Crystal Cove Preserve, Stonington

Part of the adventure of exploring this small preserve is finding it! It is tucked down a narrow dirt lane; you should drive very slow. After winding around a bit, you’ll eventually see a preserve sign at the clammers’ lot on your left — keep going just a bit farther to park in the hikers’ lot.

The preserve offers a 0.5-mile walk, which includes a short loop through a forest above a secluded cove of Inner Harbor. You can check out the view from a peaceful bench.

Directions: FromNorth Stonington Road, turn onto Oceanville Road, go three miles, and then take a left onto Cat Cove Road, a narrow dirt lane. Stay left at the intersection with Oak Hill Lane. You should drive very slow as you’ll pass a cluster of cottages. Keep straight on this road (despite what Google might say, which wanted me to turn down someone’s driveway). It’ll take a sharp bend right and dip down a hill. You’ll see a small parking area on the left with a preserve sign. This lot is reserved for clammers. Hikers should park a bit farther down the road, in a two-vehicle parking area on the left.