HIKING HINT: UPPER THREE MILE PRESERVE, OLD LYME CT

11 06 2024
Photo credit: Renee Smith

This 150+-acre preserve provides moderate to strenuous hiking. Mid-June is mountain laurel blossom time and Renee Smith has included this site, along with a few others, in her informative blog.

Descriptions, maps, and directions:https://www.oldlymelandtrust.org/upper-three-mile-river

REMEMBER: Follow basic hiking guidelines: Wear good shoes, bring water and simple first aid kit, plus a copy/phone photo of trail map. Check the weather ahead of time, if you go alone, let others know where/when you’re going. All participation is at your own risk. Find a nearby restaurant or ice cream shop to reward yourself after your hike!

HIKING HINTS is a program of the MIDDLETOWN CT REC office. Follow them on Facebook.





HIKING HINT: CANFIELD WOODS, DEEP RIVER ENTRANCE, CT

8 06 2024
Photo credit: Liz Britney

This 300-acre preserve, located in Essex and Deep River, has multiple trails to cover the diversity of habitats included at this site. Trails are well-marked but tend to wind around each other, so be sure to take a copy/photo of the map. Overall preserve and trail information is available here: canfieldmeadow_map_description_062021.pdf (essexct.gov)

Descriptions, maps, and directions to the Deep River Entrance:  https://rockfallfoundation.org/off-the-beaten-path-canfield-meadow-woods/

REMEMBER: Follow basic hiking guidelines: Wear good shoes, bring water and simple first aid kit, plus a copy/phone photo of trail map. Check the weather ahead of time, if you go alone, let others know where/when you’re going. All participation is at your own risk. Find a nearby restaurant or ice cream shop to reward yourself after your hike!

HIKING HINTS is a program of the MIDDLETOWN CT REC office. Follow them on Facebook.





HIKING HINT: SLEEPING GIANT STATE PARK, HAMDEN CT

4 06 2024
Photo credit: BLapin

The almost 1,500+ acres of Sleeping Giant SP provide a wide range of hiking opportunities. In fact, that might be overwhelming! Try the Nature Trail that begins at the park entrance parking lot. This area is rich with views and history.

Descriptions, maps, and directions:  https://ctparks.com/parks/sleeping-giant-state-park

REMEMBER: Follow basic hiking guidelines: Wear good shoes, bring water and simple first aid kit, plus a copy/phone photo of trail map. Check the weather ahead of time, if you go alone, let others know where/when you’re going. All participation is at your own risk. Find a nearby restaurant or ice cream shop to reward yourself after your hike!

HIKING HINTS is a program of the MIDDLETOWN CT REC office. Follow them on Facebook.





Gillette’s Castle State Park, East Haddam, CT

26 04 2022
Early saxifrage was abundant
The ferry was running
Exploring the river frontage: my feet got wet!
Remains of the Aunt Polly, Gillette’s boat
One of train tunnels
Gillette’s assistant Osaki’s house
Lunch at Two Wrasslin’ Cats

As part of: 2022 DEEP Sky’s the Limit Challenge List





East Haddam CT Preserves: Sabine and Hammon Mill

3 01 2021

SABINE: a gracious walk that includes a pleasant stop along Moodus Reservoir. Due to the abundance of recent rains, mushrooms were prolific.

HAMMON MILL: a fascinating historical site of an old mill and sluiceways, dedicated to the Kashanskis, whom I knew. Erosion along the stream was striking.

East Haddam Preserves were visited as part of the Find the Chairs Challenge. I was grateful to discover these sites that I’d never seen in town. They were clearly identified along the road and trails were well marked.





East Haddam CT Preserves: Duncan and Urbanek

27 12 2020

DUNCAN: with an initial path through an historic church site, this area falls and rises through interesting rock formations to reward with a lovely view of the Connecticut River. A cold and startled ribbon snake and hidden rock caves delighted.

URBANIK: named after the uncle of a high school classmate, this tranquil pond reflected the sky’s turbulence of the day.

East Haddam Preserves were visited as part of the Find the Chairs Challenge. I was grateful to discover these sites that I’d never seen in town. They were clearly identified along the road and trails were well marked.





East Haddam CT Preserves: Hatch Lot and Hidden Valley

20 12 2020

HATCH LOT: an unassuming name to a very nice spot. Near the parking lot, native plants are being introduced. The ascent to the vista did cause some difficulty breathing, especially due to wearing masks. But the view of the sliver of the Connecticut River and hint of Long Island Sound were well worthwhile. We encountered some hunters within the parcel and appreciated our orange vests we were wearing, as it was not a Sunday.

HIDDEN VALLEY: a relatively short trail to a charming spot along the Moodus River. Due to recent rains, the flow was pleasantly noisy. Efforts to follow the trail on the other side of the river were hampered by proximity to neighbors.

East Haddam Preserves were visited as part of the Find the Chairs Challenge. I was grateful to discover these sites that I’d never seen in town. They were clearly identified along the road and trails were well marked.





The Preserve

13 12 2020

I find it presumptuous that this place is called The Preserve, as if there is no other.

I’m grateful for its preservation, despite its multiple same-colored loop trails that provide no insight into which direction is home.

I celebrate the new sign, in perhaps the newest state forest?





Meshomasic State Forest

6 12 2020

As the oldest state forest in New England, this area seemed a priority to visit. The entrance off Clark Hill Road was not marked by name, although the state forest boundary markers were apparent. The forest access road crossed the Shenipsit blue-blazed trail, which I took up to the Great Hill lookout.

The view of Great Hill Pond and the Connecticut River from the top of Great Hill were extraordinary.

Turkey vultures soared overhead on the perfect autumn day I visited.

(This is part of the DEEP Sky’s the Limit 2020 challenge which encourages us to get outdoors.)





Nayantaquit Trail

22 11 2020

This trail, In Lyme, is a loop trail that has some ups and downs.

The fall beauty was lovely and rock formations were interesting.

Lots of mushrooms after our recent rains, also.

(This is part of the DEEP Sky’s the Limit 2020 challenge which encourages us to get outdoors.)