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Mt Holly Sanctuary

Mt. Holly Sanctuary is named for Jonah Holly, the first settler of the area, whose descendants farmed here from 1795. All but the steepest parts of the sanctuary were used as pastureland until the early 20th century. The Nature Conservancy, assisted by local residents, purchased this 209-acre property from the estate of Edward A. Norman in 1975. Mt. Holly Sanctuary’s rugged outcrops of bedrock rise to 621 feet, cradling a mixed deciduous forest of chestnut oak, black oak, and red oak.

For easy connections to Indian Brook Assemblage, on the east side of Mt. Holly Road, see map.

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Look out for...

Extensive variety of terrain, habitat and hardwood forest dominated by oak and black birch. Sweet pepperbush, swamp azalea, and blueberry are in the wetland, with pileated woodpeckers in the sugar maple grove.  There are large rock outcroppings, stone walls throughout and an old barn foundation close to Todd Road.

Habitats found in this preserve

All Preserves

Brownell Preserve ~ Goldens Bridge

Fox Valley Town Park ~ Goldens Bridge

Frederick P. Rose & Rockshelter Preserves ~ Cross River

Grossman Preserve ~ Waccabuc

Hunt-Parker Sanctuary ~ Goldens Bridge

Indian Brook Assemblage ~ (Grierson, Yarrow, and Mt. Holly Preserves) – Goldens Bridge

John Jay High School XC & Community Trail ~ Cross River

Leon Levy Preserve ~ South Salem

Lewisboro Town Park ~ South Salem

Long Pond Preserve ~ Waccabuc

Love Preserve ~ Vista

Marx Preserve ~ Goldens Bridge

Mountain Lakes Park ~ South Salem & North Salem

Mt Holly Sanctuary ~ Katonah

Old Church Lane Preserve ~ Vista

Old Field Preserve ~ Waccabuc

Onatru Farm Park & Preserve ~ Vista

Pine Croft Meadow ~ Waccabuc

St. Paul’s Chapel Trail ~ Vista

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation ~ Cross River

How to get there

Download Trail Map