Features

Hike to northwest corner of Westport Woods to take in views of a rocky pond and explore this small island in its center.

For nearly fifty years, when it was the St. Vincent de Paul camp, kids of all backgrounds called this property on the border of Westport and Adamsville their summer home. In 2018, efforts by the Westport Land Conservation Trust and the local community saved this property from development, ensuring that outdoor explorers of all ages will always be able to find fresh air and fun in these woods, wetlands, and meadows. 

The park’s front fields are a fantastic place to picnic, fly a kite, or throw around a ball with family or friends. Hikers and walkers will love exploring the woods behind these fields, where trails wind through tall trees and wooded wetlands.

Though the Westport Land Conservation Trust removed most of the old camp buildings on this property, an old house and the former gymnasium remain and will be renovated into a discovery center and community space. For now, please keep out of these buildings until they are open to the public.

Trails

Westport Woods holds almost three miles of trails, which begin directly off the parking lot in the front fields. A wheelchair-accessible path through these meadows winds beneath towering old trees and past bird boxes. This path connects with the main trail into the woods on both sides of the property. You can also access the woodland trail by walking down the center path, past the old gymnasium. (Download trail map)

Westport Woods’ trails are flat and marked by colored arrows, making this a great place to take the whole family for a forest exploration. If you’re visiting in the spring, we highly recommend heading to the north edge of the trail to check out the vernal pool, an important spring habitat for breeding frogs and salamanders. Another favorite adventure is the hike to an old rock quarry, now a peaceful, lily pad-scattered pond in the northwestern corner of Westport Woods. This idyllic pond has a small island on its southern end that you can walk out to when water levels are low, taking in a great view of the surrounding waters.  

Habitats & Wildlife

Part of what makes Westport Woods so special is the significant natural resources it protects. The front of Westport Woods ripples with native grassland, a fantastic habitat for ground-nesting birds like Bobolink. The forests are scattered with wetlands that flow to the West Branch of the Westport River, protecting important habitats for amphibians. Woodland creatures abound here, too, and early risers may spot shy white-tailed deer grazing in the fields or moving between the trees during an early-morning walk.

Property Owned By

Westport Land Conservation Trust

The Westport Land Conservation Trust is a nonprofit corporation that has worked since 1972 to acquire and preserve natural resources, farmland, and wildlife areas for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.