Long Pond Preserve was donated to The Nature Conservancy in 1970 by a group of Waccabuc residents to preserve the habitat of the wet meadow and wooded uplands, and to protect the waters of Lake Waccabuc from polluted runoff.  Ownership and management of the preserve was transferred to The Three Lakes Council in 2015.

The trail begins at the kiosk adjacent to the Mead Chapel parking area and leads down through the woods toward the lake shore. Well-marked trails cross a bridge and proceed south, allowing close observation of the wetland plants and forest which are adjacent to the lake.

Highlights

Hemlock forest, upland forest of red maple, tulip, ash and oak, swamp azalea in late spring, Indian hemp, lobelia, marsh blue violet, numerous and varied butterflies, water birds and hawks. Ruins of old ice house machinery are along the trail.  A wetland basin on the west end of the meadow treats polluted runoff.

Directions

The preserve is on Mead Street near the intersection of Chapel Road, about 1 mi. north of Route 35. The entrance is across from the Mead Chapel. Parking is on the west side of the road.