What's new: all 8 hikes are postedClick here to register online or call 860-404-0290.
Thursday, April 20, 8:45am, Onion Mountain Park, West Simsbury Meet at Mountain Park Playground near 217 West Mountain Road, West Simsbury (just north of the intersection of West Mountain Rd. and Notch Rd.) to park and gather, then car spot at 9am to Onion Mountain Park just a bit further north after passing Nimrod Rd. There is room for only about 6-8 cars there. Because it will be the first hike of the season, we all need to gather in the same place, so please do not drive directly to Onion Mountain Park. For this first hike of the season, we will warm up on the yellow trail at the base of the mountain over gently rolling, formerly agricultural land. We'll then wind diagonally up the 900' trap rock mountain on the orange old logging roads through 85-125 year old trees until we meet the red trail with more climbs on a less well-cleared trail to the scenic overlook at the park's highest point. We'll climb down the red and orange trails to the blue/yellow/orange back to the parking lot. There will be some rock scrambling and poles would be helpful on steep downhills. Click here for map and description. L: Anne Fitzgerald 860-673-1216 (H), 860-839-1755 (Cell Morning of Hike)
Thursday, April 27, 8:45 am, Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, Granby POSTPONED TO JUNE 15 DUE TO WEATHER We will hike the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, a Granby Land Trust property. The Preserve is located in North Granby, 253 Loomis Street. The blazed trails cover 3.5 miles. The Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve is 210 acres of diverse habitat - a unique combination of woods, wetland, open fields, and ridgeline. There is one very steep climb on this hike. To reach the trailhead from Simsbury, drive north on Route 10/202. At the traffic light in the center of Granby, follow the sign directions and turn left for 189N and 20W. Quickly bear right and follow 189N for 3.5 miles to a stop sign and flashing red light. East Street will be on your right. The Granby Frederick H. Cossitt branch library is on this corner. Take East St for 0.4 miles to Loomis Street on your left. Follow Loomis Street for 2.4 miles. The parking lot is actually about 100 feet past 253 Loomis Street on the left. Google Maps location is 42.033363,
-72.823792. L: David Edwards. (H) 860 - 413-2536; (C) on day of the hike, 860-989-3962.
Thursday, May 4, 8:45 AM Farmington Canal Yellow Blaze Loop, Avon This is a moderate hike of 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of only 173 feet in short intervals. This hike provides great views of the Farmington River, Talcott Mountain, and wooded lakes and streams. We will also view the most expensive structure built during the construction of the Farmington Canal. Trekking poles and shoes with good tread are recommended. The trailhead is located at GPS 41.771860, -72.828760 this is near the Paleo Indian site. Turn west off Waterville Road onto Old Farms Road, take a left onto Tillotson Road, which is the first left. Just after the little bridge take a quick left to the parking lot. The trailhead and map of the hike can be found on AllTrails. L: Ronald Robinson, Cell 860-670-5137
Thursday, May 11, 8:45 AM, Nassahegon Extended Loop, Burlington This is a moderately challenging hike with an altitude gain of 534 ft. The hike includes a walk through Devil's Kitchen, a unique geology, and panoramic views of CT woods and streams. Trekking poles, hiking shoes and some bug/tick spray are recommended. We will encounter some wet areas. The trailhead is located at GPS location 41.755080, -72.940000 and can be found using AllTrails directions. Head west on Route 4 at the intersection of Route 179 and Route 4 (intersection is near the Farmington River between Collinsville and Unionville) for 0.5 miles. Turn left at blinker onto Punch Brook Road and go 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Case Road and go 0.4 miles. Turn right onto George Washington Turnpike and go 0.1 miles. Turn left onto Stone Road and the parking lot will be 0.3 miles on your right. L: Ronald Robinson, Cell 860-670-5137
Thursday, May 18, 2023, 8:45 AM, Breezy Hill Canton Land Conservation Trust 3.8 mile Breezy Hill Loop hike. Moderate Hike -- some water expected. Poles and bug/tick spray recommended. From the Canton Land Trust website: https://cantonlandtrust.org/sun-wind-and-woodland-trails/ Main parking area: From Route 44, turn onto Indian Hill Road and follow to its end. Turn right onto Breezy Hill Road, and follow it about a half-mile, just past Breezy Hill Farm. Park in the unpaved parking lot on the left - look for the land trust sign. In Google maps, search for Sun, Wind and Woodland parking. Click here for trail map. L: Dick Trask, trask.dick@yahoo.com
Thursday, May 25, 2023, 8:45 AM, Hubbard Park and Castle Craig, Southington Meet at trail head in East Parking Lot of the Park. Googled from Simsbury to #2 Barberry Lane Meriden, take Rte 10 to Farmington Center, Rte 4 to Rte I-84 West to Southington, Rte I-691 East. Take exit 4 off of I-691 onto West Main Street (right turn) then straight to Barberry Lane (approx. 0.6 miles on right) and take an immediate leftturn into Park Entrance (one-way) and go around the lake to large parking area near the underpass of !-691. From this underpass we take slowly ascending trails from an easterly perspective to a view of Castle Craig and, then a more demanding ascent over trap rock to the castle itself at 1.4 miles. A descent using the Metacomet Trail will be more gradual with a return to parking lot totaling about 4 miles. E-mail posting by 7 A.M., should bad weather cancel. L: Ed Shaskan, ed.shaskan@gmail.com
Thursday June 1, 2023, 8:45 AM, FCE, Punch Brook Loop, Burlington Approximately a 4 mile hike on the blue/yellow and blue/purple trails. An up and down hike in the Burlington woods with a few wet spots. Meet at the Stone Road parking lot (41.755080,-72.9400). This is the same parking lot we used on the May 11 Nassahegon Extended Loop hike. You can also put 428 Stone Road in your navigation system. After Route 4 turns west in Burlington, travel Route 4 west. After 0.5 miles take the left at the blinker onto Punch Brook Road. After 1.4 miles take the left onto Case Road. After 0.4 miles take the right (at the stop sign) onto George Washington Turnpike. After 0.1 miles take the left onto Stone Road. Continue straight on Stone Road for 0.3 miles to the parking lot, in front of a green gate. The trail map can be found here Punch Brook Loop courtesy of the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department. L: David Edwards: 860-413-2536(H); 860-989-3962 (cell, day of hike only)
Thursday, June 8, 2023, 8:45 am, FCE, Norbrook Farm Brewery Trails, Colebrook Best description of this outing can be read in the Connecticut Magazine February 2021 Issue's article by Peter Marteka entitled "Brews and Views", pp 36-37. Go past the Brewery parking lot (with clean Porta-Potty) to the trails parking lot in the north woods. We will hike the Rte 66 trail past the high Tower and follow a few wooded trails passing northwest of Phelps Pond and the marsh to Old Oak Climb and a northward view towards Massachusetts. We'll then take several interconnected trails back to the parking area. Total hiking distance about 4 miles. Since this is the annual Spring Picnic, please bring a picnic lunch or expect to buy from the Norbrook Farm Food Truck. Also, the brew pub opens at 12 noon for those interested. Take Rte. 44 north from Winsted and follow GPS directions to 204 Stillman Hill Road, Colebrook, CT 06021. L: Ed Shaskan, ed.shaskan@gmail.com
Thursday, June 15, 8:45 am, Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, Granby (rescheduled from April 27) We will hike the Dismal Brook
Wildlife Preserve, a Granby Land Trust property. The Preserve is located in
North Granby, 253 Loomis Street. To reach the trailhead from Simsbury, drive north on Route 10/202. At the traffic light in the center of Granby, follow the sign directions and turn left for 189N and 20W. Quickly bear right and follow 189N for 3.5 miles to a stop sign and flashing red light. East Street will be on your right. The Granby Frederick H. Cossitt branch library is on this corner. Take East St for 0.4 miles to Loomis Street on your left. Follow Loomis Street for 2.4 miles. The parking lot is actually about 100 feet past 253 Loomis Street on the left. Google Maps location is 42.033363,
-72.823792. L: David Edwards. (H) 860 - 413-2536; (C) on day of the hike,
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