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Hilltown Land Trust

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 / Team Effort

Team Effort

April 21, 2025

How 29 volunteers made our new Clary Hill trails in Goshen worth visiting again and again

Volunteer Dave heaves a rock into place on a stone staircase in early spring woods.

Volunteer Dave Weber puts the finishing touch on one of several stone stairways on the Ledges Trail.

Clary Hill trails are now open!

Get directions, a map, and more on the Clary Hills trail page.

Hike Clary Hill

Two and a half miles of new loop trails at Clary Hill in Goshen will open to the public on April 27th, 2025 thanks to a widespread volunteer effort.

The Sofinowski family bequeathed the 132 forested acres to HLT in 2023, specifying that the land be opened to the public for hiking and recreation. The new trails link Williamsburg’s Briar Hill trails with the DAR State Forest.

“The trail network features a flower-filled meadow, former pastures, rocky outcrops, lush wetlands, and many forest types, including a gorgeous oak-hickory glade with a carpet of sedge,” said HLT TerraCorps member Mariel Hohmann.

A volunteer labor of love

Nearly thirty volunteers from the Williamsburg Woodland Trails Committee, UMass, Ashfield Trails, and HLT spent a combined seven hundred hours building the trails.

“From design, to building bridges, hauling rocks, cutting a treadway with heavy tools, everything about these trails was volunteer-led,” said Mariel, who coordinated volunteer efforts.

A group of six volunteers screws decking into a wooden boardwalk.

Boardwalks will keep hikers’ feet dry through wet areas, courtesy of volunteers from the Williamsburg Woodland Trails Committee, Ashfield Trails, and more.

Thoughtfully designed for all seasons

Dave Weber of Williamsburg Woodland Trails poured roughly five hundred hours into designing and building trails at Clary Hill, including the several stonework features. Drawing on his background in sustainable landscape design, Dave helped plan a network of durable trails that will withstand foot traffic and erosion while offering hikers a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

“The project intrigued me because there haven’t been many opportunities for Williamsburg Woodland Trails to make brand new trails,” said Dave, who scouted the land with HLT for nine months prior to beginning trail work. “It’s not often the case that designs get to take many seasons into consideration and let that inform the design. From bushwhacking through the woods, to flagging of the proposed trail, to in-depth construction, it’s gratifying to be part of all phases of a project.”

Four student volunteers wearing work clothes give thumbs up on the trail.
Four warmly dressed volunteers gather on a long stone staircase in the woods.

L: UMass Amherst students. R: Williamsburg Woodland Trails.

Leaving room for wildlife

Clary Hill is HLT’s third new public trail in recent years. The land trust seeks to balance public recreation with other responsible land stewardship practices.

“We came to a good balance of where not to put trails,” said Dave, who is eager for potential future trail connections while leaving room for wildlife. “There are places left outside of the human pathway. It’s one of the reasons why we see wildlife sign out there all the time. They seem to love the place as much as we do.”

Mariel and Sally nail a Sensitive Wildlife Habitat sign to a tree.

Mariel and Sally installing wildlife habitat signage.

Support for stewardship of Clary Hill comes in part from a major anonymous grant, matched by donations from HLT members.

“Thanks to our donors, we can confidently take on the long-term care responsibilities of a place like Clary Hill,” said HLT Executive Director Sally Loomis.

“Walking at Clary Hill is a journey through a varied landscape that changes with every season,” said Mariel. “I hope that people experience something new every time they visit.”

Join us for a hike!

A graphic featuring a polaroid-style image of the Clary Hill boardwalk trail and the caption "Clary Hill Trails, Goshen" and a sticker overlaid with a hiker graphic and the text "Open Saturday April 26, 2025." The Hilltown Land Trust logo is at the bottom.

Trail Opening Hike at Clary Hill

RESCHEDULED TO RAIN DATE: Sunday April 27, 1 PM, Goshen

Celebrate the opening of HLT’s newest trails at Clary Hill with a 2-mile hike! Explore the meadow, woodland habitats, and scenic view while enjoying brand-new volunteer-built trails.

COST: Free, $5-20 suggested
AGES: Youth and adult
RSVP: Optional

Read more & RSVP
Silhouettes of the HLT logo bear and cub.

Filed Under: Announcements, Featured, 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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