Permitted Activities
Visitors assume all liability and responsibility for all their actions and inactions while on NEWT property.
Some exceptions apply, as are noted below—please refer to specific preserve and sanctuary guidelines at www.newildernesstrust.org/places.
Walking, Snowshoeing, & Cross-Country Skiing
Quiet, muscle-powered exploration slows our enjoyment of wilderness to Nature’s pace. This kind of recreation helps preserve landscapes in a relatively untrammeled state—where wildlife and the land is not deprived of freedom of action or expression. It is consistent with the ethic of protecting Nature for Nature’s sake. Please stay on trails where feasible. When exploring off-trail, take care to minimize your impact.
Wildlife Observation & Nature Study
Forever-wild places are those where Nature unfolds on her own terms. Quiet and reverent wildlife observation, birding, tracking, plant and mushroom identification, and other naturalist activities that leave the land as it was found are welcomed on NEWT preserves.
Meditation, Writing, Photography, & Contemplative, Cultural, or Religious Practice
Forever-wild lands are well-suited for creative modalities that do not harm the creatures or land. Writing, nature journaling, sketching, photographing, meditating, or simply sitting to listen to the music of a waterfall or the wind in the trees are all welcomed on NEWT preserves. NEWT welcomes cultural practices and religious ceremonies on our lands which are consistent with the other guidelines herein.
Swimming, Paddling, & Non-Motorized Boating
Several water bodies are accessible from preserves—swimming and paddling are welcome, though NEWT does not maintain access. Swimming and boats are prohibited at the Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve in Kingston, MA.
Dogs
At this time, dogs are generally allowed on NEWT lands but must be under voice or leash control at all times. Please pick up after your dog. Trained, certified service animals are always allowed. Dogs are never allowed on the Alder Stream Wilderness Preserve in Atkinson, ME.
Fishing
Fishing in accordance with the rules listed below is generally allowed on NEWT preserves, though permission is required to fish the Alder Stream Wilderness Preserve in Atkinson, ME. Fishing is not permitted at the Eagle Mountain Wilderness Preserve in Chesterfield, NY, the Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve in Kingston, MA, and on all NEWT sanctuaries.
Nontoxic and lead-free lures and sinkers are required for all fishing. Artificial hard lures only, no live or dead organic bait of any kind, and no soft plastic lures. Barbless hooks only. Barbed hooks must be pinched before being attached to a fishing line. No chumming, chunking, advanced baiting, or use of fish traps or bait traps allowed. Structures, such as ice-fishing shanties, are not permitted.
Cutting of vegetation or trees for any reason is prohibited. Anglers found to have cleared vegetation or trails will be expected to reimburse NEWT for the value of the trees cut at landscape appraisal rates.
No commercial angling or guide services. Anglers agree to always conduct themselves in a safe, legal, and ethical way.
Leave No Trace
For all permitted activities on NEWT lands, please follow “Leave No Trace” principles, including Leave What You Find, Respect Wildlife, Travel on Durable Surfaces, and Be Considerate of Others (both human and non-human!).
Prohibited Activities
Some exceptions apply, as are noted below—please refer to specific preserve and sanctuary guidelines at www.newildernesstrust.org/places.
Motorized Vehicles
All motorized vehicles, including ATVs, dirt bikes, 4x4s, and snowmobiles, are prohibited. Exceptions include the use of motorized vehicles in emergencies and on specific trails on certain preserves.
Bicycles & Wheeled or Mechanized Vehicles
All bicycles, including e-bikes, and any other types of wheeled or mechanized vehicles are prohibited. Trails on NEWT lands are not designed or maintained for bicycles and wheeled vehicles, which can negatively impact soils and important mycelial networks and critters hidden underground.
Trapping, Predator Hunting, & Hounding
Trapping, predator hunting, and hounding are prohibited. Several NEWT preserves allow hunting of prey species with a free permit; learn more at www.newildernesstrust.org/hunting.
Horses & Pack Animals
Horses and pack animals are prohibited on all NEWT preserves.
Camping & Fires
All NEWT lands are day-use only. Camping, fires, and fireworks are prohibited. Please pack out all trash.
Rock Climbing
Rock and ice climbing and bouldering are prohibited.
Cutting or Damaging Vegetation
Cutting or damaging plants or trees is prohibited, as is any unauthorized trail maintenance, including glading and the construction of new trails.
Drones, Trail Cameras, & Similar Devices
Launching or landing unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, radio-controlled model airplanes, or any equipment of this type is prohibited on NEWT preserves. Trail-camera use by the public is prohibited. Loud music and radios are also prohibited. NEWT may approve limited operation of unmanned aerial systems or trail cams for purposes such as scientific research or authorized photography. For more information, please contact our Stewardship Director at stewardship@newildernesstrust.org.
Activities by Permission
Hunting
Hunting of abundant prey species is allowed on certain NEWT preserves with an annual free permit. (Hunting of any kind is prohibited on NEWT sanctuaries.) Large predators are missing from Northeast ecosystems, and without them, populations of prey animals grow unchecked. Over-browsing by excessive herbivore population can damage plant communities, the soil, and other natural processes. In wilderness areas, human hunters can fill the role of the predator in the ecosystem by hunting prey species that are abundant (or over-abundant) in the region. Commercial hunting and guiding is not permitted. For more information, visit newildernesstrust.org/hunting.
Research & Scientific Study
In recognition of the prominent role scientific principles play in NEWT’s conservation ethos, several NEWT preserves host ongoing research projects. These projects help to inform future conservation decisions. If you are interested in conducting research on NEWT lands or collecting plant or mineral material for scientific study, please contact the Wildlands Ecology Director at ecology@newildernesstrust.org.
Educational Programming & Field Trips
Group outings to NEWT lands for educational purposes are allowed by permission. Please contact our Stewardship Director at stewardship@newildernesstrust.org with inquiries.
Cases-by-Case Uses
Motorized Recreation
On select NEWT preserves, existing motorized trails predate our ownership. While NEWT generally closes and rewilds motorized trails, some have local importance and are key connectors that help sustain rural businesses and traditions. On a case-by-case basis, NEWT works with local clubs to allow such trails to be maintained.