I first visited Macricostas Preserve in 2013 and instantly branded it my favorite Connecticut hike. It was a huge declaration to make after visiting this special place in Washington and not having visited every preserve in this tiny state we live in. But after exploring hundreds of more places and a recent return visit a decade later, I haven’t wavered — if there’s one place everyone should seek out and hike in Connecticut, Macricostas is it.
In fact, three of the four Steep Rock Association’s nature preserves easily make my top 10 list of favorite hikes including the 700-acre Hidden Valley Preserve (I mean, c’mon, the Thoreau Bridge) and the 1,000-acre Steep Rock Preserve (I mean, c’mon, hiking through a 235-foot-long train tunnel). All in the northwest hill town of Washington.
It’s a cliché, but Macricostas really does have something for everyone who enjoys the outdoors. There is a loop trail around a huge hay field — popular with dog walkers — with views of the hillside and bluebirds nesting in wooden boxes. There is Bee Brook that runs placidly through Meeker Swamp and then rages through a ravine lined with huge boulders. And there are two unique overlooks with stunning views.
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The 1.6-mile, yellow-blazed “Meeker Trail” is your path through most of the highlights of the 490-acre preserve, winding around the western perimeter of the hay field and high into the ridgeline, passing by 1,080-foot-high Macricostas Lookout and ending at 1,280-foot-high Waramaug’s Rock. The preserve was named after Constantine “Dino” Macricostas for his “vision of permanently protecting this land,” according to the trail guide. My hero.
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From the parking lot, a footbridge takes visitors across Bee Brook, a tributary of the Shepaug River. The trail continues around the perimeter of the hay field which is filled with birds singing and butterflies and dragonflies floating between flowers and blades of the high grass.
Seek out a short, unmarked side trail that takes visitors down to a small ravine where Bee Brook briefly abandons its placid run for a plunge or two over large rocks and past huge glacial erratic boulders. Another side trail off the hay field takes visitors along a boardwalk to a wildlife-viewing platform on the outer edges of the scenic Meeker Swamp, which is lined with red maples and filled with grasses and sedges. A great blue heron fishes in the distance and a red-winged blackbird sings from a branch.
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“Meeker Swamp is a unique calcareous wetland — a chalky limestone-based geology rarely found east of the Appalachian Mountains,” the trail guide notes. “One of the last significant calcareous ecosystems in the Northeast Hills, it encompasses over 300 acres and includes part of the Bee Brook stream, wet meadows and agricultural fields as well as an adjacent ridge of talus slopes and rocky outcroppings. An excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife, the preserve overlies one of Washington’s largest aquifers.”
The Macricostas Lookout, Waramaug’s Rock and boulder trail loop begins at the northern portion of the hay field, again crossing Bee Brook and the western portion of the swamp over a bridge and along a series of boardwalks. The most direct route to the lookout and rock is to continue along the Meeker Trail.
The lookout has a 180-degree view across the preserve’s fields and out to neighboring farm fields and surrounding hills. The hills of Hidden Valley Preserve can be seen in the distance as well as your car in the parking lot.
Another half-mile hike takes visitors to the hallmark of Macricostas. Easily one of the finest overlooks in the state, Waramaug’s Rock — also known as The Pinnacle — stands at an elevation of 1,250 feet. The nearly 360-degree view showcases nearly endless undulating hills and mountains to the northwest and the deep blue waters of Lake Waramaug and the summer places and jutting docks that dot the banks of the lake.
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A new addition to the preserve is the Boulders Trail which expanded the trail system by 1½ miles. It features a log bridge and numerous sets of stone steps, glacial erratics, vernal pools and breathtaking seasonal views.
Macricostas Preserve
Washington
The bottom line: One of Connecticut’s most diverse and spectacular preserves with a mix of meadow, picturesque swamps and brooks, along with a pair of stunning overlooks with some of the best views in the state.
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Length: More than seven miles of trails.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Those looking for an easy hike should seek out the Hay Field Loop. Hikes to both Macricostas Lookout and the top of Waramaug’s Rock are of moderate difficulty.
Directions: The preserve is located along Route 202 near the intersection with Route 47. Turn on Christian Street and look for the red house at 124 Christian St. The parking area and trailhead are behind the house. Go to steeprockassoc.org/preserve/macricostas for a map of the preserve.
Pet friendly? Leashed dogs are allowed and must be cleaned up after.
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Things to do nearby
The Institute for American Indian Studies:This museum and research center is dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of Native Americans. Visitors can explore the 16 acres of the museum’s natural surroundings which contain several hiking trails, a medicinal garden and a replicated 16th-century Algonkian village. Thousands of artifacts and cultural items are also on view. 38 Curtis Road, Washington, 860-868-0518,iaismuseum.org
G.W. Tavern:Named after the first president, the tavern showcases a “rich blend of the traditional and the contemporary.” Menu items include locally raised venison, quail and duck as well as local produce including tomatoes, arugula and basil from a local organic farm, and specials that change regularly. All of this can be enjoyed indoors or on a patio overlooking the Shepaug River. 20 Bee Brook Road, Washington, 860-868-6633, gwtavern.com
Hopkins Vineyard: A former dairy farm, the vineyard overlooks Lake Waramaug, grows 11 varieties of grapes and produces an array of white, red and sparkling wines. A wine bar is located in the hayloft of the farm’s 19th-century barn where visitors can enjoy the wine along with cheese and country pâtés served with fresh bread. There’s live music on weekends. 25 Hopkins Road, New Preston, 860-868-7954, hopkinsvineyard.com