spring 18

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.

Meet at 8:45 at McLean Game Refuge Trails in Granby for a 3.5 to 4 mile hike through the McLean Trails to include the Horse Trail, the North Trail and the Blue Loop. This is a moderate hike through the woods and fields and along the creeks that are part of McLean.
From Simsbury take Route 10/202 to Granby. Trailhead will be on the left. L: Tom Iezzi 860-413-2627(H); 860-856-1753 (C),day of the hike.

We’ll meet in the parking lot at 145 Lang Road. It’s a 5 mile moderate hike on Brookside Trail (purple) to Rainbow Reservoir Trail (pink) to Wetland Forest Trail (yellow) to Pond Trail (blue) to Hemlock Trail (white). Click here for their trail map.

You can visit the Nature Center afterwards; the gift store sells their maple syrup and/or honey. L: Grant Summers, 401-575-0343

775 Old Farms Road, Avon. Explore Fisher Meadows Recreation Area. This hike is flat. No peaks to seek here. It is on a combination of gravel roads and hiking trails along Spring Lake and the Farmington River. Not a rail trail. It will be less than 5 miles at a comfortable pace depending on the group. Bring a snack. Bring a lunch. Weather permitting, we can have a picnic lunch at the end of the hike. There are picnic tables at the parking lot. You don't have to carry your lunch on the trail, so feel free to bring a feast. The usual: dress for the weather and bring enough water. Meet at the parking lot to the right of the entrance by Spring Lake at 9:00 AM for a 9:15 start.

Directions: GPS Ref. 775 Old Farms Road, Avon. From the West: Take I-84 Exit. 39 to center of Farmington. Turn right on Waterville Road, Rte.10. At the next light turn left onto Old Farms Road. Parking area is 0.2 miles on the right. From the East: Take I-84 Exit 39 to center of Farmington. Follow directions above. L Alfred McGunnigle (860-335-9476, bigalmcg@comcast.net)

Distance 4.3 miles. Meet at the Trail Head north of the Education Center at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, 341 Milford St, (Rte 69) Burlington, CT. This is a moderate hike on Beaver Pond Trail and Mainline Tunxis Trail returning via the Nature Center Connector. L: Dick Trask 860 670 2353 trask.dick@yahoo.com

With somewhat limited parking at Dennis Hill, please meet for a carpool at 8:45 am at Canton Park and Ride, intersection of Rtes. 179 and 44. For those who must travel alone, google Dennis Hill State Park in Norfolk CT and we will meet there at 9:15.

This is a short (2.34 miles modified loop) and moderate hike, and we should be back to Canton before noon. Bring a snack for munching while enjoying two overlooks from which Peter Marteka claims as "the best overlook mix with not one, but two overlooks" in Connecticut. L: Ed Shaskan (H) 860-561-0040 (C) 860-833-8009 Hike Day

Thursday May 17, 8:45 am, FCE - Breezy Hill Farm Loop, Canton POSTPONED TO JUNE 21st

We will be hiking 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)

Thursday, May 24, 8:45 am , FCE -- Tunxis Trail, Devil's Kitchen, Burlington

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 JohnVibert@aol.com (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)

We will meet at Penwood State Park parking lot on Rte. 185 in Simsbury. We will then car pool to "The Olde Bridge" (Flower Bridge) at the intersection of Drake Hill Road and Old Bridge Road, Simsbury. We will walk 10 minutes along a roadside to the trailhead and hike the Owen-Mortimer Trail through the Simsbury Land Trust of the same name and adjacent to Tanager Hill (SLT) to the East-West Trail. Departing from Tanager Hill area and the Power Line, we will then slowly ascend to Penwood Park and its yellow trail which we'll follow clockwise around Lake Louise in order to meet up with the Metacomet Trail. We will then hike in a southerly direction on the Metacomet back to cars at the Penwood Park lot and then car-pool back to Flower Bridge.

The hike is moderate but there is one steep area for about ¼ of a mile which we will ascend slowly. The entire hike, including car pool back to Flower Bridge should take no more than 3 hours. Heavy rain/possible thunderstorms will postpone hike.

We will do the Charles Pack Trail, Agnes Bowen Trail & Beaver Brook Road Loop. Moderate terrain. Moderate pace with frequent stops to allow everyone to regroup and hike together.

Meet: Big Spring Recreation Area. Take Route 44 to RT181/River Road, Barkhamsted. Continue on 181 to Park Road [DO NOT TAKE EAST RIVER ROAD]. Continue on Park Road to Greenwood Road. Turn left onto Greenwood Road. Big Spring Recreation Area is approximately 1/2 mile ahead.

NOTE: Group lunch to follow at Parrott Delaney Tavern, 37 Greenwoods Road, [NOTE: This is Greenwoods Road not Greenwood Road], New Hartford, CT, 860 379 0188. Click here for details and menu. This is the former Ovations Guitar Factory turned into a restaurant and entertainment venue. Moderate prices, separate checks, which should include tip. Need count on May 31st of how many plan to attend.

Meet at McLean Game Refuge Trails in Granby for a 3.5 to 4 mile hike through the McLean Trails to include the Horse Trail, the North Trail and the Blue Loop. This is a moderate hike through the woods and fields and along the creeks that are part of McLean.
From Simsbury take Route 10/202 to Granby. Trailhead will be on the left. L: Tom Iezzi 860-413-2627(H); 860-856-1753 (C),day of the hike.

Thursday June 21, 8:45 am, FCE - Breezy Hill Farm Loop, Canton (Postponed from May 17)

First hike: Lollipop Tunxis and Punch Brook Trails, Burlington POSTPONED TO NOV. 8TH

At intersection of Routes 4 and 179, follow Rt. 4 (Spielman Hwy) west for 1.25 miles. Turn left on Mountain Spring Rd. and park along the road.

Lollipop Tunxis yellow dot, Punch Brook purple dot, and back to Tunxis yellow dot. About 4 miles / 2 ½ hours. Includes a white pine forest, ravines around rock outcroppings, and water features. Optional walk at the end to fish ponds at the Burlington State Fish Hatchery.

Hike is moderate with two hills to begin, flat areas and other mild hills throughout. Break at a brook. Click here for more information. L: Anne Fitzgerald, 860-673-1216, 860-839-1788 that morning.

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 Conservation Trust L: Dick Trask 860 670 2353.

Indian Council Caves Trail is a 4.9 mile out and back trail with a 450' elevation gain within the Tunxis State Forest near the banks of the Barkhamsted Reservoir, and is rated moderate. There is a small parking area along Route 219 just west of the intersection with Hillcrest Drive. There is also roadside parking along Hillcrest Drive. We’ll step over the cable guardrail, and enter woods of tulip trees, red oak, maple, hemlock and ash, with clumps of mountain laurel and witch hazel. Beneath the ceiling of trees lies a intricate matrix of cinnamon and Christmas fern, Canada mayflower, goldthread, and rose twisted-stalk, which have colonized the spaces between the boulders. L: Grant Summers 401-575-0343

Thursday, Oct. 4, 8:45am, FCE, Ethel Walker Woods Trails, Simsbury

Starting at Bushy Hill Road, Route 167 & Stratton Brook Road, go west on Stratton Brook. Turn left onto Town Line Road and go 1 mile to 86 Town Line Road and parking lot on left.

Hike is moderate with a few climbs. Babbling brooks, Ethel Walker equestrian grounds, easterly views of Talcott Mountain. Click here for map and more information. L: Jerry Marcum, Cell 860 810 0087

Thursday, Oct. 11, 8:45am, FCE, Barnes Nature Center and Sessions Woods Hike, Burlington/Bristol

Meet at Sessions Woods parking lot in Burlington (Rte 69). We will car spot to The Barnes Nature Center and hike the Barnes Trails and the Nature Center Connector (black-dot Tunxis) to the Sessions Woods loop trail.

Hike is moderate with waterfall and Marsh Trail views. L: Tom Iezzi 860-413-2627(H); day of hike 860-856-1753.

Thursday, October 18, 8:45 am, FCE, Two Peaks in the "Icebox" with Views, Norfolk

We will take two easy hikes in Norfolk's Haystack Mountain and Dennis Hill State Parks. The one has tower views across the Berkshires to Vermont, while the other has views toward New York and the Mad River Valley. With limited parking at both State Parks, please meet for a carpool at 8:45 am at Canton Park and Ride, intersection of Rtes. 179 and 44. For those who must travel alone, google Haystack State Park in Norfolk CT where we will meet halfway up the mountain at the parking lot at 9:15. Bring a lunch/snack for eating at Dr. Dennis's Gazebo. Come and enjoy Peter Marteka's claim as "the best overlook mix" in Connecticut. Dress appropriately and remember Norfolk's peaks weather.

L: Ed Shaskan (H) 860-561-0040 (C) 860-833-8009 Hike Day

Thursday, Oct 25, 8:45 am, FCE - Tariffville Gorge/ Route 20 to Old Hartford Ave.

Distance 3.9 miles. Meet at Old Hartford Ave., Tariffville. Take Rt. 189 N bridge across Farmington River just beyond Tariffville Village, look for the blue Metacomet Trail marker on the east side of the road. Limited parking is available by the marker with additional parking along Old Hartford Ave. We will car spot to Rt 20. The hike is N to S on the Metacomet Trail (part of the New England Trail) along the ridge line, back to Tariffville with spectacular views of the Farmington River, Simsbury and Granby. Reference: click here. L: Dick Trask 860 670 2353

Thursday, Nov. 1, 8:45am, FCE, Heublein Tower via Metacomet Trail

We’ll meet in The Penwood State Park parking area located on Route 185, west of Route 178 and east of Route 10. The Heublein Tower provides a splendid view of the Connecticut landscape. Metacomet Trail hikers may encounter a variety of wildlife including deer, fox and rabbits in this natural sanctuary. Bird watchers enjoy occasional sightings of the turkey vulture, bald eagle, and pileated woodpecker. Hikers find wildflowers such as trillium, trout lily, wood anemone, and Dutchman’s breeches among the damp, craggy rocks. L: Grant Summers 401-575-0343

Thursday, Nov. 8, 8:45am, FCE, Lollipop Tunxis and Punch Brook Trails, Burlington (postponed from Sept. 13)

At intersection of Routes 4 and 179, follow Rt. 4 (Spielman Hwy) west for 1.25 miles. Turn left on Mountain Spring Rd. and park along the road.

CONNECTICUT HIKING