Cushman Preserve

The nicest part of the 117-acre Cushman Preserve is the meadow portion, with glorious views over a small cove (also known as Boom Cove or the ice pond), Cushman Cove, and Back River.

Soon after leaving the trailhead, the trail follows an old stone embankment, curving around the far end of the pond. It then enters the woods briefly before bringing you to a series of connected meadows. To cross the fields, you’ll follow a narrow path carved into the high grass. Though there are no trail markings, it is easy to follow.

From the meadow trail, two short trail spurs bring you to two viewpoints: one to a rocky ledge overlooking Cushman Cove and the other to the end of a little finger jutting into the pond (it’s part of an old dam) that provides a great look at an abandoned power plant.

In the rest of the preserve, the official map indicates you can also walk along the spine of the ridge that stretches south along the Back River to Westport Bridge Road. But as far as I can tell, the trail is not maintained and can be a bushwhack. If you do attempt it, you might want to know that the highest point in the preserve is 210 feet, and you can look for leftover footings from a long-gone observation tower from the early 1900s.

There are lots of other signs from the past found throughout the preserve. And signs from the present! Someone had constructed a little fort in the hollow formed by a great tree fall when I visited. It was big enough for just a small child or two.

Directions: The trailhead is off a narrow back street called Point E Drive. There are about three or four places to park on the road shoulder. Then waslk through the gate. There are no obvious signs for the preserve other than one asking all dogs to be leashed (to protect nesting birds and wildlife).