CONNECTICUT HIKING

Meet at the State Park entrance. The hike, which will start at 9 AM, is a 3.3 mile loop to include various trails and views of the Falls. Travel South on Rte 9 to Middletown. Take Rte 66 West to Rte 157. Turn left on 157 and the park entrance is a few miles on the left. L: Tom Iezzi 860-404-8945 (H); 860-655-9714 (C,day of the hike).

Meet: West Simsbury Shopping Plaza, 244 Farms Village Road, West Simsbury, CT. Due to limited parking at trail head we will carpool to start. From Firetown Road we will hike to East Loop via blazed Gray Trail. Connect with Blue Blazed East Loop. Connect and hike White blazed Eddy Loop. See map ML-2, p. 156 CWB West. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087

We will be hiking 2 - 2 1/2 hours on several Canton Land Trust properties that encircle the Breezy Hill Farm. Meet at the Sun, Wind, and Woodland property parking lot. Take Route 44 past the Saybrook Fish House toward New Hartford. R onto Indian Hill Rd. until it ends. R on Breezy Hill Road. Go to the top of the hill past the red house on the left, and the Sun, Wind, and Woodland parking lot will be on your left with a big yellow sign and a kiosk. We will hike the Sun, Wind, and Woodland property, the Sweeton Trail, and the Breezy Hill Farm. Reference: Canton Land Trust. L: John Vibert JohnVibert@aol.com (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)

Sunnybrook State Park to Burr Pond Boat Launch, approx 3.5 miles with an optional 0.6 R/t mile up Walnut Mountain. A moderate to challenging hike crossing several streams and ascending gently at first, then more steeply. See Map TR-1 p. 283, details pp. 279-81 CWB West.

Meet: Burr Pond Boat Launch Parking Area. From Rte 8 exit 46, go West at end of ramp onto Pinewoods Road. At first stop sign turn left onto Winsted Road; go south about one mile to traffic light/ Burr Pond sign. Turn Right [west] on Burr Mountain Road and continue for approx one mile to Burr Pond State Park. NOTE: Boat launch area is 0.1 mile past the main entrance.

Note: We will have an approx 12 minute drive to the car spot area. Leaving boat launch area promptly at 9 AM and begin the hike at 9:15 AM. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087

Thursday, May 8, 8:45 am, FCE - Indian Council Trails and the Tunxis Trail

Meet at Legeyt Road in Barkhamsted. From junction of Rt179 and Rt 219 in Barkhamsted, drive north 1.1 miles and turn right on Legeyt Road and roadside parking. We will gather and then drive to the Rt 219 trailhead and hike the Tunxis trail to the Indian Council Caves. After inspecting the Caves we will proceed north on the Tunxis trail and return to our cars at the Legeyt Road location. Total distance 3.3 miles. Moderate difficulty. L: Tom Iezzi (H)860-404-8945; (C, day of the hike) 860-655-9714

Thursday, May 15, 8:45am, FCE - McLean Game Refuge, Granby (postponed to June 12)

We will be hiking on several trails within McLean Game Refuge including the Blue Loop and the North Trail returning on the Horse Trail. Please park at the McLean's main lot located on Rt 10 in Granby. The lot is just north of Stop&Shop, on the opposite side of Rt 10. The hike will take between 2 and 2 1/2 hours. For more information, check the Simsbury Land Trust site (click here) or CWB pg 156. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)

Meet at the east end of the Marshalls/Michael’s shopping plaza at 315 West Main St., Avon in front of the now-empty Ninety Nine Restaurant. We’ll car spot about two miles to the Nod Way trail head where drivers will pull up over the nearby curb onto the grassy area. We’ll hike the green Nod Way trail up the grassy way then onto the white Garvin Trail, blue Maher Trail, red Red Blaze Trail, and back to the blue and white, then down the green. Difficulty ranges from an upward climb to begin with, flat, down, mild upward, almost bushwhacking on a rarely used but well-blazed trail, and stream and fallen tree crossings. Easy to strenuous for about 2 1/2 - 2 ¾ hours. L: Anne Fitzgerald (H) 860-673-1216; (C day of hike) 860-221-4225.

Sunnybrook State Park to Burr Pond Boat Launch, approx 3.5 miles with an optional 0.6 R/t mile up Walnut Mountain. A moderate to challenging hike crossing several streams and ascending gently at first, then more steeply. See Map TR-1 p. 283, details pp. 279-81 CWB West.

Meet: Burr Pond Boat Launch Parking Area. From Rte 8 exit 46, go West at end of ramp onto Pinewoods Road. At first stop sign turn left onto Winsted Road; go south about one mile to traffic light/ Burr Pond sign. Turn Right [west] on Burr Mountain Road and continue for approx one mile to Burr Pond State Park. NOTE: Boat launch area is 0.1 mile past the main entrance.

Note: We will have an approx 12 minute drive to the car spot area. Leaving boat launch area promptly at 9 AM and begin the hike at 9:15 AM. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087

Thursday, June 12, 8:45am, FCE - McLean Game Refuge, Granby (rescheduled postponement)

We will be hiking on several trails within McLean Game Refuge including the Blue Loop and the North Trail returning on the Horse Trail. Please park at the McLean's main lot located on Rt 10 in Granby. The lot is just north of Stop&Shop, on the opposite side of Rt 10. The hike will take between 2 and 2 1/2 hours. For more information, check the Simsbury Land Trust site (click here) or CWB pg 156. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)

Meet at the east end of the Marshalls/Michael’s shopping plaza at 315 West Main St., Avon in front of the now-empty Ninety Nine Restaurant. We’ll car spot about two miles to the Nod Way trail head where drivers will pull up over the nearby curb onto the grassy area. We’ll hike the green Nod Way trail up the grassy way then onto the white Garvin Trail, blue Maher Trail, red Red Blaze Trail, and back to the blue and white, then down the green. Difficulty ranges from an upward climb to begin with, flat, down, mild upward, almost bushwhacking on a rarely used but well-blazed trail, and stream and fallen tree crossings. Easy to strenuous for about 2 1/2 - 2 ¾ hours. L: Anne Fitzgerald (H) 860-673-1216; (C day of hike) 860-221-4225.

Sunnybrook State Park to Burr Pond Boat Launch, approx 3.5 miles with an optional 0.6 R/t mile up Walnut Mountain. A moderate to challenging hike crossing several streams and ascending gently at first, then more steeply. See Map TR-1 p. 283, details pp. 279-81 CWB West.

Meet: Burr Pond Boat Launch Parking Area. From Rte 8 exit 46, go West at end of ramp onto Pinewoods Road. At first stop sign turn left onto Winsted Road; go south about one mile to traffic light/ Burr Pond sign. Turn Right [west] on Burr Mountain Road and continue for approx one mile to Burr Pond State Park. NOTE: Boat launch area is 0.1 mile past the main entrance.

Note: We will have an approx 12 minute drive to the car spot area. Leaving boat launch area promptly at 9 AM and begin the hike at 9:15 AM. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087

Meet at the east end of the Marshalls/Michael’s shopping plaza at 315 West Main St., Avon in front of the now-empty Ninety Nine Restaurant. We’ll car spot about two miles to the Nod Way trail head where drivers will pull up over the nearby curb onto the grassy area. We’ll hike the green Nod Way trail up the grassy way then onto the white Garvin Trail, blue Maher Trail, red Red Blaze Trail, and back to the blue and white, then down the green. Difficulty ranges from an upward climb to begin with, flat, down, mild upward, almost bushwhacking on a rarely used but well-blazed trail, and stream and fallen tree crossings. Easy to strenuous for about 2 1/2 - 2 ¾ hours. L: Anne Fitzgerald (H) 860-673-1216; (C day of hike) 860-221-4225.