Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
400-Acre Nature Preserve in Niantic, CT
The 400-acre Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve houses several trails full of roots, rocks, and fallen trees. A fairly technical place to trail run, the terrain is also generally hilly. The surface varies from packed dirt and leaves to large expanses of rock. In fact, one trail leads you out to a granite quarry.
There are several places to access the trails, including Damon Heights, Chapman Woods, and Quarry Dock Road, but the main entrance, which has plenty of parking, is located at Veteran's Memorial Field, off of Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 161).
Directions from I-95 S:
Take Exit 74, and turn right onto Route 161 S towards Niantic. Continue on 161 for 2.3 miles and turn left onto Memorial Park Drive (across from the Sunoco gas station).
Directions from I-95 N:
Take Exit 73, and turn left onto Society Road. At the traffic light, turn right onto Route 161 S. Continue on 161 for 1.3 miles and turn left onto Memorial Park Drive (across from the Sunoco gas station).
Directions from Route 156:
Turn onto Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 161 N) in Niantic. Turn right onto Memorial Park Drive (across from the Sunoco gas station).
For more information, see the Friends of Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve website.
Quick Stats:
Elevation: Hilly
Attributes: Leaves / rocks / roots, Single track, Technical
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