Northwoods Acquisition

The Guilford Land Conservation Trust has completed the acquisition of an important addition to the protected open space in north Guilford known as Northwoods. The addition of 26 acres of forest on the east side of Route 77 includes a scenic ridge line above Rusconi Pond. The Northwoods corridor includes GLCT’s 141-acre Broomstick Ledges property and Bluff Head, as well as the James Valley Preserve, owned by the Town of Guilford with a conservation easement held by GLCT, and the town-owned Braemore Preserve, which connects with Madison’s Rockland Preserve. The new acquisition is just to the south of the New England Scenic Trail, a federally designated trail stretching from Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire to the Long Island Sound in Guilford. The Northwoods area has an outstanding network of hiking trails enjoyed by Guilford residents and visitors to the town. GLCT acquired the new 26-acre property through a public auction for $19,000. Although there are no immediate plans for trails on the property, the land may be accessed for passive recreation from the Broomstick Ledges or using an access easement granted to GLCT by the Quonnipaug Condo Association up the Association’s main driveway.