What's new: Photos, June hikes
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CURRENT SCHEDULE
SPRING 2019 SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 25, 8:45am, FCE Hikes Begin
Please call FCE at 860-404-0290 and register for Course NAT102 "Hikes", or click here to enroll on-line. Distances will be about 4 - 6 miles, with back-to-cars goal before 12:30pm. Also see Hiking Notes.
First hike: Crescent Lake and Metacomet Trail, Plainville/Southington
Meet in the Crescent Lake parking lot on Shuttle Meadow Rd in Southington. From Farmington Center take RT 10 south and bear left onto Cooke Street when you see the Mobil station. Go left onto RT 372 and continue past Shopping Centers to the traffic light and sign to 84. Go right (this is Crooked St) and continue to traffic light at the end. Go right (this is Woodford Ave) and then take the first left onto Ledge Rd. Follow Ledge Road (Plainville) which becomes Shuttle Meadow Rd in Southington.
We will hike the Crescent Lake Blue-Orange trail, connect to the Metacomet trail and then return on the Crescent Lake Orange and Red trails. A 3+ mile moderate hike with one major hill climb. Please click here for the trail map.
L: Tom Iezzi 860-413-2627(H); 860-856-1753(C), day of the hike.
Thursday, May 2, 2019 8:45 am, FCE, Hill-Stead and Metacomet Loop.
From the Hill-Stead Museum parking lot, we will walk the road northerly and take the Woodland Trail past the overlook and merge with the Metacomet Trail and head south. We will then cross Mountain Road and continue on the Metacomet Blue Blazed Trail to nearly Rte 6 and with overviews of the Farmington Reservoir and hills and lakes West. With a short back-track, we will end up on Reservoir Road and walk back to our cars. An easy hike but with rocky terrain in places which will require sturdy boots. Approximately 2.5 hours.
L: Ed Shaskan (H) 860-561-0040 (C) 860-833-8009 Hike Day
Thursday, May 9, 2019. 8:45 am, FCE, Chauncey Peak Trail, Meriden
Meet at Giuffrida Park parking area for a 2.7 mile, 530 ft total ascent of the Chauncey Peak Loop trail with several viewpoints on the ridge. For details of this and related trails, click here.
From Rte 9 take I-91 South to Exit 20 (Country Club Road). At bottom of the exit ramp turn left at the stop sign for about 200 yards, and then turn right onto Country Club Road. Proceed on Country Club Road for 2.3 miles to yellow curve arrows and immediately turn right and parking lot is ahead.
L: Ed Shaskan (H) 860-561-0040 (C) 860-833-8009 Hike Day
Thursday, May 16,
8:45 am, FCE, Suburban Park, Unionville plus Optional Horseguard State Park,
Avon
On April 28, Peter Marteka wrote about a park most of us drive by every day but
have never explored. We will do that today. Despite Peter saying there are four
miles of trails, it's closer to two so this will be a shorter hike than most but
informative. This early spring an Explorer Scout and his team cleaned up the
trails and placed signs telling us about this park that was full of activity
from 1895 until 1905. Moderate difficulty with a few steep climbs. About 1 1/2 hours.
From the corner of Rt. 4 and 167, drive north just past Sanford and Hawley then turn left onto Cottage Street. GPS use 59 Cottage Street and park at the end of the road in the circle, leaving room for many cars. Click here for Courant article.
For those who wish to hike longer, we will then drive 3.8 miles to Horseguard State Park next to the Derrin House, 249 West Avon Rd (just past Arch Rd on the left), for a 45 minute up and back hike to a rock-scramble peak offering great views. From Peter's October 15, 2016 article (includes video) - click here.
L: Anne Fitzgerald (H) 860-673-1216 (C) 860-839-1755 Hike Day
Thursday, May 23, 8:45am at Northwest Park, 145 Lang Rd, Windsor
Add new sightings to your life list of birds, butterflies, wildflowers, and fungi. Visit the Heritage Breed farm animals. Stop by the nature center to explore exhibits, live animals, and the gift shop for their maple syrup and honey. Click here for info and trail map.
L: Grant Summers at 401-575-0343.
Thursday, May 30th, 8:45am at Penwood State Park, 560 Simsbury Road, Bloomfield
In spring, the trillium is common, as are Dutchman's breeches, hepatica, bloodroot, and trailing arbutus. Occasionally the hiker may glimpse the flight of the pileated woodpecker, turkey vulture or bald eagle.
Located on Route 185, west of Route 178, and east of Route 10. Follow Route 10 north until you reach Route 185 in Simsbury. Follow 185 heading for Bloomfield. At top of the hill, Penwood is on your left. Click here for trail map.
L: Grant Summers at 401-575-0343
Thursday, June 6, 8:45 am, FCE - Sessions Woods, Burlington
Meet at the trailhead north of the Education Center at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, 341 Milford St, (Rte 69) Burlington, CT. This is a moderate hike on the Beaver Pond Trail and the mainline Tunxis Trail returning via the Nature Center Connector. Distance 4.3 miles. L: Dick Trask 860 670 2353.
Thursday, June 13th, 9:00am Burr Pond, Torrington postponed to June 20th due to weather
Note: Meet 9:00 for 9:15 start. Hike 3 miles around Burr Pond. There are two peninsulas jutting out into the water. Great views and photo opportunity.
From RT 8 exit 46, go west at end of ramp onto Pinewoods Road. At first stop sign turn left onto Winsted Road; go south for about one mile to Burr Pond State Park sign and blinking yellow light. Turn right onto Burr Mountain Road, go one mile to park entrance on left.
Following the hike: group luncheon at Zach and Lou's Barbecue near Burr Pond.
L: Gerald Marcum 860 810 0087