100 Things to Do
Weston’s Devil’s Den
Jul 9, 2007

The charcoal makers who once toiled in the vicinity believed a hoof-like mark made in a rock was the footprint of the devil, hence the Den’s name. But this Nature Conservancy property is really a place of beauty and ideal for family hikes. There are more than enough trails to trek and things to see in Fairfield County’s largest preserve, known formally as the Lucius Pond Ordway Devil’s Den Preserve. The Den consists of more than 1,746 acres containing some 20 miles of trails that wind through and over almost every kind of terrain typical to southwestern Connecticut. Maps as well as a self-guided tour booklet are available at the Pent Road parking area; all hikers should sign in for safety. Programs and hikes are created and managed by the New Canaan Nature Center in a project called “The Nature Initiative at Devil’s Den.” Scout and school vacation programs are now also offered in addition to family and adult hikes, bird walks, night hikes, etc.