Cathedral Pines Preserve

Cathedral Pines Preserve – Located on Essex Hill Road, Cathedral Pines is a 42-acre parcel in Cornwall, Connecticut that is an old-growth white pine and hemlock forest donated to the Cornwall Conservation Trust, Inc. in November 2020 by The Nature Conservancy. The Calhoun Family, who had purchased it in 1883 to prevent logging, donated it in 1967 to The Nature Conservancy. The large pines were mostly destroyed by tornadoes in July 1989 and the preserve has become a study site for ecological restoration. Cathedral Pines was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1982. The remaining white pines are approximately 120 feet (37 m) to 140 feet (43 m) high. Cathedral Pines is open to the public for hiking on its marked trail. In his book Second Nature, writer Michael Pollan uses the aftermath of the 1989 tornado damage at Cathedral Pines as a case for an insightful discussion of environmental ethics.

Parking – The parking area is located on Essex Hill Road in Cornwall, approximately .2 miles from the intersection of Valley Road and Essex Hill Road. On the left you will find a large boulder and a small parking lot.

Level of Difficulty – Easy to Moderate