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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.
Parking spaces are very limited for this hike. PLEASE car pool.
A detailed description of the hike can be found here
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.
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.
Parking spaces are very limited for this hike. PLEASE car pool.
A detailed description of the hike can be found here
L: David Edwards. (H) 860 - 413-2536; (C) on day of the hike,
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