Devil's Den Concourse

Devil's Den Concourse

The extensive trail system of this sanctuary offers something for every level of walker, from tyros of the turf to foot-hearty highlanders. It slices through a rich variety of woodland habitats, showcasing a large pond and numerous streams, a rocky ravine, several granite-wracked gorges, high plateaus with expansive views of the surrounding hills, and even the ruins of a nineteenth-century lumber mill. Wild turkeys and white-tailed deer teem through these woods, and moist weather brings an intoxicating mix of mushrooms. No one knows for certain how Devil's Den came by its menacing moniker. The Great Ledge viewpoint isn?t guarded by a three-headed Cerberus, its streams don?t flow with molten lava, and not a whiff of sulfur taints its air. On the contrary, when your lug soles start padding through the varied terrain, you will find yourself treading in hiker's heaven. Which isn?t to say you?ll feel like an angel at the end of this 8-mile hike. But with more than 1,700 acres to the preserve, encompassing hundreds of varieties of trees and wildflowers, dramatic ridgetop views, the ever-popular Godfrey Pond, a rocky ravine bisected by a picturesque cascade, and several scores of bird species, there's more than enough to elevate the spirits of even the most downtrodden of trekkers. Scenery: Rolling woodlands, wetlands, gorge with gentle cascade, rocky ledge with splendid view of Saugatuck Reservoir, and several relics of lumber mills.

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