Steep Rock Preserve: A Natural Sanctuary

Steep Rock Preserve, spanning 998 acres, offers visitors a diverse landscape to explore, from riverbanks to hillside summits. The preserve's history dates back to 1925 when architect Ehrick Rossiter established a land trust to protect the area from being clear-cut. Rossiter's initial purchase of 100 acres formed the heart of what is now a vast protected area. The preserve features over 20 miles of hiking trails. These trails wind along the Shepaug River, through old-growth hemlock forests, and up to the Steep Rock Summit, which provides views of the Shepaug River Valley. Remnants of the past can be found throughout the preserve, including the Holiday House ruins and a 235-foot curved railroad tunnel built in the 1870s as part of the Shepaug Valley Railroad. The tunnel was constructed by coal miners using picks, dynamite, and nitroglycerin. Visitors can explore various points of interest, such as the Steep Rock Summit, the Clamshell section of the Shepaug River Valley, and the Hauser Footbridge, a 120-foot suspension bridge built in 1991. The preserve also offers camping at designated sites with campfire rings, picnic tables, and outhouses. Steep Rock is open from sunrise to sunset daily. Dogs are allowed on leashes.