Neck River North

Between the Great Podunk Plain, an extensive wetland area located on the western Madison border and south of North Madison Road, and Gould’s Pond, a small man-made pond just north of the intersection of Nortontown and Opening Hill Roads, the Neck River forms the boundary of Guilford and Madison. With a 70 foot drop in elevation over its 1.5 mile length, the river flows freely and throughout most of the year, providing a distinct habitat from the salt meadows and freshwater swamps that frequent the Guilford landscape. Over 1/2 mile of the river is accessible to the public through Guilford and Madison Land Trust, State (Cockaponsett State Forest) and town owned properties, with GLCT’s Neck River North property located at about midway along this short corridor.

Visiting the Preserve

The property is accessed from a Trail-Head on Nortontown Road, just south of the Eversource Transmission lines and the intersection with Squaw Lane.  Parking is alongside the town road, with a suggestion of a shoulder on the west side.  Through a short walking trail, the property provides quick access to the Neck River and to the Madison Land Trust Blinnshed Ridge and Neck River Trails, as well as MLCT (25 acres) and State forest (132 acres) holdings between the Neck River and Opening Hill Road.