Sheep Farm

July 07, 2011 12:00 am • Last Updated: August 16, 2018 1:35 pm

By Day staff

An insect prepares to land on a flower in a meadow at the Sheep Farm property in Groton.

Town: Groton

Directions: Take I-95 N to Exit 88. Turn right on Rt. 117 S. Take a left on Hazelnut Hill Road. Park is on the right.

Where to Park: A designated parking lot is on right side of the road marked by "Sheep Farm" sign.

Description: The Sheep Farm, a 63-acre tract, features approximately two miles of trails through a diverse terrain. The farm includes remnants of agricultural and industrial operations, including an early 18th century gristmill along Fort Hill Brook and the Samuel Edgecomb House. Edgecomb's son became famous for his efforts to fight off British troops during the Revolutionary War by throwing 18-pound shots over the walls of Fort Griswold.

Regulations: Dogs on leash allowed. Biking allowed on the blue trail.

Amenities: None.

Natural Features: Mountain laurel forest, meadows, wetlands and vernal ponds. Fort Hill Brook bisects the property. Multiple waterfalls, including a 10-footer.

Fees: Free.

Things to Note: Open year-round. Watch for poison ivy.

Owned by: Groton Open Space Association

More information: www.gosaonline.org

Sue Sutherland, right, of the Groton Open Space Association (GOSA), tells a group about how GOSA had cleared the meadow and recently seeded the area with native grasses. The group hiked the new trails at the Sheep Farm property as part of Connecticut Trail Day Saturday, June 4, 2011.

Sue Sutherland, left, of the Groton Open Space Association (GOSA), leads a group on a hike of the Sheep Farm property in Groton.

Sue Sutherland, second from right, of the Groton Open Space Association (GOSA), takes a group on a hike of the Sheep Farm property in Groton. The group hiked the new trails at the Sheep Farm property as part of Connecticut Trails Day.

A Fort Hill Brook waterfall located on the Sheep Farm property in Groton.

A view of Fort Hill Brook at the Sheep Farm property in Groton.

One of the many rock walls found at the Sheep Farm property in Groton.

Flowers on a mock orange shrub along a trail at the Sheep Farm.

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