About the Preserve

Peters Memorial Woods spans over 60 acres of woodland forest owned by the Clinton Land Conservation Trust located off of Valley Road in Clinton. At Peters Woods, you can enjoy easy, moderate, or more strenuous hikes through six different trails. In this habitat, you will observe moss covered rock ledges, ferns, vernal pools, glacial rock deposits, streams, historic stone walls and more.

the trails

Bougie Trail : This is the main trail. It is .4 miles to a clearing at the highest point of elevation. Considered an easy walk for seniors and young children. This trail was once a former logging road. It is wide and lined with stone walls. The terrain becomes hilly. Marked in red.

Princess Pine Trail: This trail is .65 miles long. On this trail, you will find lady slippers in June, carpets of ground pine, dramatic rock outcroppings. This is a trail that requires moderate endurance and agility. Marked in blue.

Laurel Ridge Trail: This is a .3 mile challenging trek into the thickets and bowers of mountain laurel. There is a steep, stepping stone climb. Marked in light blue.

Brook Trail: This is a .2 mile passage through a ravine of glacial rock deposits. You will cross over boulder and foot bridge crossings. This trail requires moderate endurance and agility. Marked in yellow.

Burnham Trail: This is a .45 mile trail that is the most physically demanding of all the trails at Peter’s. It is made up of steep terrain. You will see an abandoned rock quarry and enjoy a long catwalk over the wetlands. Marked in orange.

Spoonwood-Georgia’s Trail: You enter this .6 mile trail at Brickyard Road or from the clearing at the top of the Bougie Trail. This is a challenging hike with plenty of ancient rock outcroppings. This section of of the trail is named for its abundance of Mountain Laurel called “Spoonwood” by the Native Americans who used it to make spoons. Marked in pale green.

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These mushrooms were all found on the same day in September in Peters Memorial Woods.  Photo thanks to Carrie Allen.

These mushrooms were all found on the same day in September in Peters Memorial Woods.
Photo thanks to Carrie Allen.