Bent of the River Audubon Center
Managed by Audubon
591 acres12 mi of trail
Sachem's Ridge LoopMitchell Farm Trail LoopSouth Pool TrailCedar Field Trail+1
Dogs usually not allowed
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: AirportExpert · CC BY-SA 4.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in Southbury
17% of Southbury’s land is conserved: 4,241 acres
1,744 acres are parks and preserves, 87 per 1,000 residents. 45 miles of mapped trail cross Southbury, 1.2 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Bent of the River Audubon Center (12 mi), George C. Waldo State Park (7.5 mi), Platt Park (4.7 mi).
Ahead of 89% of U.S. towns · #43 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
17%
4,241 acres · of 39.0 sq mi of land
Trails
45 mi
1.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,744 ac
87 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
60%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
794 ft
Walnut Hill
Lakes & rivers
21
1 beach · 4 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Southbury?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Land that stays wild17% of the land is conserved; a typical Connecticut town, 15%.Room to roam87 acres of park per 1,000 residents; the typical U.S. town has 13.A trail town1.2 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 83% of U.S. towns.History along the way12 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Southbury have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Southbury is ahead of 89% of U.S. towns, #43 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 Southbury’s overall grade.
Conserved land17% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails1.2 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (45 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land87 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,744 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13AParks close to home60% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 89%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 73%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Southbury’s 17% is ahead of 55% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 40% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A− 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 Bent of the River Audubon Center, with 12 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
George C. Waldo State Park
Nature preserve
150 acres7.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Platt Park
Managed by Town of Southbury
131 acres4.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Kettletown State Park
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
341 acres3.8 mi of trail
Miller TrailPomparaug TrailCrest TrailCreat Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Platt Farm Preserve
Managed by Southbury Land Trust
107 acres2.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Phillips Farm Preserve
Managed by Southbury Land Trust
102 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Larkin State Park Trail
Nature preserve
38 acres1.4 mi of trail
Larkin State Park Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Lovdal Farm Preserve
Managed by Southbury Land Trust
51 acres1.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 24 parks & preserves
Bent of the River Audubon Center591 acres · 12 mi of trail · Audubon
DirectionsGeorge C. Waldo State Park150 acres · 7.5 mi of trail
DirectionsPlatt Park131 acres · 4.7 mi of trail · Town of Southbury
DirectionsKettletown State Park341 acres · 3.8 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsPlatt Farm Preserve107 acres · 2.8 mi of trail · Southbury Land Trust
DirectionsPhillips Farm Preserve102 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Southbury Land Trust
Larkin State Park Trail38 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
Lovdal Farm Preserve51 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Southbury Land Trust
Hidden Pond Park58 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · Town of Southbury
DirectionsJanie Pierce Park62 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Town of Southbury
DirectionsFox Hollow Preserve22 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Southbury Land Trust
Koons Preserve39 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Southbury Land Trust
DirectionsTrolley Bed Preserve6 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Woodbury
Southford Falls State Park25 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsAldo Leopold Wildlife Management Area577 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Bassett Preserve113 acres · Southbury Land Trust
Ivers Preserve69 acres · Southbury Land Trust
Community House Park24 acres
DirectionsBallantine Park24 acres
Town Park (Little York Road)16 acres
The Crossings15 acres · Flanders Nature Center
George Ewald Park9 acres
DirectionsGeorge Bennett Park7 acres
DirectionsCedarland Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
4,241 conserved acres
17% of Southbury’s land. Who manages Southbury’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation260 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)245 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits101 ac
Other state land26 ac
Town or city13 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government12 ac
Not recorded4,022 ac
Private Conservation · 1,425 acLocal Other or Unknown · 1,006 acState Park · 511 acState Recreation Area · 500 acAgricultural Easement · 427 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 184 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 174 of 191 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 | 1,621 | Unknown |
| Bent of the River Sanctuary Private Conservation | Not recorded | 572 | Unknown |
| Lake Lillinonah Water Access State Recreation Area | Not recorded | 453 | Unknown |
| Kettletown State Park State Park | Not recorded | 333 | Unknown |
| George C. Waldo State Park State Park | Not recorded | 152 | Unknown |
| Paradise Hill Preserve Private Conservation | Not recorded | 102 | Unknown |
| Plat Park Local Park | Not recorded | 100 | Unknown |
| National Audubon Society 14 Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 93 | Closed |
| Platt Farm Preserve Local Conservation Area | Not recorded | 76 | Open |
| Ivers Nature Preserve Private Conservation | Not recorded | 69 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
32 places to go in Southbury
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Southbury
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Southbury
6 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Dog parks in Southbury
Southbury Dog Park
DirectionsBoat launches in Southbury
Lake Zoar Boat Launch
DirectionsPlus 3 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Southbury
Southford FallsIn Southford Falls State Park
DirectionsScenic views in Southbury
5 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Southbury
Walnut Hill794 ft elevation
DirectionsHorse Hill774 ft elevation
DirectionsBucks Hill712 ft elevation
DirectionsFlat Hill699 ft elevation
DirectionsGeorges Hill620 ft elevation
DirectionsEast Hill617 ft elevation
DirectionsIchabod Hill571 ft elevation
DirectionsBullet Hill479 ft elevation
Directions5 more peaks
Rattlesnake Hill459 ft elevation
DirectionsHorse Hill430 ft elevation
DirectionsDurkee Hill420 ft elevation
DirectionsBates Rocks394 ft elevation
DirectionsSawtooth Rocks325 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Southbury
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Trails & water
24 named trails and 21 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 2.8 miUnpaved · 24.2 mi
Miller Trail1.8 mi
Larkin State Park Trail1.6 mi
Sachem's Ridge Loop1.4 mi
Mitchell Farm Trail Loop0.9 mi
South Pool Trail0.8 mi
Cedar Field Trail0.8 mi
Cascade Trail0.7 mi
Zig Zag Trail0.6 mi
Tulip Tree Trail0.6 mi
Howard's Run0.5 mi
14 more trails
Weasel Swamp Trail
0.5 miOverlook Loop Trail
0.4 miAthea's Meadow Loop
0.4 miBeaver Meadow Loop
0.4 miMeadow Loop
0.4 miPomparaug Trail
0.3 miCrest Trail
0.3 miEagle Overlook
0.3 miRiver Trail
0.3 miCollier Trail
0.3 miManquash Gap
0.3 miCreat Trail
0.2 miOrchard Trail
0.1 miTo The Cascade
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Bass PondpondBoswick PondCassidys PondpondGilberts PondpondGravel PondreservoirHollow SwamppondKettletown PondLower Cass Road PondpondLower Hill House Road PondNorth Georges Hill Road PondPapermill PondreservoirQuarry PondRoe PondRyans PondSawtooth PondpondUpper Hill House Road PondUpper PondWest PondHousatonic RiverPomperaug RiverShepaug 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.
Larkin State Park TrailBike route
1.6 miCourts & fields
19Tennis
16Baseball
10Soccer
6Basketball
2Multi-sport
2Equestrian
2Football
1Pickleball
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 3 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Southbury Historic District No. 1District · listed 1971
About itBullet Hill SchoolBuilding · listed 1972
About itSouth Britain Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1987
About itRussian Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1988
About itSouthbury Training SchoolDistrict · listed 1992
About itAaron Bronson HouseBuilding · listed 1993
About itAdin Wheeler House and Theodore F. Wheeler Wheelwright ShopBuilding · listed 1993
About itHurley Road Historic DistrictBuilding · listed 1993
About itPlaster HouseBuilding · listed 1993
About itReuben Curtiss HouseBuilding · listed 1993
About itSanford Road Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1993
About itWilliam Hurd HouseBuilding · listed 1993
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Southbury: 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) | 36 | 39 | 47 | 60 | 71 | 79 | 84 | 82 | 75 | 63 | 51 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
February is the driest month (3.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.7 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Southbury →
Next door
Southbury and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Newtown64 miOxford51 miSouthbury45 miRoxbury40 miWoodbury38 miSandy Hook29 miMiddlebury23 miBridgewater20 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southbury | 17% | 1.2 | 87 | 60% | A |
| Oxford | 15% | 1.6 | 38 | 20% | A− |
| Middlebury | 19% | 1.3 | 84 | 73% | A |
| Newtown | 17% | 1.1 | 13 | 19% | B+ |
| Sandy Hook | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Bridgewater | 16% | 1.2 | 214 | 40% | A |
| Woodbury | 20% | 1.1 | 48 | 43% | A− |
| Roxbury | 21% | 1.5 | 115 | 38% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Southbury
Where can I hike in Southbury?
The longest trail networks: Bent of the River Audubon Center, 12 miles; George C. Waldo State Park, 7.5 miles; Platt Park, 4.7 miles; Kettletown State Park, 3.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Southbury is conserved land?
17% 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 Southbury’s trails?
Bent of the River Audubon Center and George C. Waldo State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Southbury?
12,858 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Southbury or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,744 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Southbury have?
Ahead of 89% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #43 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 Southbury 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 →