What's new: First hike April 25 + 4 May 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 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