QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: Not sure
- Trail Mileage: ~0.8 to farthest view point
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: Holt Pond
After years of looking, I finally walked the Holt Mill Pond Preserve in Stonington, with the help of a knowledgeable town resident. Sadly, the trail has been neglected, and there are several blowdowns that are hard to scramble over, as well as some overgrown sections of the trail.
But the paths are also very clearly blazed. And there are some pretty sections where the trail wanders through dense, mossy forests, and extends to viewpoints of the pond.
The trailhead is at the end of Judkins Lane (on Google maps, Judkins Lane crosses Airport Road). There will be a small preserve sign at the intersection of Judkins and Airport Roads. Go to the end of the lane on the north side of Airport Road, where the lane turns into a dirt road and drops down into the woods. The trailhead kiosk will be on your right, along with a footpath blazed with white and blue blazes.
Unfortunately, when we visited, an RV had been parked in front of the woods road, forcing you to walk within feet of what seems like it might be someone’s residence. You will also have to skirt a wall of lobster traps to enter the preserve.
My map is not terribly accurate because my GPS wasn’t working well in the rain, but it is a rough estimate of where the trail goes. After swinging around the pond, the trail makes a couple of small loops, and ends at a view over the wetlands. Each section of the path is blazed in different colors. Additionally, a couple of woods roads intersect the trail system, potentially extending the walk (with landowners’ permission, of course! I’m not sure where the preserve boundaries are).
Directions: Turn onto Airport Road, and look for the sign for the Holt Mill Pond Preserve at the end of Judkins Lane. The preserve trailhead is about 600 feet down the lane, past a trailer and wall of lobster traps. Parking is an issue. There is a tiny pullover spot to leave a car on the side of the lane, close to the trailhead if you feel comfortable doing that. I think it might be best to park at the nearby medical center, 800 feet away on Airport Road. You might want to ask permission if the center is open, or plan your visit when the medical center is closed.
