Arrowhead Preserves – comprises of two separate parcels, one 10.662 acres, the other 4.42 acres, donated by Arrowhead Hills, LLC in 1999. Both are mixed-age hardwood forests with some seasonal wetlands.

The larger preserve abuts another one of our preserves located on Van Campen Lane. The smaller preserve abuts Putnam Park, located in Redding. There is a trail that winds through the smaller preserve to connect to Putnam Park.

​The Enchanted Trail stretches across Wolfpit Preserve, the Bethel Educational park, Boardwalk, and into East Swamp and eventually connects to the Bennet Property, Meckauer Park, and crosses to the Libby Kellogg preserve.  It passes thorugh a mix of Bethel Land Trust properties and public land.

After end of boardwalk, continue along power line right of way. Skirt around edge of power station to find connection to Bennet Property.

The ramp between parking lot and boardwalk is flush with boardwalk. However, the parking lot is packed dirt and gravel, so may be difficult to navigate after heavy rain. Boardwalk is wide enough to accomodate motorized wheelchairs. There is a seating area about halfway along the boardwalk. The area at the seating and the platform at the end of the boardwalk are wide enough to turn around. MOST of the boardwalk does not have a railing, but it does have a raised edge. The seating area is the only section with railing.

Trail beyond the boardwalk is an easy walk and MAY still be passable with a wheelchair in DRY conditions or when the ground is frozen. While the trail is wide and well cleared, wheelchairs and canes may sink into soft ground during wet periods. Proceed with caution. In all conditions, once you reach the power station, turn around as trail becomes too rough for a wheelchair.

​Ivy Island is a land-locked 4.7 acres preserve donated by Dolores Walter in 1996. The preserve indeed is an island, a late succession, wetland forest. The island itself (which is full of snakes and poison ivy) is usually not accessible during very low water or when the water is iced over.

At the end of Ball Park Road, walk in on the gravel road at the East Swamp Wildlife sign, to the end (power line towers). Turn right. Follow trail through the reeds to the brook. Ivy Island is across the brook. The gravel road is generally not maintained until late summer when it is mowed by the State. Extensive tick population.

Donated by John F. Miller in 2013. 10 acres It shares a parking lot with the Wolf Pits preserve. Has marked trails. Mixed forest including both evergreens and deciduous trees. Includes a brook.

Donated by James MacNicholl in 2006. Short, flat trail crosses small brook to area between 2 ponds on 1.5 acres

Donated by Paul Plishner in 1979. 8 acres of successional oak and maple forest with slightly rolling land. Walkable woods. It currently has no trails.

Skyedge was donated by Target Corporation in Bethel in 2004. It is 3 acres of mixed meadow and mixed hardwood forest. There are bluebird boxes installed here, so a good spot for spotting meadow birds. It currently does not have any trails, but does have a small parking area.

2023 brings a new 4.7-acre acquisition thanks to the cooperation of its previous landowners, Richard and Debbie Sutton, and the generous financial contributions of Peter & Karen Valenti, William Valenti, Bob & Cal Manfreda, Michael Valenti, and Don & Roberta Warfield. Wolfpit and Janet P. Miller Preserves is now over 97 acres, including the original 92+ acres comprised of four joined properties from Janet P. Miller, the Nature Conservancy, Norwalk Savings, and the Wormser family.

Marked trail system (part of Enchanted trail), two portions with steep climb to overlooks. Overgrown wet meadow. Wetland area with spring peepers. Beaver swamp visible from trail. Old stone walls and granite quarry (the wolfpit)

Graveled parking for 4-5 cars area off Hearthstone Lane. Hearthstone Lane is an unmarked DIRT road between 37 and 39 Wolfpits Road. Heathstone Lane itself will not appear on most GPS devices, use 37 or 39 Wolfpits Road to get to the parking lot. The parking lot has a kiosk with future information about the property.

Hiking

The Enchanted Trail stretches across Wolfpit Preserve, the Bethel Educational park, Boardwalk, and into East Swamp. It passes through a mix of Bethel Land Trust properties and public land.  Nature interpretative signs are available at different points of the trail to learn about the wildlife and environment.  There is a boardwalk added in 2020 on the Orange Trail that cuts through a bog with excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife.

Click here for a printable brochure of the preserve, including a detailed trail map.

​In 2013, the Town of Bethel acquired 72 acres of former farm land from the Franc family and designated it as protected open space. The Bethel Land Trust and other volunteers, including Eagle Scout candidates, created 2 miles of hiking trails, installed bridges, nature interpretive signs, and a kiosk. BLT volunteers continue to maintain and improve the Preserve through trail work, invasive species removal, regular meadow mowing, and the planting of native trees and wildflowers. This property is bounded to the East by the Newtown Forest Association’s 76 acre Brunot Preserve. The combined 148 acres of open space, feature more than 4 1/2 miles of linked trails, meadows, new and mature forest, wetlands, and a beautiful stream.