James Valley Preserve
The Guilford Land Conservation Trust purchased this 75 acre property in 1999 and sold it to the Town of Guilford in 2000. GLCT holds a conservation easement across the James Valley Preserve, which provides for joint oversight and management of the property by volunteers of both the land trust and the Town of Guilford. This part of Totoket Mountain is a classic example of the rugged trap rock ridges characteristic to this area. One point on the James Valley Preserve reaches 720 feet above sea level. The James Valley Preserve is part of a greater network of open space locally known as Northwoods. One access to this property is located at the end of Cooks Lane. For another access, via Durham, take Old Farms Road to Old Pent Road Extension and enter at the end of the cul-de-sac.
Braemore Preserve
Myer Huber Pond from Bluff Head - photo by Tom Conway
The Town of Guilford purchased this 95 acre property in 2000. The property is comprised of both wooded uplands and open meadows and wetlands. From this high point in north Guilford, on the Ridge Trail, one can see to the Long Island Sound. The Braemore Preserve is part of a greater network of open space locally known as Northwoods. From the Braemore Preserve, hikers can walk a short way down Route 77 and access more open space either by turning into the unpaved Old Pent Road, to see Myer Huber Pond, or by turning into the Bluff Head Parking Area to access the Bluff Head trails. The Braemore Preserve also connects to the 649 acre Rockland Preserve, owned by the Town of Madison. Parking is available on the east side of Route 77 north of the Bluff Head Parking area.
The Guilford Conservation Commission is the governing agency for the James Valley, Northwoods and Braemore Preserves and they are managed by their volunteers. For more information including maps of the trails within these properties, please visit the Commission’s web site.
Alternatively, for directions to one of the trail entrances, click on a map marker.
