New Marlborough Land Trust Joffe Nature Sanctuary

Cagney Hill Road, New Marlborough, MA

About Joffe Nature Sanctuary

The Joffe Nature Sanctuary is a quaint, family-friendly preserve that provides access to a diverse natural environment with ideal conditions for wildlife viewing, birding, and studying nature. Two interlocking hiking trails span just under a mile as they immerse visitors in wetlands and uplands teeming with wildlife. The property's main feature is its vernal pond, which harbors flourishing populations of ducks, frogs, turtles, beavers, muskrats, and more. This property is an excellent place to get children excited about nature, as it offers just the right amount of natural immersion without venturing too far off the beaten path.

The Wetland Loop circles the pond with multiple wooden benches along its edge, offering great places to grab a bite to eat, take in the surrounding nature, or even read a book—after all, many famous authors have found inspiration for their novels in the peaceful natural environment of the Berkshires. A footbridge walks right through the marshland by the pond, allowing for up-close observation of aquatic plant life and wildlife. To the west of the pond is an upland traversed by the Laurel Loop, which goes through mountain laurel and passes a huge boulder left over from the Ice Age.

Overall, the Joffe Nature Sanctuary is a hidden treasure among Western Massachusetts nature preserves, and it is particularly ideal for families with children. Access can be found at the intersection of Canaan Southfield Road and Cagney Hill Road, where a small dirt parking area marks the trailhead.