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

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You are here: Home / Announcements / Gift of 132 Acres to Connect Habitat, 9+ Miles of Trails

Gift of 132 Acres to Connect Habitat, 9+ Miles of Trails

October 28, 2023

A field of goldenrod, framed by a dark green line of trees and blue sky.
Wildflower meadow at Clary Hill in Goshen.

Clary Hill, a recent donation of 132 acres to Hilltown Land Trust, sits at a conservation crossroads. Spread across the towns of Goshen, Conway, and Williamsburg, the parcel connects Briar Hill Conservation Area to the DAR State Forest and beyond. Soon, hikers will be able to enjoy an uninterrupted 9-mile hike from Briar Hill Road to the Bullitt Reservation in Ashfield – and link up with the 19 miles of State Forest trail to boot.

This is a win for people in search of longer recreational adventures close to home, and for wildlife like moose and bears who need larger areas to roam.

Sally Loomis, HLT Executive Director
A map showing Clary Hill and the surrounding conserved lands.
Clary Hill will link previously disconnected swaths of conserved lands.

Hikers aren’t the only ones who will benefit from increased connectivity. Clary Hill links previously isolated small conservation parcels to a large swath of conserved land, permanently protecting habitat and travel corridors for wildlife.

“Connecting large blocks of conserved lands is one of the key features we look for in conservation projects,” says HLT Executive Director Sally Loomis. “This is a win for people in search of longer recreational adventures close to home, and for wildlife like moose and bears who need larger areas to roam.”

Site visits to Clary Hill have shown us that wildlife is already using a rich mosaic of habitats. The hilltop hemlock grove is a summer home to Blackburnian warblers, while berry-filled scat reflects black bears’ taste for the raspberries and blackberries that grow prolifically in the property’s sunlit early successional forest.

A distinctive orange-throated bird perches on a hemlock branch.
Blackburnian warblers are summer migrants to the hemlock grove atop Clary Hill.

Clary Hill is a generous bequest to Hilltown Land Trust from the Sofinowski family. HLT will have primary stewardship responsibility for the land, and The Trustees will hold a Conservation Restriction on the land. The affiliation between our organizations allows for and streamlines this sort of collaboration, and helps both organizations better meet community needs.

HLT is excited to work with Town Trails Committees and other partners to develop trails, steward wildlife habitat, and care for this land together.

Filed Under: Announcements, Conservation Stories, Newsletter, Our Protected Lands

Events Calendar

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1:00 PM - Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
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1:00 PM - Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
6:00 PM - Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
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2:00 PM - Collaborative Forestry in the Village: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
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12:00 AM - Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
Apr 27th, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Clary Hill
  • Family Fun
  • Hike
**RESCHEDULED TO SUN. APRIL 27TH DUE TO WEATHER** Celebrate the opening of HLT’s newest trails at Clary Hill with a 2-mile hike! Explore the meadow, [...]
More Info
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
May 8th, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  • Hands-On
  • Hike
  • Workshop
“Forest resilience” is a big buzzword right now, especially in the face of climate change. But what does a resilient forest – or farm or [...]
More Info
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
May 8th, 2025    
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  • Partnership Event
  • Webinar
Do you have a disability, have a loved one with a disability, or advocate for accessible outdoor spaces? Our state partners invite you to join [...]
More Info
Collaborative Forestry in the Village: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
Collaborative Forestry in the Village: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
May 27th, 2025    
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • Hands-On
  • Hike
  • Workshop
“Forest resilience” is a big buzzword right now, especially in the face of climate change. But what does a resilient forest – or farm or [...]
More Info
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
May 31st, 2025 - Jun 1st, 2025    
All Day
  • Partnership Event
  • Race
Join Hilltown Land Trust and Beast Coast Trail Running for the sixth-annual Chesterfield Gorge Ultra and 25k Race, including the only 100 mile race in [...]
More Info
Events on Apr 27th, 2025
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
Clary Hill Trail Opening Hike
27 Apr 25
Goshen
Events on May 8th, 2025
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
Learning Land Stewardship: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
8 May 25
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
Accessible Trails Public Forum (Webinar)
8 May 25
Events on May 27th, 2025
Collaborative Forestry in the Village: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
Collaborative Forestry in the Village: Meet a Forester Woods Walk
27 May 25
Events on May 31st, 2025
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
Chesterfield Gorge Ultra & 25k
31 May 25
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