Hilltown Land Trust

Dedicated to protecting the working lands, native habitats and rural beauty of the Hilltowns since 1986

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Closing the Loop at Conwell

Ten people stand shoulder to shoulder smiling into the camera. Immediately behind them, a beaver dam stands on the edge of an expansive swamp, with grassy tufts and more beaver lodges visible. In the distance, forested hillsides tinged with spring green line the edges of the swamp beneath a cloudy sky. A tree in the middle of the swamp with two heron nests is profiled against the gray sky.
The Conwell trail crew pauses for a picture by a beaver lodge at the beautiful Jackson Swamp.

An amazing group of volunteers helped HLT extend the trail system at the Conwell Property in Worthington this month! With pickaxes, rakes, loppers, and a lot of persistence, our team added a mile of new trail to the 105 additional acres that HLT recently protected at Conwell.

Four people in a forest wielding pick-axes and rakes sculpt a water bar for diverting water off a the trail. The trail can be seen sloping downhill through the trees in the background.
Working together to build a water bar, a type of drainage ditch for diverting water off trail.

Once a collection of out-and-back paths, this newly connected 2-mile loop trail will establish public access to the beautiful and remote Jackson Swamp, currently host to active beavers and nesting great blue herons! Tucked away from the road, the swamp has an undisturbed character and offers peaceful vistas.

We’re still putting the finishing touches on these trails, so stay tuned this spring for updates like signage and an updated Conwell trail map.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who make trails like these possible! Interested in joining HLT’s community of terrific trail stewards? Learn more about volunteering with us here.

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