A Good Win For All Goodwin State Forest Chaplin & Hampton Good ol' Goodwin. As you can imagine, I doubly enjoy our state forests with a good trail system. And I triply enjoy those with a good trail system and a museum. There are more than you realize, trust me. In fact, as I type this sentence I'm going through my … [Read more...]
Natchaug SF: Chaplin, Eastford, & Hampton Block Trails
CCC I Told You So Natchaug State Forest Trails, Eastford, Chaplin, & Hampton October 2021 The Natchaug has been a state forest for over 100 years. That's pretty cool. Who knows... if not for that designation, the towns of Eastford and Ashford and Hampton and Chaplin and Pomfret may be bustling megacities by now. … [Read more...]
Boston Turnpike Trail
This Trail is History Boston Turnpike Trail, Eastford September 2021 I can't pretend that I knew that this short loop trail in Eastford held any historical import when I first became aware of it and added it to my list of things to do in Eastford. Yes. That's right. I actually had a list of things to do in … [Read more...]
Air Line State Park Trail: Section 2
Putting the Quiet in the Corner Route 97, Pomfret to Hop River State Park Trail, Windham (~14 miles) August 2021 If you'd like to begin with my Section 1 through Thompson and Pomfret, here you are. (This is just a placeholder for now.) We'll pick up this section at the Route 97 crossing in Pomfret, although I'd … [Read more...]
JT: Hubbard Sanctuary & Garrison Park
Hubba Hubbard Joshua's Trust Hubbard Sanctuary & Agnes' Pasture & Garrison Park, Chaplin March 2021 This is a Joshua's Trust property. There's a lot going on here. Okay, not really, but there's a lot going on here in terms of landowners and managers and trail rights and easements and activities. And for … [Read more...]
Natchaug Trail: Section 2
Section 2: Still NatCHUGGING Along 10 miles, Eastford, Chaplin, & Hampton July 2017 What a thing... splitting this trail into two hikes; the first in single-digit temperatures in March and this one in the heat of mid-July. I guess that's not really a very interesting thing, as I've done that plenty of times. You … [Read more...]
Natchaug State Forest Intro
Natchaug State Forest Ashford, Chaplin, Eastford, & Pomfret The name Natchaug means "land between the rivers" and refers to the land at the junction of the Bigelow and Still Rivers which join to form the Natchaug River. The state says that the Forest is popular for its horse trails, outstanding fishing, and … [Read more...]
Nipmuck Trail: Section 3
Section 3: This I Know(lton): I Pix(ied) a Winner Marsh Road, Willington to Barlow Mill Road, Ashford, ~15 Miles, With Matt Woodward February 5, 2017 My tortured title refers to my hiking partner, Matt Woodward. Matt has been chronicling everything outdoors in Connecticut here, and he's talented, patient, bright, … [Read more...]
Natchaug Trail: Section 1
Section 1: NatCHUGGING Along 8.9 miles, Ashford & Eastford March 2017 Alright brain, get your stuff together. You’ve got to come to grips with this thing. No, not the fact that I would be hiking at dawn on one of the coldest mornings of the 2016-17 winter. No, not the fact that in order to reach the … [Read more...]
Natchaug Trail Intro
Natchaug Trail Ashford - Hampton, 19 miles March 2017 - July 2017 Ashford. Eastford. Chaplin. Hampton. Chances are, you can’t pinpoint these four Connecticut towns on a map. But don’t despair! When it comes to hiking through the wilds of Connecticut, I consider this a good thing. In fact, The Natchaug … [Read more...]