Escape the Heat! Summer Adventures Await at Steep Rock
Summer in Steep Rock’s preserves is vibrant and alive. Explore our Summer Guide for refreshing ways to escape the heat—wander shaded trails through cool coniferous forests, chill out in the Steep Rock Tunnel, camp under the stars, or float down the Shepaug River with friends. Our four preserves—Steep Rock, Hidden Valley, Macricostas, and West Mountain—offer a scenic and refreshing backdrop for your next adventure.
But that’s not all! Enjoy a magical evening of music, dance, and art enveloped in nature at the Spring Hill Arts Gathering—a special benefit concert for Steep Rock. Bring the kids to the launch of our Passport to the Trails program and the Summer Family Kick-Off event. Or, take on our 100 Miles in 100 Days Centennial Hiking Challenge through July 9 and make your mark on Steep Rock’s Centennial year.
Summer is also our busiest season for stewardship! Volunteer to help grow food for neighbors in need at Judea Garden, repair and build trails, or join our community science team collecting vital data on local biodiversity. However you choose to connect, we have just what you’re looking for this summer—join us!
See you on the trails,
Brian Hagenbuch, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Passport to the Trails Launch — June 1
Join us as we launch our brand-new Passport to the Trails Program—designed by students from Shepaug Middle School and Henry Abbott Technical High School! Be among the first to receive a Steep Rock Passport Booklet. Explore the trails, collect impressions at designated stations, and earn a special prize when your booklet is complete. This new program encourages youth and families to get outdoors, learn about nature, and engage with Steep Rock’s incredible trail system.
A Fragile Species, a Fighting Chance
At Hidden Valley Preserve, volunteers are protecting one of Connecticut’s last known colonies of the rare West Virginia White butterfly. Its survival is threatened by garlic mustard, an invasive plant that tricks the butterfly into laying eggs on leaves that kill its young. Learn more from Jim Dugan of the Connecticut Butterfly Association in this short video. Watch the Video ›
The Farmers Next Door: Split Rock Farm
Giff and Marie Broderick pursued a dream: transforming 34 overgrown acres in Washington—already protected under a Steep Rock conservation easement—into a sustainable working farm. After a decade of cultivating asparagus, berries, tomatoes, and hay, they’ve built a a thriving local operation. Meet Your Neighbors at Split Rock Farm ›
Team-Building Volunteer Opportunities
Is your organization looking for a team-building volunteer experience? Steep Rock Association offers meaningful, hands-on ways to give back—through conservation work that strengthens teams and deepens community connections. Learn More ›
