Trail Wood & The Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary
Trail Wood & The Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary
Hours & Admission
- Trails open dawn to dusk
- E.W. Teale house open by appointment
Property Overview
The Edwin Way Teale Trail Wood Memorial Sanctuary, once home to naturalist Edwin Way Teale and his wife Nellie, spans 168 acres with nearly four miles of trails featuring old farm fields, forests, babbling brooks, and ponds. Highlights include Teale’s “brushpile study”, Writing Cabin, insect garden with a sundial, Nellies’ Summerhouse with views of Hidden Pond, beaver pond observation areas, and a small rustic information center.
At a Glance
- Historic Home of Edwin Way Teale
- 4 miles of Trails
- 168 Acres
- 147+ Bird Species
- Active Beaver Ponds
- Summer Artist & Writers in Residence
Trails & Terrain
Most of the nearly 4 miles of trails are easy and well-maintained, though you’ll encounter a few uneven or wet areas and moderate elevation changes. To preserve the landscape as the Teales would have experienced it, the trails are not blazed. Please download or take a trail map from the information shed and use the kiosks located at key intersections for guidance.
Habitat
Old farm, with small fields and secondary successional growth areas lined with old stone walls, mixed hardwood forest, streams, woodland swamps and beaver pond with associated wetland.
About Our Center
The property is centered around the 1806 historic house and rustic information shed. The only facilities are an outhouse off the unpaved parking lot. Kiosks placed about the property tell the story of the Edwin and Nellie Teale and natural history of the sanctuary. For those wishing access to see E.W. Teale’s study as he left it upon his death in 1980 and his Writing Cabin may schedule an appointment at trailwood.ctaudubon.org
The Teale's Legacy
Trail Wood in Hampton, Connecticut, was the beloved home of naturalist, author and photographer Edwin Way Teale and his wife Nellie. In 1959, seeking quieter surroundings than their Baldwin, Long Island home, the Teales moved to this former farm and soon came to know every inch of its acres, affectionately calling it “our Eden.” They explored daily, often separately, giving names to trails, pastures, and landmarks so they could share news of their rambles.
This personal naming style—complete with Edwin’s mid-century habit of compound nouns such as North Boulderfield, Nellie’s Summerhouse, and Starfield Pasture—is still reflected on signs and maps.
Trail Wood became the center of Teale’s literary life. Over his career, Edwin wrote 27 original books on natural history, science, and photography. Ten were completed here, including Wandering Through Winter, which earned the 1966 Pulitzer Prize and became the first natural history book of the twentieth century to receive the honor. Trail Wood itself is the setting for his final works published during his lifetime, A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm and A Walk Through the Year.
Edwin worked at Trail Wood until his death on October 18, 1980. Nellie ensured his study remained untouched, just as he left it. In 1981, she fulfilled their long-made plan by deeding the property to the Connecticut Audubon Society, where she continued to live for 13 more years before her death in 1993.
Artist and writers are invited the our Residency Program to walk the same paths the Teales cherished and enjoy creative explorations of their own.
Trail Rules
Walkers and birders welcome
on designated trails only
Trails open dawn to dusk
For the protection of our wildlife,
the following are prohibited:
- Dogs, horses, bicycles
- Motorized vehicles or Drones
- Hunting, Trapping, or Fishing
- Collecting of any kind
- Littering, Camping, or Fires
Wildlife
Birds:
Trail Wood is part of a large forest block connected to Natchaug State Forest. Many woodland songbirds like Scarlet Tanagers, Ovenbirds, Veerys, Red-eyed Vireos, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Baltimore Orioles to name a few nests here. During migration just about any species can be expected. The watercourses attract nesting Louisiana Waterthrushes and Wood Ducks. The young growth found throughout the preserve attracts many Blue-winged Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, American Woodcocks and Catbirds. Our purple martin gourd complex attracted nesting Purple Martins in 2025!
Other Wildlife:
Many small mammals—such as red and gray squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and voles—make their home here, which in turn attracts predators like bobcats, Eastern coyotes, and weasels. Porcupine and mink have been seen here. White-tailed deer are often spotted leaping through the underbrush. Evidence of beavers can be found at the more than 60-year-old pond and dam, as well as at the newer constructions along Hampton Brook. Frogs and turtles are commonly seen in Hidden Pond and the beaver ponds.
