CONNECTICUT HIKING

Thursday, May 3, 8:45am, FCE. Nepaug Region, New Hartford

Tunxis Mainline Trail/Tipping Rock Loop, Route 202 to Satan's Kingdom [Route 44], approx 4+ miles. This section of the Tunxis Trail offers a woodland hike as it passes through Nepaug State Forest. We'll start on Blue Blazed Trail and then pick up the Blue/Yellow-dot Tipping Rock Loop, returning to Blue Blaze and continue to Satan's Kingdom. (See map TU-5, page 323, CT Walk Book.) From junction of Rt 44 and Rt 202 in Canton, travel W 3.0 miles on Rt 202 to Napaug State Forest entrance on right, just before Napaug River crossing. Drive into the State Forest and parking area is a short distance from the entrance. Note: The leader will arrange to have cars parked at Satan's Kingdom for taking hikers/drivers back to starting point. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087

Monday, May 7, 1pm, BLT, Sessions Woods, Burlington

This new 5-hike series is co-sponsored by the Burlington Land Trust and the Parks & Rec Department. The hikes will increase in difficulty in order to prepare you for the grand hike through beautiful Devil’s Kitchen (a natural box canyon) near the Nassahegan Forest. Hikes are 1 - 2 hours. Fee: $11 per hike at trail head, $28 for series of 3, $44 for series of 5. Pre-registration encouraged - call 860-673-6789 ext. 7 to sign up for series. Rain dates announced as needed.

First hike: Meet at Sessions Woods parking lot.  Difficulty: easy. L: Stephanie Schad

Meet on Mountain Spring Rd. just off Rt 4 in Burlington to do a Tunxis Mainline (Blue) & Punch Brook Trail (Purple Dot) loop. The hike is approx. 4 miles with several hills. Park along the road facing away from Rt 4. CWB map TU-3c. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)

Park at the Sessions Woods Education Center, just off Rt. 69. The hike will start on the right-hand side; off the gravel parking lot. Continuing our exploration of the Tunxis Trail in Burlington, we will hike a 4.8 mile loop section of the Tunxis Trail, which includes the "Devil's Kitchen," a beautiful box canyon. CWB map TU-3b. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)

We will begin with a short walk to view Burlington Falls described by Courant columnist Peter Marteka on December 23, 2011 (click here). Then we'll pick up the blue trail onto MDC property for our 4.3 mile hike from Burlington to New Hartford. We'll start climbing a bit of a hill but most of the hike is on water company dirt service roads with some on pavement. See CWB/West, p. 302 and TU-4a and TU-4b maps. The hike is an easy level of difficulty with some climbing under branches and a few stream crossings, and will last about 2 1/4 hours. From junction of Rt 44 and Rt 202 in Canton, travel W 3.0 miles on Rt 202 to Nepaug State Forest entrance on R, just before Nepaug River crossing. Drive into the State Forest and parking area is a short distance from the entrance. Please carpool if possible. We will car spot to the starting point on Hotchkiss Road. L: Anne Fitzgerald 860-673-1216; cell 860-221-4225.

Meet: Rte 20 in East Hartland for a carpool to Pell Road parking area. From junction of Rte 179 and Rte 20 in E Hartland, go W 1.4 miles on Rte 20 to parking for 4-5 cars on N side of road. Due to limited parking, hikers may want to make arrangements to meet at 8:30AM at Rte 44 & Rte 179 Park & Ride.  We will hike from Pell Road parking area to Route 20, about 3 miles. The opportunity to straddle the CT and MA State Borders will be offered as an option. This is a challenging hike with several picturesque streams, many small cascading waterfalls, a DEP lean-to, and an ascent to the summit of Trillium Hill. Reference: pp. 310,311,312 and 328 [TU-7c Map] in CWB.

Note: This is the last official hike of the FCE Hiking Class: we plan to have lunch at Saybrook Fish House, 460 Albany Turnpike, Canton, CT. This is across from the 44 & 179 Park & Ride. The restaurant has a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads & entrees. Luncheon prices start around $9.00. Prior to the hike let us know if you plan to join the group for lunch. L's: Tom Iezzi & Jerry Marcum