
Housatonic Heritage Walk - Mountain Lakes Preserve
In addition to its historical significance, the Mountain Lake Preserve, also known as the Bible Camp, contains diverse and sensitive natural resources, and is part of a larger system of undeveloped and protected land. The Preserve, combined with the Wyantenock State Forest, Warren Land Trust’s recently acquired Cunningham Nature Preserve, the Kent Land Trust’s East Kent Hamlet Nature Preserve and other adjacent conservation easements, create a contiguous protected block of approximately 1200 acres with an extensive trail system. The property is also home to high quality water resources, including Straits Pond and Glacier Brook, that are vital to protecting the Lake Waramaug watershed and public water supply in the area. This hike with the Warren Land Trust and the Warren Historical Society folks will feature two trails. The Pond Hike (easy difficulty of 0.75 miles) meanders through a meadow to and along the Pond’s edge and over a dam. Hikers may view beaver and waterfowl activity in the swamp, below the dam, and the serene Straits Pond above. The Lookout Hike (moderate difficulty of 1.25 miles) heads into the woods and up to a highpoint on the property with an expansive western view of distant hills. From there, the trail travels down, through an outcropping of massive boulders to arrive at an extraordinary natural amphitheater where campers once gathered for both prayer and entertainment. 1.5 hours–2 miles
To register – www.WarrenCtHistoricalSociety.org/Events
Meet at 64 Mountain Lake Road, Bible Camps. From the center of Warren, drive south on Lake Road and eventually take a right turn onto Curtiss Road. Drive down Curtiss Road until reaching and making a left turn onto Mountain Lake Road, and drive to the end. OR From New Preston, drive north on East Shore Road, passing Lake Waramaug on the left. East Shore Road then becomes Lake Road. After a bit, take a left onto Curtiss Road. Drive down Curtiss Road until reaching and making a left turn onto Mountain Lake Road, and drive to the end.