Opening In Brookfield: The Ledges, A 45-Acre Nature Preserve With New Hiking Trail

BROOKFIELD, CT — A new 45-acre nature preserve has opened in Brookfield, offering residents and visitors more space to explore the outdoors while protecting important wildlife habitat.

Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy announced the grand opening of The Ledges, located at 5 Banquo Brae Road. The preserve features a one-mile white-blazed loop trail that leads through forest, rocky outcrops, and a seasonal vernal pool. Wildlife in the area includes black bear, bobcat, coyote, white-tailed deer, and a range of bird species.

The site sits next to the 116-acre Burr Farm, already protected by the town, and plans are underway to connect the two properties with a trail by 2026. The project was funded through state and federal conservation grants, the Town of Brookfield, and private partners including Iroquois Gas Transmission System.

“Protecting outdoor recreation areas like The Ledges is one of the most meaningful investments we can make for the future of our community,” Brookfield First Selectman Stephen Dunn said.

Catherine Rawson, NCLC executive director, called the preserve “a nature sanctuary and place of discovery and connection to nature for families, in a community with only 9 percent conserved land.”

The preserve adds to an active wildlife corridor stretching from the Hudson Valley through western Connecticut and north into Canada. NCLC said the opening demonstrates the potential of partnerships between land trusts and municipalities.

NCLC, founded in 1965, is the largest land trust in the state, conserving more than 13,400 acres. Its holdings include public hiking preserves, working farms, rivers and streams, and habitat for rare and endangered species.

Trail maps and visitor information for The Ledges are available online here.