Devil's Den Preserve (Lucius Pond Ordway/Devil's Den Preserve)

The preserve was created by the late Katharine Ordway, an heiress of the 3M forturne through a series of donations from 1966 through 1968, beginning with a 1,300-acre purchase from the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company. It is said that it got its name because of some of the bear print marks on rocks which supposedly look like they have been burned by the Devil's hot feet.

Over 500 types of trees and wildflowers can be found in the preserve including Indian Pipe, Pink Lady's Slipper and Cardinal Flower. The animal population includes Red Fox, Bobcat, Coyote Eastern Copperhead, Wood Duck, Ruffled Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker and more than 140 other bird species. It is remarkable for the relative scarcity of harmful invasive plants and animals. The summit of granitic Deer Knoll rises 485 feet above sea level and has a lot of tortured looking oaks and pitch pine.

You can hike, bird, canoe and cross country ski.

For electronic navigation and mapping enter the address "33 Pent Road, Weston, CT 06883."

From the south and the Merritt Parkway

• Take exit 42 and go north on Route 57 for 3.8 miles to the blinking light. Continue straight on Route 53 (be sure not to continue on Route 57, which forks to the left) toward Redding 1.7 miles to the next traffic light, turn left on Godfrey Road.
• Continue for a half-mile, then turn right on Pent Road, which dead-ends at the preserve's main parking area.

From the north and Route 107 in Georgetown

• Go south on Route 57 for 2.7 miles.
• Turn left on Godfrey Road and go for a half-mile. Turn left on Pent Road and follow to end in preserve's parking lot.

From I-84 in Danbury

• Take exit 3 to Route 7 south.
• Follow Route 7 for approximately 10 miles to intersection with Route 107 in Georgetown. Take left onto Route 107, then right onto Route 57 heading south, and continue as above