Carter Preserve
Managed by Roxbury Land Trust
168 acres2.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: AirportExpert · CC BY-SA 4.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in New Milford
18% of New Milford’s land is conserved: 7,089 acres
The biggest trail networks: Carter Preserve (2.5 mi), Nostrand Preserve (2.1 mi), Lovers Leap State Park (1.9 mi). 45 miles of mapped trail cross New Milford, 0.7 per square mile of land. 735 acres are parks and preserves, 26 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 77% of U.S. towns · #95 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
18%
7,089 acres · of 61.6 sq mi of land
Trails
45 mi
0.7 per sq mi of land
Park land
735 ac
26 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
48%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
1,280 ft
Bear Hill
Lakes & rivers
29
1 beach · 4 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is New Milford?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does New Milford have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, New Milford is ahead of 77% of U.S. towns, #95 of 155 in Connecticut. Conserved land holds the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of New Milford’s overall grade.
Conserved land18% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails0.7 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (45 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4B+Park land26 acres of park per 1,000 residents (735 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home48% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%C+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 77%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 39%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so New Milford’s 18% is ahead of 60% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 18% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Carter Preserve, with 2.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Nostrand Preserve
Managed by Town of New Milford
147 acres2.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Lovers Leap State Park
Nature preserve
111 acres1.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Sunny Valley Farm
Managed by Nature Conservancy
307 acres1.8 mi of trail
Yellow TrailWhite Trail
Dogs usually not allowed
Directionsto the parking lot
Eleanor and Howard Hunt Nature Preserve
Managed by Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
113 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Pratt Nature Center
Nature preserve
147 acres1.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Reservoir Park
Managed by Town of New Milford
171 acres1.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Sega Meadows Park
Park
54 acres1.4 mi of trail
Sega Meadows Foot Path
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 30 parks & preserves
Carter Preserve168 acres · 2.5 mi of trail · Roxbury Land Trust
DirectionsNostrand Preserve147 acres · 2.1 mi of trail · Town of New Milford
DirectionsLovers Leap State Park111 acres · 1.9 mi of trail
DirectionsSunny Valley Farm307 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Nature Conservancy
DirectionsEleanor and Howard Hunt Nature Preserve113 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
DirectionsPratt Nature Center147 acres · 1.5 mi of trail
DirectionsReservoir Park171 acres · 1.4 mi of trail · Town of New Milford
DirectionsSega Meadows Park54 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsHarrybrooke Park54 acres · 1.3 mi of trail
Kahn Preserve133 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
DirectionsMount Tom Preserve179 acres · 1 mi of trail · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
Mildred Strauss and James Morrissey Family Nature Preserves63 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
DirectionsMine Hill Preserve56 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Roxbury Land Trust
Lynn Deming Park24 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Town Open Space38 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Candlewood Mountain17 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
Carlson's Grove16 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of New Milford
DirectionsPratt Valley Prese. (Ct Audubon Society) 2 Parcels42 acres
Guarding Mountain Preserve38 acres · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
Miller Lapin Sanctuary25 acres · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
Clatter Valley23 acres
Little League Field12 acres
DirectionsYoungs Field8 acres
DirectionsAppalachian Trail Scenic Open Space5 acres · National Park Service
Alice McCallister Memorial Sanctuary5 acres · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
Addis Park2 acres
Fireman's Field2 acres
Pratt Valley Preserve1 acres · Ct Audubon Society
Old Bridge Park1 acres
Emanuel Williamson Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
7,089 conserved acres
18% of New Milford’s land. Who manages New Milford’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Land trusts & nonprofits3,031 ac
Private owners2,108 ac
State conservation417 ac
Other state land265 ac
Town or city253 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)243 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government169 ac
Unknown Easement · 4,026 acLocal Conservation Area · 1,977 acConservation Easement · 1,468 acPrivate Conservation · 776 acLocal Other or Unknown · 630 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 3,245 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 281 of 417 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Private Conservation | Not recorded | 1,723 | Unknown |
| Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust Preserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 496 | Closed |
| Town of New Milford Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 336 | Unknown |
| Zalesky Wildlife Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 251 | Unknown |
| Carter Preserve Private Conservation | Not recorded | 216 | Unknown |
| Lovers Leap State Park Scenic Reserve State Park | Not recorded | 186 | Unknown |
| United Water Company Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 171 | Unknown |
| Hallock Hills Local Conservation Area | Not recorded | 117 | Unknown |
| Tory's Hill Local Conservation Area | Not recorded | 114 | Unknown |
| Baldwin Park Local Park | Town or city | 74 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
41 places to go in New Milford
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in New Milford
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in New Milford
6 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in New Milford
4 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in New Milford
2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in New Milford
2 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in New Milford
Bear Hill1,280 ft elevation · In Kahn Preserve
DirectionsPeet Hill1,178 ft elevation
DirectionsGreen Pond Mountain1,060 ft elevation
DirectionsIron Hill1,060 ft elevation
DirectionsRock Cobble Hill1,030 ft elevation
DirectionsLong Mountain1,020 ft elevation
DirectionsGreat Mountain1,017 ft elevation
DirectionsSawyer Hill1,001 ft elevation
Directions18 more peaks
Mount Tom984 ft elevation · In Pratt Nature Center
DirectionsCandlewood Mountain971 ft elevation
DirectionsMine Hill876 ft elevation · In Carter Preserve
DirectionsCarmen Hill787 ft elevation
DirectionsStillson Hill715 ft elevation
DirectionsPine Knob699 ft elevation
DirectionsCedar Hill696 ft elevation
DirectionsPine Hill659 ft elevation
DirectionsTown Hill653 ft elevation
DirectionsFort Mountain650 ft elevation
DirectionsWest Meetinghouse Hill640 ft elevation
DirectionsPumpkin Hill614 ft elevation
DirectionsGuarding Mountain587 ft elevation
DirectionsBoardman Mountain531 ft elevation · In Eleanor and Howard Hunt Nature Preserve
DirectionsFort Hill525 ft elevation · In Guarding Mountain Preserve
DirectionsAspetuck Hill499 ft elevation
DirectionsStraits Rock489 ft elevation
DirectionsGallows Hill259 ft elevation
DirectionsTrails & water
4 named trails and 29 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 20.5 mi
Sega Meadows Foot Path1.8 mi
Yellow Trail1.2 mi
White Trail0.6 mi
river walk0.3 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Adams & White PondreservoirCarpenter DamCedar Hill PondreservoirElla Fohs Camp PondreservoirG.J. Keefe DamGreat Mountain PondreservoirHeddons PondHickory DamHousatonic River ReservoirreservoirLadner PondreservoirMerryall PondMerwinsville DamMettinghouse DamMine PondMud PondNew Milford Reservoir Number 1reservoirNewfield PondParkhurst PondPine Hill DamReservoir Number 2reservoirReservoir Number 3reservoirReservoir Number 4reservoirSherman DamStrastrom PondWillow Springs FountainpondZalesskys PondHousatonic RiverStill RiverWest Aspetuck River
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
29Tennis
13Baseball
5Soccer
3Football
2Basketball
1Softball
1Skate park
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →12 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 2 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Boardman's BridgeStructure · listed 1976
About itLover's Leap BridgeStructure · listed 1976
About itMerwinsville HotelBuilding · listed 1977
About itSchoverling, Carl F., Tobacco WarehouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itUnited Bank BuildingBuilding · listed 1982
About itHalpine, J. S., Tobacco WarehouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itHousatonic Railroad StationBuilding · listed 1984
About itMerryall Union Evangelical Society ChapelBuilding · listed 1986
About itNew Milford Center Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1986
About itWildman, E. A., & Co. Tobacco WarehouseBuilding · listed 1988
About itMerritt Beach & Son BuildingBuilding · listed 1992
About itHine-Buckingham FarmsBuilding · listed 2004
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in New Milford: April to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 35 | 39 | 47 | 60 | 71 | 79 | 84 | 82 | 74 | 63 | 51 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 3.3 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 4.0 |
February is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.7 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in New Milford →
Next door
New Milford and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Kent66 miWashington65 miNew Milford45 miSherman30 miBridgewater20 miBrookfield20 miNew Fairfield12 miGaylordsville0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Milford | 18% | 0.7 | 26 | 48% | A− |
| Bridgewater | 16% | 1.2 | 214 | 40% | A |
| Sherman | 18% | 1.4 | 54 | 34% | A− |
| Gaylordsville | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Washington | 30% | 1.7 | 638 | 44% | A |
| Brookfield | 12% | 1.0 | 18 | 57% | A− |
| Kent | 46% | 1.4 | 954 | 67% | A+ |
| New Fairfield | 15% | 0.6 | 21 | 57% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in New Milford
Where can I hike in New Milford?
The longest trail networks: Carter Preserve, 2.5 miles; Nostrand Preserve, 2.1 miles; Lovers Leap State Park, 1.9 miles; Sunny Valley Farm, 1.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of New Milford is conserved land?
18% of its land, against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on New Milford’s trails?
Carter Preserve and Nostrand Preserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near New Milford?
24,165 acres of parks and open public land lie inside New Milford or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 738 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does New Milford have?
Ahead of 77% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #95 of 155 in Connecticut. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from New Milford neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →