New Fairfield/Madeline Drive
Location: 33 Madeline Drive / 4 Madeline Drive
Donor: Rick Jowdy, 5/17/2002
Size: 16.6 acres / 2.3 acres
Dominant Habitat: deciduous forest & stream / wetland
Hydrologic Character: Wetland
Titicus Mountain Preserve was created as the dedicated Open Space of the Sonneborn Estates subdivision. It was donated to the N.F.L.T. in 2002 by Rick Jowdy. The 16.6 acre forested conservation area lies right next to the Danbury border. With the help of the Boy Scouts and other community volunteers we created this trail system in 2010. Eagle Scout Bobby Keough and crew blazed the trails and made the sign. Access to the property is through an easement at the end of Madeline Drive. Please respect neighboring boundaries and stay on our trails through this area.
The trail goes along the fence of the drainage easement near the cul de sac. It then starts going down hill for a while before bending sharply to the left, going across the side of the hill. Watch your footing here. A short walk brings you to the boundary of the preserve and the trail becomes more level again. In the preserve the trail system is mostly a large loop. Going to the right at the fork brings you down a gentle slope that is bordered by a wetland and stream. When you get to the end of the loop you begin a gentle climb to the higher side of the preserve as you make your return. The area is a mixed deciduous forest with several rock walls indicating its earlier use as farm lands. The blue trail is a connector trail allowing for a shorter loop.
Directions: From Ball Pond Road (Route 39) tum on to Gillotti Road ( at the stop light). Take Gillotti about .5 miles to Titicus Mountain Road on the right. Take Titicus .5 miles to Madeline Drive on left. Follow Madeline Drive to cul de sac (.3 miles). The access easement goes around the right of the guard rail and then straight ahead, to the left of the fenced water drainage area. Recreational Access: trail system
Parking: The smaller parcel is a wetland near the beginning of the new road and will be left in its natural state. The larger parcel will be accessed through an easement at the end of the new road, Madeline Drive.
Unique site attributes: With some hard work from Eagle Scout Bobby Keogh and friends we have opened up a trail system on this parcel that takes you in a loop through the sloping deciduous forest and down to a stream.
