Preserving the Historic and Popular River’s Edge Trail
Because of your generosity, we’ve made significant advancements on the Rivers Edge Trail (also known as “Goat Trail”) within our Steep Rock Preserve. Watch Joe Knight of the Tahawus Trails team and his expert crew at work.
Project Plan: Install 64 stone steps, add 36’ of new trail, remediate 1,724′ of trail
The River’s Edge Trail, also known as the “Goat Trail,” originally constructed as a horse trail in 1931, holds a significant place in SRA history and is a beloved destination for hikers. As an integral part of Steep Rock Preserve, this trail offers breathtaking views of the Shepaug River and takes you through a majestic hemlock forest, providing an unforgettable experience.
The trail’s popularity and natural elements, however, have taken a toll on its condition. Years of foot traffic, storm damage, and erosion have left the trail in urgent need of repair. That’s why we developed a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to restore 14 key locations along 1,742 feet of riverbank trail. By installing essential features like crib walls (erosion control), stone steps, copping stones, and enhancing the existing trail, we will ensure its stability and durability, improve hiker safety, and reduce long-term maintenance efforts.
Given the trail’s challenging terrain, using mechanized equipment is not feasible. Instead, we will employ traditional methods, quarrying stones onsite and shaping them with hand tools. Leading the project is Tahawus Trails LLC, who worked collaboratively with SRA to construct the highly popular Boulders Trail in Macricostas Preserve last year. Progress will be documented through video footage and serve as valuable training material for our volunteers.
Project cost: $71,000.
Location of Trail
