Steep Rock Association

What Steep Rock Association does

Steep Rock Association is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1925, originally established when architect Ehrick Rossiter donated 165 acres to prevent clear-cutting. Operating as an independent, privately held public charity without parent or subsidiary entities, SRA is headquartered at the historic Camp-Lemmon House (ca. 1806) adjacent to Macricostas Preserve in Washington Depot, with a second office referenced in New Preston. The organization permanently protects nearly 6,000 acres across four preserves — Hidden Valley (940 acres), Steep Rock (998 acres), Macricostas (547 acres), and West Mountain (~220 acres) — stewarding 46-47 miles of trails, 40 farm properties, and habitat for 43 threatened species.

The core product portfolio consists of four conservation preserves offering free public access for hiking, horseback riding, birdwatching, photography, fishing, kayaking, and primitive tent camping (three sites at $50/night, April through October). Beyond passive recreation, SRA operates the Judea Garden community food security program (launched 2009, feeding approximately 200 families per week through three distribution channels), the Steep Rock Speaker Series on conservation and ecology, an online merchandise store, and group use permitting. The organization holds Land Trust Alliance accreditation (initial 2016, reaccredited 2022), placing it within a network of over 450 accredited land trusts managing nearly 20 million acres nationally.

The revenue model is a nonprofit hybrid relying primarily on individual donations and memberships (with structured vehicles including monthly giving, Donor Advised Funds, and Qualified Charitable Distributions), supplemented by foundation and government grants (Gould Family Foundation, State of Connecticut, Town of Washington, Northwest CT Community Foundation), camping fees, and merchandise sales. Go-to-market is community-led, channeled through monthly email newsletters, social media (Facebook, YouTube), in-person events (Weed & Wine Thursdays, Trail Work Parties, Summer Saunters), digital StoryMaps, and a volunteer program including a multi-year VISTA service track. SRA is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates with a core staff of approximately 9-10 plus 1-2 VISTA volunteers.

Name

Steep Rock Association

Legal name

Steep Rock Association, Inc.

Website

https://steeprockassoc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Steep Rock Association is a Connecticut-based nonprofit land trust that permanently protects nearly 6,000 acres across four preserves. It stewards 46 miles of trails and operates the Judea Garden food security program, serving hikers, donors, volunteers, and food-insecure families in Northwest Connecticut.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Rock Climbing, Via Ferrata & Mountaineering (THAJABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Nature preserve access
• Hiking trail management
• Community garden programs
• Outdoor recreation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington Depot

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, membership dues, and charitable contributions. The organization accepts various donation types including monthly giving, donor advised funds, and qualified charitable distributions from IRAs.
2. Camping Fees: Tent camping at three primitive sites along the Shepaug River. Fees are $50 per night per site, with a 2-night minimum on weekends and maximum 3 consecutive nights.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including apparel, tote bags, wine tumblers, books, and honey. Items available both online and at local partner locations.
4. Grants and Foundation Support: Funding from private foundations (e.g., Gould Family Foundation), state of Connecticut, and Town of Washington for specific conservation and land acquisition projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Steep Rock Association is a nonprofit land trust that protects nearly 6,000 acres across four nature preserves (Hidden Valley, Macricostas, Steep Rock, and West Mountain) in Northwest Connecticut, providing 46 miles of public trails for hiking, horseback riding, camping, and river recreation. The organization also operates Judea Garden, a community garden that grows organic produce distributed weekly to 200 food-insecure families. Memberships, donations, grants, camping fees, and merchandise sales fund the organization's conservation, stewardship, and community engagement programs.

Product overview

Steep Rock Association operates as a land trust offering access to five nature preserves totaling nearly 6,000 acres in Northwest Connecticut. The organization's offerings include four core preserves (Hidden Valley, Macricostas, Steep Rock, and West Mountain) providing outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping, river recreation, and horseback riding. Judea Garden is a community food security program. Additional services include the Steep Rock Speaker Series educational program, merchandise store, and the Steep Rock Center for Conservation featuring interactive StoryMaps. The portfolio operates as a unified land trust model focused on conservation, community engagement, and environmental education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hidden Valley Preserve 940-acre preserve with nearly 20 miles of hiking trails featuring The HV Lookout, The Quartz Mine, the Thoreau Bridge spanning 134 feet over the Shepaug River, The Pinnacle, and Bronson Fields Pollinator Meadow. Open to the public for recreation.
• Macricostas Preserve 547-acre preserve featuring Waramaug's Rock overlook at 1,250 feet elevation, Meeker Swamp viewing platform, Judea Garden, and scenic hiking trails with boardwalks. Open to the public for recreation, with the Camp House serving as a produce distribution hub.
• Steep Rock Preserve 998-acre preserve spanning nearly 1,000 acres with trails along riverbanks and hillsides, featuring the historic Railroad Tunnel, Holiday House ruins, and Steep Rock Summit at 776 feet elevation. Home to the primitive tent camping sites along the Shepaug River.
• West Mountain Preserve Approximately 220-acre preserve comprising Johnson Farm (52 acres) and Hillside Farm (86 acres) featuring active agricultural fields, meadows, wetlands, and panoramic hilltop views.
• Judea Garden Community garden at Macricostas Preserve providing fresh organic produce weekly to families in need. Distributes vegetables through local food pantries (New Milford Food Pantry, Warren/Washington Food Pantry) and direct pickup at the Camp House, serving approximately 200 families per week from July through October.
• Camping Primitive tent camping at three campsite sites (SR1, SR2, SR3) along the Shepaug River at Steep Rock Preserve. Sites bookable online via Firefly Reservations at $50 per night per site, with weekends requiring a 2-night minimum and a maximum of 3 consecutive nights. Available April through October.
• River Recreation Six miles of Shepaug River access for fishing and non-motorized boating, with designated public fishing sections and scenic river views available to the public.
• Hiking & Riding Trails Nearly 47 miles of trails across four preserves offering hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking on designated trails. Free public access during daylight hours.
• Group Use Programs Permitted organized group activities for 15 or more people requiring advance application and liability insurance naming Steep Rock Association as additional insured.
• Steep Rock Speaker Series Virtual and in-person talks featuring experts in conservation, local history, and ecology, with recordings available on the YouTube channel. Open to the public.
• Steep Rock Store Online merchandise store offering apparel (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies $30-$65), Steep Rock honey, tote bags, wine tumblers, hats, and the organization's history book by Carol Santoleri ($60). Also available at local partner retailers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 6,000 acres permanently protected
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Land Trust AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Land Trust Alliance accreditation body. SRA achieved reaccreditation in 2022 through a rigorous 14-month process. The Alliance represents over 450 accredited land trusts nationwide managing nearly 20 million acres. SRA participates in a network committed to professional excellence and maintaining public trust in conservation work.
• Town of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in land preservation efforts. Co-funded Macricostas Preserve purchase and collaborates on open space preservation goals. SRA contributes to Town and State goals of permanently protecting open space.
• Roxbury Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on environmental advocacy. In 1997, SRA and Roxbury Land Trust jointly filed lawsuit with Towns of Washington and Roxbury against City of Waterbury over water releases into the Shepaug River. SRA won the case in 2005.
• Hickory Stick BookshopminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal independent bookstore in Washington Depot serving as retail location for SRA merchandise including the History of Steep Rock book.
• The Pantry Restaurant & BakeryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal restaurant retailer carrying Steep Rock Honey for sale to customers.
• The Po CafeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal cafe retailer carrying Steep Rock Honey for sale to customers.
• The Smithy Market & Loft GalleryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal market retailer carrying Steep Rock Honey for sale to customers.
• J. Seitz & CominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal retailer carrying Steep Rock Honey for sale to customers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Connecticut Land Conservancy: The largest land trust in Connecticut, conserving over 14,000 acres across multiple preserves. SRA's closest comparable peer at the state level, sharing the same preserve-based recreation model, trail stewardship, and donor base in Connecticut.
• Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust: Northwestern Connecticut land trust managing over 2,600 acres across multiple preserves with hiking trails and conservation programs. Highly comparable regional peer operating the same preserve-and-recreation model in adjacent Connecticut communities.
• Roxbury Land Trust: Direct regional peer and existing SRA collaborator—jointly filed the 2005 Shepaug River lawsuit against Waterbury. Manages conservation lands in adjacent Roxbury, CT with similar hiking trail and preserve programs serving overlapping communities.

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit land conservation organization that protects land for public recreation and access across the United States. SRA operates the same fundamental land trust model at a much smaller regional scale with a similar mission of permanent conservation.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation organization managing millions of acres worldwide. Shares SRA's land-trust ethos and ecological mission including protecting threatened species habitats, though operating at vastly greater geographic scale.
• Open Space Institute: Northeast-focused land conservation organization protecting landscapes through acquisition and partnerships. Operates a comparable land-trust model with a regional focus similar to SRA's, including conservation easement work and public recreation access.
• National Audubon Society: National conservation organization focused on bird habitat protection. While not a traditional land trust, Audubon shares SRA's mission of protecting habitat for wildlife species and offers comparable educational programming and sanctuary/preserve experiences for nature visitors.

Others

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Regional conservation and outdoor recreation organization maintaining trails, huts, and preserves across the Northeast. Shares SRA's blended mission of conservation, recreation access, and educational programming though focused on hiking infrastructure rather than land ownership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SteepRockAssociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/steeprockassoc
• Xx.com/steeprockassoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steep-rock-association-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Steep Rock Association