Welcome to Earthplace, a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary dedicated to connecting our community with nature through science, conservation, and education. Plan your perfect day on our trails or inside our learning center.
Hours & Holiday Closures
Building Hours: Monday–Saturday: 9am–5pm | Sunday: 11am–5pm.
Grounds open daily from dawn to dusk.
View Dates Building Closed to the Public in 2026
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1/1 |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 4/5 |
| Memorial Day | Monday 5/25 |
| Juneteenth | Friday 6/19 |
| Fourth of July (Observed) | Friday 7/3 |
| Fourth of July | Saturday 7/4 |
| Labor Day | Monday 9/7 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday 11/26 |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday 12/24 |
| Christmas Day | Friday 12/25 |
| New Year's Eve | Thursday 12/31 |
Note: In the event of severe weather, please check our homepage or Channel 12 for preschool delays or facility closures. For more info about Earthplace Preschool's weather policies and procedures, click here.
Location & Directions
10 Woodside Lane, Westport, Connecticut 06880
Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Admission Prices
Help us maintain our sanctuary and care for our animal ambassadors by purchasing an admission ticket at the front desk.
| Visitor Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Members | FREE |
| Children Under 2 | FREE |
| Kids (2+) & Students (with ID) | $5 |
| Seniors (65+) & Military | $5 |
| Adults | $10 |
Love Earthplace? Consider becoming a member for free year-round admission and discounts!
Indoor Exhibits & Activities
Step inside our Environmental Learning Center to discover:
Our Animals
Meet our animal ambassadors in person! Our Animal Hall and Bird of Prey exhibits offer educational programs and experiences focused on natural history, animal care, and wildlife appreciation. Earthplace is home to over 50 species, including bald eagles, barred owls, box turtles, and many others.
Connecticut Wall of Nature
This wall in our entry area, designed and created by artist Marion Grebow, features three-dimensional sculptured tiles depicting scenes of Connecticut's flora and fauna. Three scenic murals illustrate nature-related activities that can be enjoyed through Earthplace.
Natureplace
Our learning center features interactive areas and wildlife dioramas depicting various ecosystems in Connecticut across different seasons: spring woodlands, summer seashores, fall meadows, and underground life. You will also find several rotating exhibits covering topics such as local flora and fauna, environmental issues, and backyard ecology. Each exhibit highlights specimens from the Earthplace collection.
Explore Our Trails & Sanctuary
Our 62-acre protected nature preserve features roughly two miles of trails and the interactive Nature's Playground. Download our Trail Map PDF to choose your path:
Meadow Grass Trail
A universal design nature trail fully accessible to individuals in wheelchairs or walkers, those with strollers, or anyone looking for a flat, easy walk. The trail follows the edge where forest and field meet, an excellent habitat for many species of insects, birds, and mammals.
Swamp Loop Trail
This trail takes about 30 minutes and winds past deciduous woodlands, a pond, and a freshwater stream. This is the ideal spot for viewing spring and summer wildflowers. Hunt for letterboxes along the trail.
High Woods Trail
This trail takes approximately 20 minutes and travels through open fields and hardwood forests. It offers the absolute best views for fall hawk watching.
Newman-Woodward Trail
This trail takes about 20 minutes to complete. The Newman-Woodward trail winds through an oak and beech forest with high leaf canopy and silvery trunks. Stone walls and cedar stumps dot the forest, remnants of the days when this was a farm field.
Wadsworth Trail
This trail takes about 15 minutes and follows the rim of a wetland depression. This route is excellent for spotting ferns, wildflowers, and spring amphibians.
Discover our Animal Hall Garden!
Sanctuary Rules & Safety
To protect our wildlife habitats and ensure safety for all guests, please observe these rules:
- Grounds are open from dawn to dusk.
- No dogs or bikes allowed.
- Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
- Leave no trace: Stay on designated paths, keep away from the water's edge, use trash/recycling bins, and do not disturb plants or animals.
- Smoking and unapproved campfires are strictly forbidden.
- During school hours (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm), the Preschool playgrounds are for school use only and closed to the public.
Activities on the Trails
Make your hike interactive with these family-friendly activities:
- StoryWalk® (Meadow Grass Trail): Read a children's book page-by-page as you stroll. Stories change every few months.
- Letterboxing (Swamp Loop Trail): Download clues from our website and hunt for 5 hidden letterboxes.
- Word Hunting (Newman-Woodward Trail): Practice your navigation skills! Download our compass challenge worksheet before you head out.
- iNaturalist Citizen Science: Snap photos of plants or wildlife and upload them to the iNaturalist app. Your findings automatically join our Earthplace Trails project!
- Winter Snowshoe Rentals: Rent snowshoes for $10/hour on snowy days. We have 3 pairs available; reservations are accepted, but walk-ins are welcome.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
Daily & Weekly Drop-In Programs
All our drop-in programs are included with admission and are completely FREE for Earthplace Members! No registration is required.
Exhibit Notice: Our outdoor Birds of Prey exhibit is currently closed for construction. It will reopen at our Fall Festival on October 3. Learn more about this project here.
Story & Animal Program
Monday through Saturday | 10:30am – 10:45am
A nature-themed storytime followed by a live encounter with one of our Animal Hall residents.
Children ages 5 and under.
Animal Hall Feeding
Daily | 11:00am – 11:30am
Watch an animal care technician feed our resident animals. Learn about wildlife diets, unique behaviors, and care routines, followed by a Q&A session.
Draw An Animal Friend
Saturdays | 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Channel your inner artist as we draw a resident animal from Animal Hall! Observe their traits and movements for inspiration, and create artwork while learning about the animal from our naturalist. This weekly drop-in program is open to all ages, and no registration is required.
Winged Wonders
First Sunday of every month | 1:00pm – 1:30pm
Meet our magnificent raptors outside of their enclosures during an up-close, bird-on-glove demonstration led by their handlers.
Contact & Reporting
During Business Hours: Call Earthplace at 203-557-4400.
After Hours (Non-Emergencies): Call the Westport Police at 203-341-6000.
Emergencies: Call 911.
Accessibility
Earthplace welcomes all visitors and affirms its commitment to offering programs and services that are accessible to everyone. Learn more about accessibility at Earthplace here.
