What's new: Fall Hikes started Sept. 14th. All hikes posted.
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CURRENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 14, 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.
Topsmead State Forest, Litchfield, First Hike of the Season
We'll be hiking the "top of the meadow" on Edith Morton Chase's former property that is "to be kept in a state of natural beauty." We'll cover about 3.5 to 4 miles on slight inclines, open meadows, woods and around ponds, a good first hike that should last about 2 hours. GPS address is 46 Chase Rd., Litchfield. From Rt. 4W, take Rt. 118W for 2 miles. Turn left onto Clark Rd up the hill to the stop sign. At the stop sign turn right then the first left onto Buell Rd. Take the first right onto Chase Road. There is good signage and ample parking but please carpool if possible. L: Anne Fitzgerald (860-673-1216) (Cell that day 860-221-4225).
Thursday, Sept. 21, 8:45am, FCE, Mt Lamentation Loop, Meriden
Approx 4.5 mile hike with a gradual climb to the mountain and the Mattabesett Trail and fantastic views along the ridge of Silver Lake and the Meriden hills.
To reach start of hike at
Giuffrida Park: Travel west on I-84 and take 691 towards Meriden. Get off Exit 8
(Broad St); go right at the light (Broad St) and travel .4 mile to Westfield Rd.
Turn right and pass under Rt 15; continue straight to intersection with Bee
Street on your right. A golf course is on the left. Turn left and follow
Westfield for about .1 mile to the park entrance on the left.
L: Ed Shaskan. Tel: 860-561-0040 (H); 860-833-8009 (Cell, Day of Hike Only)
Thursday, September 28, 8:45 am, FCE, Rattlesnake Mountain, Farmington
Meet at rightmost parking lot at 440 New Britain Avenue, Plainville (Occupation Health and Rehabilitation Network), where we will then assign cars to spot and transfer hikers to Route 6 trailhead. We will then hike North to South on the blue-blazed Metacomet Trail over Rattlesnake Mountain (CWB, Map ME-4b, page 183) to 440 New Britain Avenue, aka Rte 372 (Map ME-4a, page 182). Total distance 3.7 miles (CWB pp. 165-166).
Directions to 440 New Britain Avenue: From I-84 West, take Plainville 372 Exit and right turn at traffic light. Proceed past Lowe's and shopping areas two or three lights to Occupational Health building and large parking area on right. From Route 10 in Farmington Center, drive West past Rte 6 to Y in road and traffic light; take slight left onto Cooke St. and head towards J. Timothy's Taverne (best wings in Connecticut) on corner of Rte 272, turn left and proceed past Lowe's and shopping areas to Occupational Health Building parking on right.
L: Ed Shaskan (H) 860-561-0040 (C) 860-833-8009 Hike Day
Thursday, October 5, 8:45 am, FCE, Punch Brook Loop, Burlington
Approx 4 mile hike of the Yellow Dot and Purple Dot trails that are part of the Tunxis trail in Burlington. An up and down hike in the woods with a few wet spots.
Meet at Stone Road parking lot, which is reached by traveling on Rt 4 West into Burlington. Take a left on Punch Brook and then a left on Case Road to the stop sign. Go right on the George Washington Turnpike, followed by a left on Stone Road. Continue straight on Stone Road to parking on the dirt road.
Trail map can be found here, courtesy of the Burlington Land Trust.
L: Tom Iezzi. Tel: 860-413-2627(H); 860-856-1753(Cell,Day of Hike Only)
Thursday, Oct 12, 8:45 am, FCE - Tariffville Gorge/ Route 20 to Old Hartford Rd
Distance 3.9 miles. Meet at Old Hartford Rd; we will car spot to Rt 20 and hike N to S along ridge line. From Tariffville, take Route 189 N to bridge across Farmington River just beyond Tariffville Village. Limited parking along RT.189 with additional parking along Old Hartford Rd directly across from blue Metacomet Trail marker. Spectacular views of the Farmington River, Simsbury and Granby. See CWB W, pp. 171,172 for descriptions & pp. 191,192 for maps. L: Dick Trask 860 670 2353
Thursday, Oct 19,
8:45 am, FCE - Burr Pond, Torrington
The blue blazed Wolcott Trail encircles Burr Pond for 2.5 - 3 miles. We will
hike completely around the pond including the two peninsulas jutting out into
the water.
From Route 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 [west] on Burr Pond Road
and continue approximately one mile to Burr Pond State. Take the first left into
a parking lot (not the second lot). See CT Walk Book West, page 280.
L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087 geraldwmarcum@yahoo.com
Thursday, October 26, 2017, 8:45am, FCE - Mary Edwards Mountain/Godard Preserve, Granby Land Trust
We will be hiking on two Granby Land Trust properties located on Donahue Rd. in North Granby, N of Mountain Rd. There is limited parking along the roadside. Hikers from Farmington, Canton, Avon and Burlington could meet at the Canton Commuter Lot (on Rt. 179 just N of Rt. 44). Hikers from the Simsbury area are encouraged to form carpools as well. The hikes will take between 2 and 2 1/2 hours. For more information, check the Granby Land Trust site (click here). L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)
Thursday, Nov 2, 8:45 am, FCE - Satan's Kingdom, New Hartford
Meet
at Satan's Kingdom Recreation Area Parking Lot, Rt 44 in New Hartford on west
side of the Farmington River bridge.
Hike will be a 2.5 hour loop on the Tunxis Mainline Trail, portions along Farmington River, Shelter Four Loop.
End-of season luncheon will be held at Portobello Restaurant, Rt 44, New Hartford, directly across from Satan's Kingdom entrance. Moderate prices & separate checks. Will take count of those planning to attend luncheon at start of October 26th hike.
L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087