River access and easy trails mark this 96-acre preserve which straddles the Essex and Old Saybrook town line. Turtle Creek winds northward through extensive wetlands to a narrow strip of beach along the Connecticut River. Higher ground to the west borders South Cove in Essex.
Flora and Fauna: Animal life includes turtles and amphibians in the old ice pond. Bald eagles and osprey frequent the river and cove, which is also home to ducks, swans and wading birds. The wetlands abound with plant life, including jewelweed, Joe-Pye weed and buttonbush shrubs. Oak, birch, beech, and mountain laurel dominate the higher ground with an occasional pink lady’s slipper orchid in the understory.
Trails, Location and Access: The six trails extending for 2.5 miles are an easy to moderate hike. The dominant loop, marked with green blazes leaves the parking area to the north providing access to South Cove and a beach on the Connecticut River via a secondary trail marked with white blazes. The green trail also provides access to the highest elevation in the preserve using secondary trails having orange and red blazes. The blue trail leaves the east side of the parking area and provides access to Deitch’s Pond and a good portion of the Turtle Creek watershed.
Directions, Parking, and Map:
Turtle Creek is accessed from a gravel parking lot off Watrous Point Rd, just over the Old Saybrook town line and off Route 154. The lot has space for approximately 11 cars but can become crowded, especially in the morning when many come to walk their dogs. Please consider carpooling. The lot has a separate entrance and exit, as well as boundaries that define the parking area which is located at the southwest corner of Turtle Creek.
Access: on Watrous Point Rd., off Route 154, Old Saybrook ; map showing parking: https://essexlandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Turtle-Creek-Map-20240417.pdf
Leader: Deb Carreau (860-372-5293), debcarreau@gmail.com