Trail Guidelines – Lyme Land Conservation Trust

Recreational Guidelines

The Lyme Land Trust, in cooperation with the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and other conservation partners maintains open space for the recreational use by the public. Please follow these simple guidelines while you enjoy your visit to these beautiful places.

Follow basic safety rules

If you are riding/hiking alone, let someone know where you are going.
Bring water with you.
Familiarize yourself with the area you will be using and know the activities that occur there. Carry a trail map or take a photo of the map at the Trailhead with your smart phone.
If you see another person while in the woods, whether a hiker, hunter, biker or horseback rider, call out to them to make them aware of your location.
If you’re riding a bike or horse, please wear a helmet.
During hunting season, September 15 through January 31, wear brightly-colored clothing. A fluorescent vest or hat is recommended.Trail Use

All marked trails are available for hiking.

Multi-Use Trails
Multi-use trails are for hiking, mountain bicycles, horseback riding. The Town, Nature Conservancy and the Land Trust allow the use of bicycles and horseback riding on the following trails:

Lyme Corner Trails – Hartman, Walbridge and Young: all trails, except white trails.
River to Ridgetop Preserves – Johnston, Jewett, Mt Archer Woods, and Eno Preserve: yellow, white, fuchsia, and purple trails only.
Chestnut Hill Preserve – all trails.
Beebe Preserve – all trails.
Plimpton Preserve.

See the State Forest web page for info on State Forests. Please note the Nehantic State Forest maps are not up-to-date.

Multi Use Trail Etiquette

Cyclists yield to everyone.
Hikers yield to horses (equestrians).
Horses (equestrians) yield to no-one on the trail.
A note about horses. Even though they are big, horses can be timid and can’t see well directly in front of them. It often helps to speak to the rider so the horse recognizes you as a non-threatening person.
Remember you are sharing the trail with many others. Not everyone is familiar with trail etiquette. Let other trail users know how to approach and pass through both voice and hand signals.

Hours
Sunrise to dusk; State (DEEP) Areas are open from 8:00 a.m. until sunset.

Pets
Dogs are welcome on the Lyme Land Trust and Town of Lyme properties. Be respectful of other people, and stay away from sensitive habitats.

Don’t bring a dog you can’t control to the preserves. Keep your dog leashed or under very close supervision at all times.
Leash or hold your dog if other trail users approach. Many people, including other dog owners, are apprehensive about loose dogs and resent dog owners who are inconsiderate of their feelings.
Don’t allow your dog to chase wildlife or trample in sensitive areas. Keeping your dog on a leash not only protects ground-nesting birds or other wildlife that inhabit these preserves, but it also protects your dog.
Please pick up after your dog. Do not leave plastic bags of waste.
Dogs are generally not allowed on property The Nature Conservancy owns exclusively.

Respect the environment

Please take out everything that you bring into these natural places, including all trash. And we appreciate those who pick up trash they see along the way.
Please respect the integrity of the natural systems and do not disturb plants, animals or habitats, except for trail maintenance. Do not attempt to feed any wild animals.
Please do not disturb geological sites. Leave the rocks as they are in historical stone walls and archeological sites.
Please avoid activities that promote trail erosion. Do not take short cuts. Walk carefully through mud or water if you cannot avoid them.
Avoid bicycle and horseback riding on wet or muddy trails whenever possible.
No fires are allowed unless otherwise posted.

Respect the Stonework.
The landscape of Lyme is crisscrossed with stone structures that are the remains of thousands of years of human history on the landscape, from the earliest indigenous populations to the agriculture of the 19th century. As stewards of our land, private and public, it is up to us to protect and preserve them from future destruction.

Artifacts and their placement tell a story.
Digging, removing them, altering the placement, or adding stones destroys the story forever.
Climbing on or toppling rocks can cause considerable damage to walls and structures already exposed to a great many threats.
Please leave stone walls and stone structures undisturbed in the woods.

Metal Detecting

The use of metal detection devices is permitted on land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Protection under the following conditions:

Contact the manager of the preserves to obtain permission:
Town of Lyme

The activity shall be limited to surface collection except at beach areas where digging is permitted in sand areas devoid of vegetation. However no collecting or digging will be allowed in areas of sand dunes adjoining the beach area proper. Digging must be done by hand with all motorized devices prohibited. All holes dug must be refilled immediately before the collector leaves the site.

Respect closed trails

Trails may be closed to repair environmental impact or because of potential user conflict.
Observe any posted signs at the properties that may describe closed trails for hunting activity.

Hunting
Consent to hunt may be granted on several properties in the Lyme Hunting Program. Click here for information about the hunting program.

Respect property rights

Most Lyme Land Trust conservation easement properties are not open to the public. Remember, all users are required to obtain permission from the owner before entering private property.

Motorized vehicles
Motorized vehicles are not allowed on any of the properties except for trail maintenance and safety/rescue.