Day 9: Carmichael Sanctuary & Clark Easement

Carmichael Sanctuary 

A deep ravine with a murmuring brook, surrounded by hardwood forest and mountain laurel glades; a quiet secluded area of unspoiled beauty.

Size: 14.50 acres

Nearest Road: Bethany Mountain Road

Public Access: By Permission Only

Acquisition: December 1979

Donor: Linda N. Carmichael

CLT’s very special Carmichael Sanctuary was gifted to the land trust by Linda N. Carmichael in December 1979.  A decade after its formation in 1969, CLT now had ten fee-owned properties totaling 95.5 acres.  A great first ten years!

The sanctuary lies on the south side of Bethany Mountain Road (Route 42), and is adjacent to a portion of the Naugatuck State Forest’s Mount Sanford Block to the west.  It’s bordered by low-density residential areas to the south and east.  It is a quiet, secluded area of unspoiled beauty typical of some of the remote areas of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

From CLT’s announcement of the acquisition:

“The Board of Directors of the Cheshire Land Trust is pleased to announce that Mrs. William A. (Linda N.) Carmichael of Hamden has offered to convey 14-1/2 acres of her land on Bethany Mountain Road to the Trust.”

“There is a huge boulder that has been examined by experts… and has been the object of interest to geologists from this area.”  (This boulder is referred to in some CLT documents as "David's Pebble".)

“It is a beautiful glen, located in a setting of hardwood, predominantly oak and maple, together with a heavy understory of native laurel.”

The sanctuary is located at the eastern end of Nettleton’s Ravine, which has been studied by numerous botanists over the years.  Due to its steep slopes and east-west configuration, the ravine’s micro-climate has unique characteristics for the region.

The Carmichael Sanctuary is accessible only by written permission from CLT.  If you are interested in a visit, please contact us at 203-806-0258 or CheshireCTLand@aol.com.

Clark Blue Trail Easement

Size: 1.0 acre

Nearest Road: Bethany Mountain Road

Public Access: Yes

Acquisition: February 1980

Donor: Edward & Jane Clark

CLT's Clark Blue Trail Easement ensures a route for the CFPA's Quinnipiac Blue Trail through what is now a portion of the Naugatuck State Forest north of Bethany Mountain Road.  The Clark Easement also assisted with the long range goal of protecting the entirety of Prospect Ridge.  For more information about conservation easements, please see the writeup in the 30 Properties in 30 Days Day 8 post.


Do you live next to or near the CLT's Carmichael Sanctuary or Clark Blue Trail Easement?  We'd love to hear about what you've seen on the land!  Please join the Cheshire Land Trust at www.cheshirelandtrust.org to help up protect and maintain these and other great open space properties around Cheshire.