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.
Fairfield Hills Campus and the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary
These are two adjacent properties. Fairfield Hills is owned by the Town of Newtown. There is also some State open space with trails in this area. The CVH Animal Sanctuary is a privately owned not-for-profit whose mission is to share kindness towards animals. It owns 35 acres adjacent to the portion of Fairfield Hills that houses the Second Company Governors Horse Guard. CVH is also the location of the “Trail of Angels” a riding trail collaboratively built by the NBLA and CVH. Together there are miles of trails crossing open fields, through woods and adjacent to a pristine trout stream, Deep Brook.
Steep Rock Preserve
2 Tunnel Road, Washington Depot, CT
Absolutely beautiful trails on 1,000 acres. There are designated equestrian trails, an area for trailer parking and a riding ring.
Go to the website for more info and maps:
Area Trails
There are many other locations outside of town where you can ride. Here are a few. If you know of others within an hour’s drive, email us at newtownhorses@gmail.com and we’ll include it here.
Farm Meadow Trail
Now Completed and Open!
This is Town of Newtown property. Access from the end of Saddle Ridge Rd. The entrance to the trail is to the right of the driveway of #19. The cul de sac at the end of Saddle Ridge Rd can accommodate about three trailers. This is an approximate 1.5 mile trail that leads southward through the woods ending at a narrow town easement between #21 and #25 on Farm Meadow Rd. The easement between the two houses is not obvious because it is mowed lawn. As you exit the woods, aim directly towards a flagpole near the house on your left, then walk straight to their mailbox and onto the street. Turn right to follow Farm Meadow to its terminus on Poverty Hollow Rd. Cross Poverty Hollow onto Hopewell Woods Rd and continue down this road for approx. .5 miles to access the trail entrance on the right to Huntington Park. Look for a small parking area and wooden pedestrian bridge. The bridge is not horse safe; instead cross the stream to the right of the bridge. The Farm Meadow Trail also brings you to Purdy Station Rd and an old abandoned mica mine.
Beaches!
Horseback riders are allowed on Jennings Beach and Penfield Beach (both in Fairfield) from October 1 through March 31. Horseback riders are allowed on the beach and trails at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport from October 1 through April 15. The following rules apply to all beaches. It is critical that you comply with these regulations in order to ensure future access! It is a special privilege to be allowed on the beaches. Let’s not jeopardize it!
For a complete list of rules for Fairfield Beach, the Fairfield Bridle Trails Asso has it here: https://www.fairfieldbridletrails.com/beach-rules
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You may only ride below the high tide line. Any manure above the high tide line must be cleaned up.
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Leave the area around your horse trailer as clean. Pick up manure, shavings etc.
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Weekdays are preferred due to fewer walkers and dogs. There are often loose dogs; if this is a big concern for you, it may be best not to visit the beach.
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Go at low tide only. At the Fairfield beaches, you must walk into the water around the jetties. At mid and high tide, this is impossible. Do not ride across the stone jetties on the beach.
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Always be polite around others. You are an ambassador for all horseback riders. Stay at least 50 feet away from walkers.
Paine Open Space
220 Maple Rd, Easton, CT
A 153 acre preserve owned by the Aspetuck Land Trust. Park in the parking lot at the main entrance. The preserve is dotted with ponds, pine groves and open meadows. Horses restricted to designated trails.
More information and map here:
Huntington State Park
Redding, CT
Horses are welcome in this 1,000 acre State Park. There are three parking areas: one at 9 Dodgingtown Rd off of Sunset Hill Rd, one at the end of Dodgintown Rd and one that leads directly off Sunset Hill Rd. The Sunset Hill parking area has two large bronze sculptures of a bears and wolves and is a bit easier for trailer parking. There are miles of trails, ponds, fields and woods.
Visit the website to learn more and access the map:
Fairfield Beaches
Specific to Fairfield Beaches: for Penfield Beach, do not park in the paved parking lot on the beach side of Beach Road. Park across the street in the dirt lot. Access the beach to the left of the building. At Jennings Beach, there is a large paved parking lot.
Specific to Sherwood Island: Park in the East Parking Lot only. Again, only ride below the high tide line. Stay away from the buildings. You may ride on the trails at the west side of the park. More info and map here: https://ctparks.com/parks/sherwood-island-state-park
Sherwood Island
Boggs Hill Greenway
Coming soon!
We hope to have this trail cleared by the fall of 2024. Starting on Deep Brook Rd, it heads east and south for 1.5 miles to Bentagrass Rd. Riders can then cross Boggs Hill Rd and enter Newtown Forest Association property, eventually taking one to Cherry Grove Farm Preserve. This entire route is about 4 miles. There is a parking lot near the skate park at Dickinson Park on Deep Brook but it might be tight, depending on the size of your trailer. This year we hope to complete a small trailer friendly parking area on Boggs Hill Rd. Stand by!
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Cross River, NY
The 4,315-acre park makes Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Westchester County’s largest park. With its varied terrain and landscapes and miles of wooded trails, the park provides a variety of activities in all seasons. It’s about 40 minutes from Newtown, making it a great day outing. Check the website for maps, directions. https://parks.westchestergov.com/ward-pound-ridge-reservation
Rockefeller State Park
125 Phelps Way, Pleasantville, NY
The Preserve offers a unique and unparalleled experience for equestrians on the historic carriage roads that traverse acres of woodlands, fields, wetlands, bridges, and waterways, with beautiful views of the Hudson River.
Daily and annual equestrian passes are required. If driving to the Preserve, a daily parking ticket or an annual Empire Parking Passport is also needed. Trailer parking is available at the Preserve main entrance. For more information go to https://www.friendsrock.org/.
CVH
Riders may park their trailers in the CVH parking field accessed from 8 Commerce Drive (the driveway is on the right just as the road takes a sharp left turn). It is very important that you avoid coming whenever there is a CVH event because parking is tight and sometimes there can be several hundred attendees. Always check the CVH website at https://www.cvhfoundation.org before scheduling a visit. Horseback riders may ride on the Trail of Angels and around the perimeter of the CVH fields. CVH also welcomes riders to turn their horses out in the paddock adjacent to the big red barn and enjoy a picnic while the horses graze.
There are many trails open to all on the north side of Wasserman Way (the same side as Reed Middle School, the Second Company Governors Horse Guard and the CVH Animal Sanctuary). Because the horse guard barracks are a state owned military property, parking is not allowed there unless they are hosting a specific event. You may park behind the Reed School (or in their parking lot when school is not in session), or continue down Old Farm Rd past the dog park to a dirt pull off on the left before a bridge that crosses Deep Brook. Do not cross Deep Brook except over the bridge or walk your horse to the stream’s edge. Deep Brook is a protected trout stream. Please help keep it pristine.
Fairfield Hills
NBLA Code of Conduct:
(“Horses” means all equines)
Safety
Safety is the responsibility of all; unsafe behavior on or off horseback will not be tolerated. Helmets and proper footwear are required to ride in NBLA events.
Well-Being
The well-being, health, and safety of horses and others are the priority. Horses must be in proper condition to participate in NBLA events, including body score, hoof condition and overall health. Horses are to be treated with kindness, respect and compassion. Horses are not to be corrected with harsh or abusive methods.
Ambassadorship
Individuals should act as ambassadors for horses and the sport of horseback riding by promoting a positive relationship between horseback riders and all others.
Sportsmanship
Model fair play, respect, and inclusivity.
Environment
Respect the environment, don’t litter, clean up after your horse and trailer.
White Memorial Conservation Center
80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield, CT
The White Memorial Foundation has 40 miles of trails that cover various habitats. The trails are open to the public, free of charge for non-motorized passive recreation including hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Many are open to biking and horseback riding. With over 50 entrances, you can access the trail system from many locations. For maps and more information go to https://whitememorialcc.org/.
