Where a Community Connects with Nature
By Hannah Van Sickle
The history of Steep Rock dates to 1925 when American architect Ehrick Rossiter created a land trust to preserve 378 acres along the Shepaug River Valley in Washington. Rossiter, a graduate of The Gunnery, now known as the Frederick Gunn School, intervened when the renowned and rocky cliff was slated to be clear cut. Today, Steep Rock Preserve boasts 998 acres and miles of hiking trails that follow the undulating river banks and provide access to the towering hills above.
Lovers of rich history will be drawn to remnants of the Holiday House Hotel—a vacation retreat for working-class women from New York City—and the 235-foot abandoned railroad tunnel, constructed by hand in the 1870s as part of the Shepaug Valley Railroad. Looking for a rigorous hike? Steep Rock summit, at an elevation of 776 feet, provides breathtaking views of the Clamshell portion of the river valley and serves as the core of Steep Rock Association (which holds 5, 200 total acres in a trio of preserves and conservation easements). If climbing hills is not your thing, take a leisurely stroll around the hay fields. The preserve’s diverse topography, including seven loops and two trails, offers something for all ages and abilities.
“I’ve hiked in Steep Rock’s preserves for the past twenty years and almost every day since March,” says Carol Santoleri, author of The History of Steep Rock Association. “Each hike is a new experience—dappled sunlight pierces the treetops, lighting first one side of the Shepaug River Valley and then the other; misty fogs roll off the river as rainstorms pass by; and birds, butterflies, and wildflowers come and go with the seasons. Mother nature can be a wonderful tonic in times of stress.”
In addition to unwinding and reflecting at Steep Rock, visitors are invited to take part in the Citizen Science Program, which includes nest box monitoring of local birds and the egg laying and hatching of turtles. “As a nonprofit, our operating budget is almost entirely based on donations,” says Executive Director Brian Hagenbuch, who remains bound and determined to keep the preserve open despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To support Steep Rock’s mission of conserving ecologically and historically significant landscapes in the region while enhancing the community’s connection with nature, make a donation or purchase a book—all proceeds go directly to supporting Steep Rock Association.
Steep Rock Association
2 Tunnel Rd
Washington Depot
