10. Clay Point Road Trail
Clay Point Road Trail offers easy walking on a 0.12 mile or 0.30 mile loop through coastal forest and thicket dominated by non-native privet and bush honeysuckle.
To access this trail, turn off East End Road onto Clay Point Road and park along the side of the road near the posted trailhead, which is a few hundred feet up on the left. As you begin your walk, notice the intermittent overstory of native black cherry, red maple, red cedar, sumac, and shad. These trees provide food and refuge for migrating and nesting birds such as Cedar Waxwing and Yellow Warbler. When the trail branches, take a left to continue on the longer loop or a right for the shorter loop. Sunny openings and edges support a diversity of grasses and forbs, especially along the road and down to the rocky shore. These small meadows with native goldenrods, switchgrass, little bluestem, and other prairie grasses provide suitable stopover habitat for American Woodcock and many migrant birds. Whichever branch of the path you choose, you will return to Clay Point Road and can walk back to your starting point. Make sure to take the time to appreciate the view of Long Island Sound across the way, framed by the miniature grassland maintained by the HLFM Land Trust between two residential properties.
