Town: North Stonington
Maintained Uses: walking, hiking
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Length: 0.5 miles (unmarked trails)
Type: lasso loop
Surface: packed earth/dirt and grass/meadow
Pets: permitted (dogs on leash)
Year Preserved: 1974
Acres: 14
Lat.: 41°27’22.3″
Long.: 71°49’01.9″
Trail Description
Located in North Stonington, off of Clarks Falls Road, is Yannatos Preserve. On the north side of Clarks Fall Road is a small opening to a parking lot. Immediately upon exiting your car, you are introduced to the rich history of the preserve via a sign located at the entrance. This sight was once the location of a mill that was powered by a dam. As you start to hike the preserve, it is easy to notice old granite slabs and iron works, gears, and shafts. In order to get onto the main trail, you must cross Wyassup Brook via stone slabs. When the brook is flowing strong, you will not be able to do this. Thus, going during a dry time is recommended. The trail continues along the water and into woodlands. The trail is unmarked and can be challenging to appreciate. Utilize the Explorer App to help navigate the preserve. Most of the trail follows a lasso loop with various spurs coming off of it. The spur to the southeast of the preserve leads to a tranquil view of Clarks Falls Pond, where water spills into Wyassup Brook. The total distance of the unmarked trails is approximately 0.5 miles with minimal elevation changes. Trail width ranges from as narrow as 1 foot to wide open and is mostly packed earth and dirt. Occasionally, there are exposed rocks and roots that may make this hike more challenging. You can expect to see squirrels, chipmunks, various birds and waterfowls on this preserve, in addition to the farm animals on the neighboring properties. It is pet friendly for dogs on a leash.
More Info
- Yannatos Tract, 13.5 acres (1974) Large parcel north side of road and smaller parcel south of road. Deciduous woodland, river with site of oldmill dam and sluiceway with approximately 0.3 miles of hiking trail.
- Jones Tract, 0.5 acres (1995) Small tract on south side of the road partially wooded area bordering on Green Falls river and Wyassup Brook.
Yannatos Preserve Accessible Parking for People with Disabilities
You will notice that the accessible space at Yannatos looks very different from the more typical accessible spaces found throughout Connecticut. Those spaces, required by (and conforming to) the Connecticut State Building Code, all serve nearby structures and are strictly limited to permit holders. When a parking area does not serve a structure (as at Yannatos and most land preserves), the Code does not apply; in that case, an entity must defer to the parking standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This accessible parking space, based on an innovative model created by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, meets the intention of the ADA without compromising the environmental principles that would be violated by paving. The primary innovation of the space is the use of blue and red guiding ‘bumpers’ that indicate the components of the space normally communicated by striping. The space is intended for accessible parking permit holders, but (per an ADA exception for lots having four or fewer total spaces*) those without permits may park there when no other space is available. (No vehicle, however, may be parked in the access aisle.)
Note: The purpose of the low fence to the right of the access aisle is to warn of an incline on the other side.
* ADA Standards 216.5
For a more complete explanation of the ADA and Building Code contexts, please contact the Avalonia office at avalonialc@yahoo.com or 860-884-3500.
READ MORE ABOUT YANNATOS PRESERVE
Trail Map
