Where to Ride
In Newtown, horseback riders are permitted ride in Town of Newtown open space, State of CT open space, on certain trails on specified properties owned by the Newtown Forest Association, town easements for passive recreation and deeded NBLA easements. You are also welcome at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary. Some trails at Fairfield Hills are also open to riders.
Remember that you are always sharing the trails with others so be sure to be polite, walk your horse as you pass by pedestrians and bike riders. You may certainly ask an owner to leash their dog, and request bike riders to stop while you pass. Please dismount and kick manure to the side of the trail if safe to do so.
Newtown Trails
Hattertown Pond Preserve
32 Castle Meadow Rd., Newtown, CT
Owned by the Newtown Forest Association. Excellent trail system on 119 acres. The highlight of the property is a 27 acre pond, sometimes locally referred to as Morgan Pond or Maltbie Pond. There is no parking area but there is room on the cul de sac at the end of Maltbie Road for two trailers. Walk back down Maltbie and enter the Park on a trail to the right of #30 Maltbie Rd.
Cherry Grove Farm Preserve
15 Palestine Rd., Newtown, CT
Owned by the Newtown Forest Association. In its 200 year history, Cherry Grove Preserve has been used as a cattle farm, a gravel quarry and a vegetable farm. The original farmhouse is now privately owned but the 45 acre adjacent property was purchased by the NFA in 2019. With various meandering stream crossings and pockets of gorgeous red cedars, this property is a pleasure to explore. By following a trail northward, one can also access the Fosdick Preserve. Horse trailers may NOT park in the small parking lot on Palestine Rd. Instead, park on the side of Beaver Dam Rd and find the opening in the stone wall to access the trails.
Greenleaf Preserve
20 Greenleaf Farm Rd., Newtown, CT
Owned by the Newtown Forest Association. Greenleaf Preserve is 33 acre wildlife sanctuary consisting of a diverse assemblage of meadows, wetlands, and forest. The property was protected and set aside as a preserve in the early 1990s when the historic farm in which it was located was subdivided. The NFA’s goal for the property is “to safeguard and enhance the natural resources of the property, with an emphasis on wildlife habitat diversity management.” There is no parking area but you may park your trailer on the side of Greenleaf Farm Rd and enter via a wide trail located between #16 and #22. It is very important to stay on the trails in this fragile ecosystem. NBLA members only can access a short easement leading from the west side of the meadow to Equestrian Ridge Rd and then into Huntington Park via State of CT property.
Fosdick Preserve
110 Boggs Hill Rd., Newtown, CT
Owned by the Newtown Forest Association. The Fosdick Preserve is an assemblage of six properties that straddle Boggs Hill Road near the intersection of Willow Brook Road. On the west side of Boggs Hill Road visitors will find excellent hiking along two miles of trails over pleasant woodland and hilly terrain. On the east side, a trail heads south to Cherry Grove Farm Preserve. There is now a new parking area on the west side of Boggs Hill Rd near Willow Brook Rd (see map). It was funded by a State of CT grant awarded to the NBLA and is large enough for several horse trailers. Please obey the Entrance Only and Exit Only signs and park parallel to the road, not perpendicular to maximize access. Follow the white blazed trail leading from the parking area which connects to a yellow blazed trail. Turn left, follow this trail to the road, cross carefully and continue following the yellow trail all the way to Cherry Grove Farm Preserve.