Cathedral Pines is a 42-acre old-growth white pine and hemlock forest preserve. It is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy in Cornwall, Connecticut, and was originally part of a 1000-acre forest inherited by Major Seth Pierce in 1785, when the trees were but saplings. It passed on to John E. Calhoun, who vowed to preserve the entire area as a majestic forest.

Cathedral Pines was a popular tourist attraction in the late 1980s, and was featured on almost every postcard at the time.
Chris Schultz/Alltrails
Today, it’s one of Connecticut’s most unique national natural landmarks, as it tells tales of endurance and restoration.
The entire forest was almost destroyed by tornado winds in July 1989.
Sean Onorato/Alltrails
Though nature has recycled most of the felled pine trees, you’ll still see thousands of dead pine snags lying on the hill today.
During your tour of Cathedral Pines, you’ll clamber over moss-covered pine logs and see still-standing, gray, half, dead pine snags.
Jerrod Cattey/Alltrails
The good news is that they aren’t more than the trees that survived and still slumber in the sun today.

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Cathedral Pines forest hosts impressively large, white pines that decorate the hill.
Heather Philbrook/Alltrails
Though they’re old, they’re healthy, exceeding 12 feet in circumference at breast height, which more than the standard height of 4.5 feet above ground level at which trees are measured.
If you wish to experience Cathedral Pines in its ancient glory, a walk through ancient eastern white pines might do the trick.
Susan Bradley/Alltrails
The 8.7 kilometer Mohawk trail is heavy with the scent of pine trees as old as 250 years and shaded by lofty green needles. The scenery changes as the looped trail come to an end.
Cathedral Pines is more than a unique tourist attraction for residents and non-residents of Cornwall, Connecticut.
Kimberly Olso/Alltrails

It’s a slice of history nesting in the embrace of preservation. It’s also the perfect place to let your troubled thoughts drift away with the pine breeze.

Learn more about Cathedral Pines Preserve right here.

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Featured Addresses
Cathedral Pines, West Cornwall, CT 06796, USA