CONNECTICUT HIKING

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Legend: AMC=Appalachian Mountain Club, AT=Appalachian Trail, CL=Co-leader, CPL=Commuter Parking Lot or Carpool, FCE=Farmington Continuing Education, L=Leader,  LH=Local Hike, PSF=Peoples State Forest, SC=Sierra Club, SG=Sleeping Giant Park Assoc., U=unofficial

                                CURRENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 1, 8:45am, AMC - McCann Family Farm, Somers (C3D)

Meet at Rt 4/Town Farm Rd. Farmington CPL at 8:45 to carpool to this AMC hike. We will stop in Simsbury at Drake's Hill Mall (Rt.10 & Drake's Hill Rd.) at about 9:05. A 3.5 mile walk in the woods on new trails maintained by the Northern CT Land Trust. Loop hike with no car spotting. AMC group meets at 10 a.m. at the McCann Family Farm parking lot on Route 190 (I-91 exit 47 E) in Somers, on the right 1.7 miles after the intersection with Rte. 83. Heavy rain cancels. L: Gene Grayson

Added Hike! The dog days of summer!! Join Sierra Club activist Rod Parlee and State Director John Calandrelli in a 3-mile hike in and around Bolton Notch in Bolton, CT. 

Meet at the Bolton Commuter Lot across from Georgina's Pizza off Rt 44/6. The hike will pass through the Town's 21-acre Freja Park, stop at the Railroad Brook Fish Habitat Restoration Project, follow the Mohegan loop trail around Bolton Notch State Park, then the Shenipsit Trail along Notch Pond back to the Commuter Lot.

Some steep hills and rock outcroppings. Sturdy footwear required. Bring WATER, bug spray (hopefully the no-Deet kind) No facilities. Heavy rain cancels. Please contact John Calandrelli at the number below or email your name and phone number to: Connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org so we can call you the day before if the weather looks terrible. L: Rod Parlee 860-643-2948 or John Calandrelli 860-236-4405 (office), 860-508-9952 (cell)

This well preserved 1,746 acres is a great example of a place early settlers were scared of for the wolves and occasional mountain lion 350 years ago. It’s now a refuge for wildlife and people alike in the asphalt wilderness of southwest CT. The hike is about 6.5 miles and about 3.5 hours plus lunch.  Take the Merritt Parkway (CT 15) to exit 42. Go north on CT 57 for about 5 miles, turn right onto Godfrey Rd, and after 0.5 mile turn left onto Pent Road. The parking lot is at the end of this road.  Bring plenty of water, snacks or lunch, and good hiking boots for stability and traction. RSVP: connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org or 860-508-9952

Learn why this is called Wolf Den and what does Israel Putnam have to do with it on this 5 mile, 3-hour hike. Mashamoquet (mash-muk-it; “stream of good fishing”) State Park’s 781 acres has great biological and botanical diversity and may provide good early leaf-peeping opportunities as well as wildlife. And although dogs are allowed on the trail under control, they do lessen the chance to see wildlife. From CT 101 just east of its junction with US 44 in Pomfret, S on Wolf Den Drive for 0.7 mile. L into the Wolf Den camping area for parking. (the NO PETS sign applies to the campground).   Bring plenty of water, snacks or lunch, and good hiking boots for stability and traction. RSVP: connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org or 860-508-9952

There’s over 3 centuries of American history on this 4 mile 2 ½ hour hike. You’ll learn some secrets of sassafras and why this area was a back-up plan if religious problems in England worsened.  Hartman Park can be found by taking CT 156 from Hadlyme for 1.8 miles south from its junction with CT 82. Turn left onto Beaverbrook Road, just past Lyme School. After 2.7 miles turn left again onto Gungy Road. The park entrance is 1 mile down this road on your right.   Bring plenty of water, snacks or lunch, and good hiking boots for stability and traction. RSVP: connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org or 860-508-9952

All hikes are open to the public. Hike will leave from the bulletin board at the Sleeping Giant Park entrance on the north side of Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, about 0.5 mile east of Whitney Avenue. Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water, as desired. No pets, please.