The mission of Great Mountain Forest is to be a leader in forest stewardship. We practice sustainable forest management, promote biodiversity and resilience to climate change, support education and research, and welcome all who love the woods.

An inventory of Great Mountain Forest conducted in 1930 reveals a very different vegetation composition than today's. In the map, the yellow areas were all fields or early successional sites, and only the uncolored portions represent hemlock, pine, and mixed hardwoods. GMF has started an updated full-forest inventory using the same compartments, or delineated areas as originally established.

Compartments frequently use naturally occurring or easily identifiable boundaries to set off each area to be inventoried. Two roads and two town lines border this hand-drawn compartment #9 map of 257 acres in Great Mountain Forest.

If you are wondering how Goshen got to be above Norfolk,

the map bearing shows that north is at the bottom of the map. 

Great Mountain Forest is home to at least two of the most common bats in Connecticut. The little brown bat weighs in at less than half an ounce, with a wingspan of 9 to 11 inches and a body only 2 to 4 inches long. They belong to the taxonomic family Vespertilionidae, with Myotis translating to “mouse-eared,” and lucifugus to “light-fleeing.” This bat species has suffered declines in population from the fungal infection that causes white-nose disease.

The big brown bat belongs to a different genus than its more diminutive cousin; the impressive nomenclature of the “vespertilionid Eptesicus fuscus” means “brown bat that flies around in the evening.” These reach almost a full ounce in weight with a wingspan of just over a foot. Both of these bats eat insects, but sadly eschew mosquitos, as those fly closer to the ground than bats prefer to hunt.    

Plants and fungi with names that remind us of Halloween

Witch hobble

Witch hazel, in bloom

this time of year.

White baneberry, also with the slightly creepy name of dolls’ eyes 

Jack-o'lantern mushroom

Forest Notices

Welcome to the forest!

GMF is a place of peaceful co-existence for everyone

• Keep your dog on a leash and if you pack it in--pack it out.

• Be bear and tick aware when hiking.

• Sign in at kiosks at the East and West Gates.

• Watch for inclement weather notices on social media

and website.

• Download the GMF recreational trail map and descriptions from our website www.greatmountainforest.org



• If you have any questions, email info@greatmountainforest.org

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