Archive for January, 2023

Sawmill Park Pond – Ledyard

This beautiful roadside attraction offers a short walk under a half mile long around a picturesque pond. The property has a historical sawmill, a dam and waterfall, and a bridge at each end of the pond to complete the loop. Though a short walk, you could spend a bit of time here taking photographs of yesteryear.

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Sawmill and Bridge

Colonel Ledyard Park – Ledyard

  • Colonel Ledyard Park
  • Blonder Boulevard, Ledyard, CT
  • Trailhead:  41°26’0.58″N, 72° 0’11.74″W
  • Last Time Hiked: December 30, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.6 miles
  • Easy with slight elevation.

                                                                            

 

This recreational facility offers a mile and half loop trail behind the tennis courts. The trail first dips down into a valley crossing a stream at a wooden bridge. Shortly after the bridge the trail splits. Continue straight here and follow the trail slightly uphill. It will make a couple of left turns along the way passing boulders here and there. There will also be an old homestead to the left featuring and old foundation, well, and stone walls. The trail then crosses a stream at the “double bridge”. The trail ends shortly thereafter. Turn right here and retrace your steps back to the tennis courts.

 

 

Trail map can be found at: Colonel Ledyard Park

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Stream Crossing at Blue Blazed Trail

Pike Marshall Preserve – Ledyard

                                                                            

 

From a parking area alongside Lambtown Road you will find a small yellow “Nature Sanctuary” sign at the trail head. Following the trail you will start to see blue blazes. The first part of this hike follows the trail in a valley flanked to the right by a towering ledge. The trail slightly turns to the right and climbs up and over a hill. You will find several mountain laurel shrubs along the way. You will soon come to an intersection. Stay to the right here and almost immediately you will come to another intersection. Continue straight following the blue blazes. The trail then approaches a fence line. To the right is a faded trail that leads to a spring. (We did not find it at the time of this hike). Continuing ahead on the blue blazed trail, it veers to the left keeping a couple equine friend to your right. The trail then comes to a beautiful spot where a small bridge crosses a stream by a large outcrop of glacial remains. Take a moment here and enjoy before retracing your steps back to the first intersection. Here follow the blue blazes to the right. The trail descends and crosses the stream in the valley before making a significant climb uphill. The remainder of the trail towers over the valley to the left before descending sharply to the parking area.

 

 

Trail map can be found at: Pike Marshall Preserve

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Stream Crossing

Burton Trail – Ledyard

Behind the Ledyard High School Fields is a short trail network. The trails will lead you down into a valley with stone walls, vernal pools, and boardwalks crossing streams before climbing a hill to a historic cemetery. Here you will find graves dating back to the late 1700’s, some who served in the American Revolution. Using both the yellow and blue blazed trails will enable you to complete a loop.

Trail map can be found at: Burton Trail

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Winding Boardwalk

Crooked Brook – Narragansett

This three mile out and back trail, recently marked with signs by the Narragansett Land Conservancy Trust, winds through the thick woods that surround Crooked Brook. Parking is available at the Narragansett Pier Middle School and the trail head is across the street. The first half of this hike traverses in a southerly direction between South Pier Road and Kinney Avenue under a canopy of tall trees while passing stone walls. The trail is blazed in a light green. The blue blazed Westmoreland Trail intersects about halfway through the first section. Just before the end of this first section you will come upon a long abandoned automobile. At Kinney Avenue turn left and follow the paved road a few feet to the trail head on the other side of the road. The remainder of the trail is a long straight section that seems to be an old cart path. You will cross Crooked Brook before coming to the granite fence post and the Kendal Green Stone. At the end of the trail turn left to check out the Historical Cemetery. This so called cemetery is one of the more interesting ones I have stumbled upon. There are eight pillars in a circular pattern surrounding a center stone. Records indicate that no one is actually buried here which brings into question its origins. You are now a mile and a half from the parking area. From here retrace your steps back.

Trail map can be found at: Crooked Brook

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Wide Path and Tall Trees