Posts Tagged ‘ Streams ’

Pine Swamp Wildlife Corridor – Ledyard

  • Pine Swamp Wildlife Corridor
  • Whalehead Road, Ledyard, CT
  • Trailhead: 41°26’32.7″N 72°03’10.7″W
  • Last Time Hiked: December 30, 2023
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.0 miles
  • Moderate, can be difficult in areas.

Most of southeastern Connecticut is within a glacial moraine. This Avalonia Land Conservancy property is a great spot to see the evidence of that. Here at Pine Swamp there are several areas of small boulder fields and glacial erratic. Starting from a small parking area on Whalehead Road, follow the blue blazed trail into the property. The trail swings to the left keeping a stone wall to the left before coming to a service road for power line access. Ignoring the trail ahead and slightly to the left, turn right here and follow the service road. After a heavy rain there may be some ponding along this road. you will pass some ponds along the service road before coming to a bridge. After the bridge, start looking for the blue blazed loop trail to the right. The trail narrow at first, passes an area of boulders and a stretch of mountain laurel while hugging the northern property line of the preserve. You will soon cross a stream and approach a neighborhood. The trail gets substantially muddy in this area as you will find yourself hopping from rock to rock. There are also conveniently placed cinder blocks along this stretch to help cross this area. The trail then approaches Whalehead Road at the western end of the property before turning left onto the most challenging part of the hike (especially after heavy rains). There is a rather wide stream crossing. Though there are plenty of stones to help cross you may find yourself getting your feet wet if the width of the stream exceeds its banks. At the time of this hike, after a day of rain, I found myself crossing successfully. Continuing ahead, you will come to a short boardwalk before entering a boulder field with low lying mountain laurel. This stretch of the trail can be a bit challenging as you will be jumping from rock to rock. The trail soon comes to the powerlines once again before traversing back into the woods. The trail narrows and becomes very rocky once again while climbing uphill. Soon you will be back out to the service road at the powerlines. From here you could follow the service road back to where you came in from, however, for this hike make your way to pole LN1911. Turn right here and you will find a narrow trail that leads back into the woods. Soon you will come to the yellow blazed trail. Turn left here. The trail straddles the southern property line as you pass stone walls, ponds, and ditches with small boardwalk bridges. Along this stretch there were several woodpeckers and songbirds. The yellow trail then comes to the service road. Continue straight ahead onto the blue trail that first led you into the preserve. Follow it back to the parking area

 

Trail map: Pine Swamp

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Boulder Field with Low Laying Mountain Laurel

2024
01/06
CATEGORY
Pine Swamp
~3 to 5 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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Catamint Brook Preserve – Cumberland

Newly opened to the public, Catamint Brook Preserve provides a nice moderate hike through the hills of Northern Cumberland passing remnants of yesteryear. The yellow blaze loop is 1.7 miles in length and starts at the small parking area on Tower Hill Road. For this hike, stay to the right and follow the trail slightly downhill. Almost immediately, you are at an intersection with green blazes. Take a right here to see the schoolhouse site. Nothing remains other than the perimeter stone wall. Returning to the yellow trail, it winds downhill steadily for a bit while traversing the eastern portion of the property. Along the way there is a cairn (pile of stones), likely a left over from the stone wall construction during the farming days. You will pass some red blazes (not currently on the map). With that being said, it is obvious there are plans for more trails on this property in the future. For now follow the yellow blazes. Soon you will come to a fairly impressive glacial boulder before coming to the “Farmers Dam”. This dam, built in the 1750s, crosses over Catamint Brook. The trail then climbs a bit and onto the Diamond Hill State Management Area before turning sharply to the left. The unmarked trail ahead leads into a web of unmarked trails. Be sure to wear orange for this hike as hunting is allowed on the Management Area. The trail soon leaves State property and back into the preserve. Stone walls and ledges flank the trail before crossing the brook once again. Just after the brook on the left (green blazed) is a short spur trail to the “Farmers Quarry”. There are some large cut stones here. It is also a good spot to sit for a moment. Continuing along the loop trail, you will pass some more ledges and wind out to Tower Hill Road. Here turn left and almost immediately left again back onto the trail. The trail soon crosses a driveway, narrows, then climbs up a hill with an outcrop at its peak. From here it winds through a grove of pitch pines before coming to a cart path. Turning right here will lead you back to the parking area. The acquisition of this property by the Cumberland Land Trust has made it possible for a trail greenway from the Middle School on Route 120 to Mercy Woods via Ash Swamp, unmarked trails on Town property north of Ash Swamp, Catamint Brook, Diamond Hill State Management Area, Diamond Hill Town Park, and the Warner Trail to Mercy Woods.

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Between Stone Walls and Ledges

2023
11/12
CATEGORY
Catamint Brook Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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McCourt Trails – Cumberland

Behind the McCourt Middle School in Cumberland is a series of short stone dust trails. The loop trail (blue on the map, marked sporadically with yellow blazes) is about three quarters of a mile long with some small hills. The trails connect the school property with the High Street ball field by the fire station. The easiest entrance is at the ball field. Follow the first base line fence into the woods.

Trail map can be found at: McCourt Trails (Page 4)

TWRI-McCourt

Trails at McCourt Middle School

2023
09/10
CATEGORY
McCourt Trails
~1 Mile or Less~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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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

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Colonel Ledyard Park
~1 to 2 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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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

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Pike Marshall Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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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

TWRI-CT4 003

Winding Boardwalk

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Burton Trail
~1 to 2 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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Ash Swamp – Cumberland

  • Ash Swamp
  • Nate Whipple Highway, Cumberland, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°58’57.94″N, 71°25’32.16″W
  • Last Time Hiked: September 4, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 2.4 miles
  • Moderate due to lack of blazes and mapping, Some Elevation.

In the thickly wooded area behind the North Cumberland Middle School are a series of trails that meander across lesser known town owned land. Some of these trails are used by the schools cross country team and the remainder reach to Tower Hill Road. For this hike, I ventured into the woods with a map from “OpenStreetMaps” with the intention of finding and completing the two loops in the middle of the property. The first challenge was getting to the trail head. Passing through the main parking area for the school, drive behind the school to a smaller parking area at the back of the school. There is enough room for 2 or 3 cars here. From here follow the tree line around the bend and you will encounter a sign for the schools cross country program. This the trailhead! After entering the woods stay to the left. The trail to the right will lead you to Schofield Farm. In a little bit you will come to a four way intersection with some park benches. Turn right here. The trail winds northerly toward the first of the two loops. There will be a trail to the left just before a stream. Ignore it and continue ahead crossing the stream. Soon on the left you will get a glimpse of a boulder strewn landscape. At the next intersection stay to the right and you will cross a stream. A short distance ahead a trail comes in from the right. Ignore and stay on the main trail that veers to the left and starts a climb uphill. At the top of the hill the trail splits. Stay to the left and pass through the stone wall. The trail starts to turn to the left before straightening out. At the next split, stay to the left again. You will pass another stone wall before coming to the next trail intersection. Stay to the right here and continue ahead about sixty feet or so and there will be another intersection. Continue straight here and ahead to the next trail intersection. Ahead the trail is slightly overgrown. The main trail turns abruptly to the left. Follow the main trail as it starts a climb uphill. The trail turns to the right and levels out a bit, then turns left again and again uphill. There will be a trail to the left, ignore it and continue the climb uphill. At the top of the hill will be the next intersection. Turn left here and in about twenty feet or so will be another intersection, turn left once again. There will be a trail on the right, ignore it and continue ahead. You will now start a long descent downhill. Next, a trail comes in from the left, stay to the right and follow the main trail. And yet another trail to the right to ignore. Continue to follow the main trail downhill. At the end of the trail at the bottom of the hill turn right. Follow this trail about sixty feet to the next intersection. Turn right here and follow the main trail slightly uphill. Again a trail comes in from the right, and again ignore it. Near the top of the hill and on the left there is a narrow trail that leads to a footbridge. Take a moment to check this out. There is a babbling brook that cascades over the rocks here. Return to the main trail, it will turn slightly to the left and cross a stream. Shortly after the stream there will be another trail intersection. Stay to the left here. The trail descends downhill passing boulders and outcrops before ending at the next trail intersection. Turn right here and continue ahead to the four way intersection with the park benches. At the intersection turn left and follow the trail back to the trail head. During this hike, we encountered some chipmunks, squirrels, and a lone deer. A few suggestions and notes about this hike. Use GPS! You could easily get lost here and you will likely do some backtracking if you take a wrong turn. The map that I had used only showed the main trails. There are many other trails here that are not shown on the map. Some of the trails were blazed at intersections. These blazes are for the cross country team and are not typical “hiking blazes”. Also, it may be a good idea to tackle this hike on a weekend or holiday when the school is closed.

Trail map can be found at: Ash Swamp

TWRI-AshSwamp

Trail and Stone Wall at Ash Swamp

2022
09/05
CATEGORY
Ash Swamp
~2 to 3 Miles~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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Tucker Woods Preserve – Charlestown

  • Tucker Woods Preserve
  • Alton Carolina Road, Charlestown, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°27’2.07″N, 71°40’16.74″W
  • Last Time Hiked: June 18, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.2 miles
  • Fairly easy with slight elevation.

One of the newest trails opened to the public, Tucker Woods, once farmland, is now permanently protected by the Charlestown Conservation Commission. Starting from a new parking area along Alton Carolina Road follow the blue blazed trail into the property. The trail first passes by an open field with sporadic pitch pines before moving into the wooded area shaded by a canopy of oak. The trail widens to an old cart path. You will pass the yellow trail on the right. Continue ahead for now. The forest floor is covered in fern in some spots and there is a rather large hill on the left (future to top of hill is planned). You will pass the other end of the yellow trail, still continue ahead to the end of the blue trail. It splits and makes a loop. Continue ahead and uphill. The trail turns sharply to the right and follows a stone wall before turning again completing the loop. From here stay left and retrace your steps back to the yellow trail (now on your left). Turning onto the yellow trail, start looking for a spur on the left. This leads to a sitting area by a babbling brook with a small “waterfall”. The other side of the brook is part of the Carter Preserve. Making your way back to the yellow trail, turn left, and follow it to its end. The trail winds along the side of a hill for a bit before cutting its way back to the blue trail. At the blue trail turn left and retrace your steps back to the parking area. Trail map is at the kiosk and should be online in the future.

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Along The Yellow Trail

2022
07/05
CATEGORY
**BEST OF TRAILS AND WALKS**
Tucker Woods
~1 to 2 Miles~
~CHARLESTOWN RI~
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Nathan Lester House – Ledyard

  • Nathan Lester House Hiking Trails/Great Oak Park
  • Vinegar Hill Road, Ledyard, CT
  • Trailhead:  41°25’23.26″N, 72° 3’14.34″W
  • Last Time Hiked: April 30, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.8 miles
  • Fairly easy with some elevation.

                                                                            

 

Behind the historic Nathan Lester House are a few miles of properties. Each trail intersection is marked with a post that has a letter on it. For this hike you will do the 1.8 mile perimeter that leads to most of the properties highlights. Starting from the parking area, make you way toward the house. You will see the trailhead marked by a kiosk. The trail, occasionally marked with blue blazes winds through the woods skewed with boulders along this stretch. When you reach the “B” marker continue ahead. You will pass some stone walls and mountain laurel before coming to the “C” marker. Continuing ahead, slightly to the left you will come upon more mountain laurel. The trail descends a bit coming to a stream with a bridge crossing. The trail becomes quite root bound briefly after crossing the bridge. At the next intersection “D” there is a bench if you so choose to. Turn left here, the trail turns sharply to the right and follows a stone wall for a while. Along the way you may spot a cairn or two. Soon you will come to the connector trail the leads to the Atkinson Reserve. Continue ahead, the trail winds through a rather wet area for a bit before coming to the Lester Family cemetery on the left. Carrying on you soon come upon the site where once stood the Ledyard Oak. The tree removed in 1969, declared dead, was believed to be over 400 years old and was the site of several Pequot Councils. Staying to the left the trail leads back to the house and barn. Take a look around, there is quite a bit to see here including some farm animals.

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Trail Along Stone Wall

2022
07/05
CATEGORY
Great Oak Park
Nathan Lester House
~1 to 2 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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Atkinson Reserve – Ledyard

  • Atkinson Family Reserve
  • Long Cove Road, Ledyard, CT
  • Trailhead:  41°24’55.63″N, 72° 2’43.81″W
  • Last Time Hiked: April 30, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 2.4 miles
  • Fairly easy with some elevation.

Starting from the parking area near 757 Long Cove Road stay to the left and follow the trail under the power lines to the kiosk. Here you will find the trail map. Continuing into the property following the red blazed trail, you will first scramble up and over a small hill and the trail winds a bit passing a tower. You will soon come to the blue loop. for this hike turn left here. You will slowly climb a hill and come upon the first of several stone walls. At the “short cut” stay to the left, descend into a valley, cross a small stream, and then back up hill. The blue trail turns sharply to the right and flanks a stone wall. The pine grove beyond the wall is so thick that you can not see daylight through it. The trail heads north a bit passing a couple of trails to the left that lead to the Nathan Lester trail system. Continue to follow the blue loop. It then turns to the east passing the other end of the “short cut” before descending down a steep hill. The trail veers to the right in a southerly direction now winding through an area of scattered boulders and more stone walls. You will soon pass through a grove of mountain laurel before coming to the red blazed loop. For this hike turn left onto the red loop. You will pass through low lying shrubs, outcrops, and by ledges before coming to a wooden bridge crossing a stream. Continue to follow the red blazed trail as it starts a long and steady climb uphill. Note on the right at the top of the hill a boulder left by the retreating glaciers. The trail soon levels out and comes to the blue loop again. Turn left here and again at the next intersection to follow the red blazes back to the kiosk.

Trail Map: Atkinson Reserve.

TWRI-LED09

The Brook at the Southern End of the Property

2022
06/25
CATEGORY
Atkinson Reserve
~2 to 3 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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