a very gradual descent. There are wetlands on the eastern side of the property. The brook flows easterly and joins Clark Brook which runs southerly along Route 195 and then joins the Willimantic River.
A wide variety of wildlife can be found on the property. Deer and fox have been spotted along with the usual mix of smaller animals such as squirrels and chipmunks. Birds are plentiful, including forest songbirds, hawks, and owls. Sightings of wildlife will vary with the seasons and weather conditions. Best wildlife viewing is generally at dawn and dusk.
Notify the Conservation Commission if you see any violations.
The trailhead is east of Baxter Street, where the road takes a turn to the right. Users can park in the adjacent gravel driveway as long as they do not block the gate.
Follow Route 195 South. Similarly, from I-84, take exit 68 and follow Route 195 South/Merrow Road. At the gas station/Country Store, turn right onto Anderson Road and then left onto Baxter Street.
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