The Essex Land Trust holds a hike guided by Essex Land Trust stewards at its Canfield Woods property on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m.

A part of this land trust property was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Canfield in 1968, making it one of the land trust’s earliest properties. A donation by the Nature Conservancy in 1985 completed the more than 300 acres of preserve shared by Essex and Deep River. It consists of 17 trails winding through mixed old and new growth forest with many rocky outcroppings.

Much of the property is former farm land and the old fields are still delineated by a network of stone walls and roads. The remains of an old stone quarry can be found in the Deep River section. The preserve abounds with white-tailed deer and grey and red fox as well as flocks of wild turkeys. A population of small rodents attracts hawks and owls, too. Home to a variety of birds, common species include cardinals, woodpeckers, thrushes, vireos and flycatchers.

The hike leaves from the Book Hill Woods Road entrance in Essex. Bad weather cancels.