Events & Programs

Plein Air Artists Welcomed - Every Tuesday 8am-12pm in Judea Garden

Judea Garden invites artists and photographers to visit and draw inspiration from the garden's beauty amid the hillsides of Macricostas Preserve.  Who knew vegetables could be so beautiful?  

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Join Executive Director Brian Hagenbuch on a series of casual walks through Steep Rock's Preserves. Wednesday, Sept. 27 we will explore Hillside Farm.

Tunnel Road Connector Hike: An Exploration in Nature

Discover two of western Connecticut’s most pristine nature preserves, learning of their natural communities, history, and unique attributes from guides who intimately know and steward the land. On Saturday, Sept. 30, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., join Steep Rock Association (SRA) and Roxbury Land Trust (RLT) on a 4-mile inter-town hike along Tunnel Road.  Rory Larson (SRA’s Director of Conservation) and Jamie Curren (RLT’s Land and Property Manager), both Roxbury natives, will lead the walk. This partially closed town road connecting protected lands owned by the two organizations offers unparalleled views of the Shepaug River as it follows the waterway’s course into expansive core forests. It also lies adjacent to the old Shepaug Valley Railroad bed, rich in history for discussion along the way. The group will take two slight detours off Tunnel Road to investigate RLT’s Battle Swamp Brook Preserve and the Tunnel itself, a 235-foot passage through bedrock in SRA’s Steep Rock Preserve, from which the road received its name. The program will start at the main parking lot of Steep Rock Preserve located at 2 Tunnel Road, Washington Depot, CT. Due to the Tunnel Road bridge closure, access to the main parking lot is only obtained via Spring Hill Road off Route 199. Once reaching RLT’s Battle Swamp Brook Preserve on Judd’s Bridge Road in Roxbury, a shuttle bus will bring all participants back to Steep Rock Preserve. We’ll finish the program with a short hike from our drop off point at the Institute of American Indian Studies back to the Steep Rock main parking lot. Participants should wear appropriate footwear for a long, moderately difficult hike and bring plenty of water. Inclement weather will postpone the program until the following day, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at the same time. All ages are welcome, but please take note of the hike’s length.

Invite family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to take the 3 Peaks in 3 Weeks Challenge 2023!

Registration coming soon!

Strap on your trail shoes, leash up your dog, enjoy the fresh air, and take in the beauty of fall foliage while boosting your health and wellness. Between Oct. 1 - Oct. 22, hike to the three highest peaks in Steep Rock’s preserves and absorb the sights of our scenic viewsheds in autumn grandeur: the Summit at Steep Rock, the Pinnacle at Hidden Valley, and Waramaug’s Rock at Macricostas. Participants in this friendly adventure are challenged to hike all three Steep Rock peaks in three weeks and register to win prizes for participating. All ages and fitness levels are encouraged to join—there’s no better time to get outside and enjoy nature’s beauty. To be eligible for prizes, you must share photos of your hike on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #3peaks3weeksSRA by October 30, 2023. If your Facebook or Instagram accounts are private, we won’t be able to see your photos so please email them to info@steeprocassoc.org by October 30, 2023. Winners will be drawn in early November.

Join us at Washington's Annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 8th, 2023, from 12pm-5pm! Admission is FREE.

As in previous years, there will be live music, food trucks, rides and fun for the kids, a scarecrow contest, wine tastings, craft beers, games, booths, and much more!

Click HERE for more information.

   

Fall Saunters with SRA - Johnson Farm Preserve, 37 West Mountain Rd., Washington

Wednesday, October 11, 5:30PM Enjoy the spectacular fall colors at Johnson Farm Preserve. Join SRA’s Executive Director for a walk around Johnson Farm Preserve and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of autumn across the landscape.

Hidden Valley Expansion Celebration

Friday, 10/20/23, 1pm: Opening Ceremony & Hike

Saturday, 10/21/23, 9am: Hike to Cook Parcel

Thanks to you, Steep Rock recently acquired four forested properties that expand Hidden Valley Preserve by 25%–a project that’s been 17 years in the making. Now, it’s time to celebrate! Please join us Friday, October 20 at 1pm for the opening ceremony, or Saturday October 21 at 9AM for a hike to the newly acquired Cook Parcel.  With special thanks to the following grantors: John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation,  Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation, David L. Klein Jr Foundation,  CT DEEP/OSWA, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Hidden Valley Expansion Celebration

Friday, 10/20/23, 1pm: Opening Ceremony & Hike

Saturday, 10/21/23, 9am: Hike to Cook Parcel

Thanks to you, Steep Rock recently acquired four forested properties that expand Hidden Valley Preserve by 25%–a project that’s been 17 years in the making. Now, it’s time to celebrate! Please join us Friday, October 20 at 1pm for the opening ceremony, or Saturday October 21 at 9AM for a hike to the newly acquired Cook Parcel.  With special thanks to the following grantors: John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation,  Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation, David L. Klein Jr Foundation,  CT DEEP/OSWA, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Put your hands (and not just your boots) on the trails this hiking season by joining Steep Rock Association’s monthly trail work party. The work party meets at 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through November. Ages 16+ please.

Nature Preserve Monitoring Blitz, Nov. 4 & Nov. 5, 2023 @ 8:30AM Steep Rock Association, 116 Christian St., New Preston

Registration to follow!

Preserve monitors walk the boundaries of a Steep Rock Association nature preserve in 2019.  
Photo credit: Katie at m3mediapro.com

  Did you know that SRA has nearly 30 preserves scattered throughout town? These preserves range from wetlands to mixed hardwood forest; some are old apple orchards while old growth forests and glacial boulder fields dominate others. The one thing they all have in common is that SRA must walk their boundaries annually, monitoring the preserves for ecosystem health, signs of trespass, and presence of wildlife. This fall, we ask for your help. We will start each day at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and light refreshments during a training, which will take place at the Steep Rock House (116 Christian St. New Preston, CT). Learn how to use your smartphone as a GPS, what to look for as you walk the preserves, and how to mark and record your findings.  Bring a friend or we will match you with a partner, and then drive out to your assigned preserve to begin the outdoor monitoring. After walking the boundaries and recording any findings, meet back at the site of the training to share your experiences and enjoy a complimentary lunch as a thank you for your time and efforts. Participants are welcome to join for one or both days of the program. Terrain and hiking difficulty vary widely. Participants will have the option to register for easy, intermediate, or difficult routes. Easier routes consist of hikes totaling approximately 45 minutes or less through flatter terrain while more difficult routes demand hiking over 2 hours through steeper areas. Please note that in all of the preserves, some degree of bushwhacking will be necessary. Participants should wear/bring sturdy waterproof boots, thick pants, long-sleeved shirts, sunscreen, bug spray, a water bottle, and cell phone if you have one. An adult must accompany children under 16.  Registration is required.  

Put your hands (and not just your boots) on the trails this hiking season by joining Steep Rock Association’s monthly trail work party. The work party meets at 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through November. Ages 16+ please.