Deer Pond Farm
Deer Pond Farm
Office Hours & Admission
- Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
- Trails open dawn to dusk, year round
On This Page
Property Overview
Deer Pond Farm covers 850 acres of rugged hardwood forest, meadows, and wetlands straddling the border of Connecticut and New York.
At a Glance
- 15 miles of hiking trails
- 850 acres half in Sherman, CT & half in Pawling, NY
- Trails open daily dawn until dusk
- Nature-themed guided programs
- 150 + species of birds recorded on eBird.org
- Well established pollinator garden
- Active forest & habitat management projects
- Volunteer opportunities
Trails & Terrain
Situated between elevations of 900 and 1200 feet, there are many vistas to enjoy along the trails.
About 650 of its 850 acres are upland forest; 125 acres are forested wetlands; and 59 acres are meadow.
Deer Pond Farm includes a network of 15 miles of trails. The sanctuary is open year-round, seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. All trails are accessible from the visitor parking lot at 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT.
Habitat
Upland hardwood forest, forested wetlands, open meadows and early successional shrublands, seasonal vernal pools, two ponds with associated wetland habitat, and historic stone walls, providing habitat for forest-dwelling birds and mammals, amphibians, pollinators, and other wildlife adapted to woodland, wetland, and open-field environments.
Trail Rules
Walkers, hikers, photographers 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
Over 150 species of birds have been documented here, including forest birds such as, Broad-winged Hawk, Scarlet Tanager, and Pileated Woodpecker as well as early successional specialists such as, American Woodcock, Eastern Towhee, and Chestnut-sided Warbler. There are two eBird hotspot locations: Deer Pond Farm (CT Audubon) and Deer Pond Farm, CT Audubon (Dutchess Co.). Thank you for reporting your bird observations.
Mammals include bobcat, coyote, several bat species, fisher and long-tailed weasel, beaver, black bear and, of course, deer.
Numerous amphibian species breed in its 11 vernal pools, including Wood Frog, Spring Peepers, and Spotted Salamanders. To date, two turtle and four snake species have been confirmed.
