Devil's Den Preserve facts for kids
The Lucius Pond Ordway Devil's Den Preserve is a huge natural area in Weston and Redding, Connecticut. It covers about 1,746 acres (7.07 km2), making it the biggest nature preserve in Fairfield County, Connecticut. It's also one of the largest in the wider New York City area. People say the preserve got its name from an old story. Long ago, people who made charcoal in the rocky hills believed a hoof-shaped mark on a boulder was left by the Devil.
Devil's Den is a very popular spot, welcoming about 40,000 visitors each year. It is managed by the Connecticut chapter of the Nature Conservancy, a group that works to protect important natural places. You can find the main entrance at the end of Pent Road in Weston. The park is open every day from sunrise until sunset.
The New Canaan Nature Center offers fun programs and guided hikes within this beautiful, wooded park. The preserve has about 20 miles (32 km) of trails for exploring. You can pick up maps at the Pent Road parking area to help you find your way. This preserve is also part of the watershed for the West Branch of the Saugatuck River. It connects to the larger 70-mile (110 km) "Saugatuck Valley Trails System."
Contents
Exploring Devil's Den: What You Can See
Devil's Den is home to many different plants and animals. You can find over 500 kinds of trees and wildflowers here. Some special flowers include the pink lady's slipper, the bright red cardinal flower, and the unique Indian pipe.
Animals and Birds in the Preserve
Keep an eye out for various animals that live in Devil's Den. You might spot a red fox, a bobcat, or a coyote. There are also snakes, like the eastern copperhead snake, so it's good to stay on the marked trails. More than 140 types of birds make their home here. These include the wood duck, the ruffed grouse, and the large pileated woodpecker.
A Look Back: History of Devil's Den
The area around Devil's Den has a long history. People have used this land for hunting for about 5,000 years. This is known from old tools and other items found by archaeologists in the park.
Early Uses of the Land
In the 1800s, the preserve was a busy place for making lumber and charcoal. A sawmill once stood below Godfrey Pond. Charcoal was made by slowly burning wood, and it was an important fuel back then.
A Hiding Place During the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War in April 1777, something interesting happened. British soldiers were marching through the area to destroy a military supply depot in Danbury, Connecticut. Many local people from Redding and Weston are thought to have hidden in Devil's Den to stay safe from the troops.
How Devil's Den Became a Preserve
The preserve we know today was created thanks to a woman named Katharine Ordway. In 1966, she bought about 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of land from the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company. She then added even more land between 1966 and 1968, making the preserve even larger.
Recent Times
The preserve was closed to visitors for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was closed from March 2020 until August 2021 to help keep everyone safe.
