CONNECTICUT HIKING

What's new: June-August Sierra Club. Google maps. AT photos: '04-'08. SG hikes thru June.

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Legend: AMC=Appalachian Mountain Club, AT=Appalachian Trail, BLT=Burlington Land Trust, CFPA= CT Forest & Park Assn., CL=Co-leader, CPL=Commuter Parking Lot or Carpool, FCE=Farmington Continuing Education, L=Leader,  LH=Local Hike, PSF=Peoples State Forest, SC=Sierra Club, SG=Sleeping Giant Park Assoc., U=unofficial

Tuesday, June 2, 8:45 am, FCE-U, Cockaponset Trail, Chester

Meet at the Farmington commuter parking lot on the corner of Rt. 4 and Town Farm Rd. for this 6 mile hike. Anticipate a mid to late afternoon return time. L: Marie Coons

Thursday, June 4, 8:45am, FCE  - McLean Game Refuge, Granby postponed to 6/11 due to forecast of rain and leader's illness. 


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Meet in the parking lot off Rt 10/202 near the Simsbury-Granby town line. A group member requested that we visit one of the Barndoor Hills this season.

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Total distance is about 6 miles. Mostly level terrain, but some steep climbs. Meet near Rt. 4 next to the Fish Hatchery - park on shoulder of Mountain Spring Rd. We will take the mainline Tunxis blue trail south to Stone Rd. and stop at the "Old Jail" for lunch and talk about the WPA. Then we'll turn around and bear right on the purple-dot Tunxis Punch Brook trail which returns to the mainline .5 mile below the Rt. 4 starting point.  Bring lunch, snacks, & water. L: Len Berton, CL: Karen Geitz

In conjunction with National Trails Day.  All hikes are open to the public. Hike will leave from the bulletin board at the Sleeping Giant Park entrance on the north side of Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, about 0.5 mile east of Whitney Avenue. Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water, as desired. No pets, please.

Tuesday, June 9, 8:45 am, FCE-U, Cockaponset Trail, Haddam  Cancelled due to forecast of thunderstorms.

Meet in the commuter parking lot on the corner of Rt. 4 and Town Farm Rd. for this 6.1 mile hike. Anticipate a mid to late afternoon return time.  L: Marie Coons

Meet in the parking lot off Rt 10/202 near the Simsbury-Granby town line. A group member requested that we visit one of the Barndoor Hills this season.

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Meet in Crescent Pond (aka Plainville Reservoir) parking lot at foot of the pond. We will do various trails with several overlooks and possibly up to 700' summit of Bradley Mtn. Return by about 2pm. Bring water, snacks & lunch. L: Len Berton

Meet in the parking lot off Rt 10/202 near the Simsbury-Granby town line. A group member requested that we visit one of the Barndoor Hills this season.

All hikes are open to the public. Hike will leave from the bulletin board at the Sleeping Giant Park entrance on the north side of Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, about 0.5 mile east of Whitney Avenue. Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water, as desired. No pets, please.

Tuesday, June 23, 8:45 am, FCE-U, Tunxis Loop, Burlington

Meet on Ryan's Way off Punch Brook Rd. next to wooded area on right.  5 mile loop will include an unmarked trail I've never done.  Finish around noon.  Bring water and snacks.  L: Len Berton

Meet in the parking lot off Rt 10/202 near the Simsbury-Granby town line. A group member requested that we visit one of the Barndoor Hills this season.

Saturday, June 27th, 10 am, SC, Hebron, Gay City 

(Average terrain, 5 miles, 2.75 hours). Founded in 1796, Gay City has gone through some interesting name changes over the years. Come find out why these paths are some of the dirt roads of a New England ghost town! Located just off CT 85 just south of the Bolton-Hebron town line. Route 384 to exit 5 and Route 85 south.  There’s a hiker’s lot just north of the Park entrance on CT 85.  L: John Calandrelli (SC) 860-236-4405

Saturday, July 11th; 10 am, SC, East Lyme, Rocky Neck 

(Easy terrain, 3 miles, 1 ½ hours) This will be a great hike among almost deserted woodland trails. And you can bring a bathing suit for the end of the hike! This is a very easy hike that every member of the family will like. After the hike they can fish off the jetty or go for a swim! Or you can join us at NYC Retro Chill for food or ice cream. (17 Liberty Way, Niantic, (860) 691-1800, right across from Rocky Neck State Park) Take I-95 to exit 72 (Rocky Neck). Turn left (east) on Route 156 and follow the signs to the park. Complete facilities here so we can have a picnic lunch after the hike. You can avoid the fee on parking if you park 0.5 miles west on Route 156 and start the hike with us at the log gate. L: John Calandrelli (SC) 860-236-4405

Saturday, July 18th 1pm, SC, Fenton River, Storrs 

(Max Participants: 15, ~3 miles, Easy) The state trails along the Fenton River are a great place to enjoy all year round. We will be hiking past the University's old ski lift (no longer operational) and down to the beautiful river. Lots of opportunity to see the wild life (birds, deer and even the occasional fisher cat has been rumored to have been spotted). I-84 to the route 195 exit, then south till you enter the campus. Left on Horse Barn Hill Road. At the bottom of the hill is a parking lot on your right: UConn Student Parking lot A. Horse Barn Hill (school's out so they do not ticket this lot).  Walk across the road to the parking lot in front of the beef and sheep barn (we will meet here).  L: John Calandrelli (SC) 860-236-4405

Saturday, August 8th;  10 am, SC, Litchfield, White Memorial Foundation 

(Easy, 6.7 miles, 3 ½ hours). This 4000 acre wildlife sanctuary has more than 35 miles of crisscrossing trails! It also has family campgrounds, marina, and a nature museum. The unusual highlight of this woodland is the fact that we can learn from the four open
tracks which have been set aside as total wildlife areas to compare to adjacent areas over time. Take Route 44 and bear left onto Route 202 west past Route 8. From the intersection of Route 118, it’s 2.2 miles to the sign on your left for White Memorial. Follow the entrance road 0.5 mile to the parking area beyond the carriage house. L: John Calandrelli (SC) 860-236-4405

Saturday, August 15th, 2pm, SC, Spignesi Memorial Park, Scotland 

(Max Participants: 15, ~3 miles, Easy) This memorial park is newly established in memory of James Spignesi, a conservation officer of the Connecticut DEP. Bald eagles have been spotted in the park by frequent visitors. Just one of Scotland’s many little treasures. Beginning at the edge of an old field, we'll hike into the forest and end at a little stream where we will see a variety of wildlife. Follow Route 6W until you reach Hampton and turn left on 97S to Spignesi Memorial Park on your left. Parking lot is at trailhead off Route 97 in Scotland.  L: John Calandrelli (SC) 860-236-4405

Saturday, August 22nd;  10 am, SC, Ashford, Northern Nipmuck 

(Moderate, 5 ¼ miles, 3 hours). By this time of year, this hike will be a flower lover’s delight. From Virginia creeper to sarsaparilla; from rattlesnake fern to poisonous mushrooms, this hike along two ridges and into meadows will be a day in the sun to remember. There should also be blackberries to snack on instead of communicating with! (Quiz time: What Union General (1862) was known as the “Virginia creeper?”) Pollution and our forests: as we hike through the beautiful Nipmuck forest we’ll learn about the latest environmental research in Connecticut’s forests. Nipmuck’s 9000 acres border the research forest of Yale and is brimming with opportunities for a huge variety of outdoor activities. (Including fishing. so if you are a fisherman/woman bring your poles!) There is an entrance fee to the park ($7). Take I-84 east to exit 69. Head east on Route 74 till it intersects with Route 44 east, then to Route 89 north. Go 4 miles and bear right at the Westford blinker. In 0.3 mile, stay straight on gravel Boston Hollow road. The trail crosses the road in another 1.3 miles. There is a little room to park on the left. L: John Calandrelli (SC) 860-236-4405