The Caroline Tuthill Preserve is an expanse of over 150 acres of oak and pitch pine forest, wooded wetlands, salt marsh, and open meadow. Sengekontacket Pond and Beach Road flank the Preserve to the north; the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road flanks the Preserve to the south. Generously given to the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation by John and Nora Tuthill between 1972 and 1983, the Caroline Tuthill Preserve is the largest single gift of land received by the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation in its history.

The public is invited to enjoy the Preserve by walking or bicycling on the Garrett Family Trail and the many other trails on the property. The Garrett Family Trail was established in memory of Caroline Garrett Tuthill and is a self-guided nature walk. The trail follows a circuitous path through the forest and includes expansive views of the salt marshes along Sengekontacket Pond. The 1.7-mile purple trail, south of the Garrett Familly Trail, was designed specifically with mountain bicyclists in mind.  Bicyclists will enjoy 200 feet of elevation change and a challenging, winding course on this trail.  The blue trail, the white trail, and the red trail all make connections to the bicycle path along Beach Road.

While walking the Preserve one might observe such birds as crows, blue jays, chickadees, towhees, pine warblers, white-breasted nuthatches, and red-eyed vireos. In spring, one may also be treated to the sight of lady’s slippers, which grow along the trail and at the foot of the Preserve’s many oaks.

The Cape Cod lobe of the Late Wisconsin glacier formed the Caroline Tuthill Preserve. The Preserve includes features such as high knobs and sunken kettle holes, features that are glacial in origin.

From the Triangle intersection in Edgartown, travel 0.5 miles west on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road to the trailhead located on the right. From the four-way stop at the junction of the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road and Barnes Road, travel east 3.6 miles on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road to the trailhead located on your left.

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at Caroline Tuthill Wildlife Preserve.