Extending from the top of Fort Hill along Route 1 in Groton, The Merritt Family Forest is a 75-acre property featuring a mature hardwood forest that Merritt descendants say has been uncut since the family acquired the land in 1848. The Groton Open Space Association acquired the property in 2008 to preserve it as open space. Features include a four-acre meadow, streams, and a colonial-era slab bridge.

Visitors are invited to explore the trails by hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing.