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CTMQ > Hikes, Bikes & Paddles > State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites

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State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites

Enders State Forest Intro

December 2, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

Enders State Forest Barkhamsted & Granby Enders is known primarily for its eponymous waterfall - one of the state's best for sure. Viewing the falls has been made much safer with the installation of stairs, but I'm sure people will still find a way to hurt themselves here. Enders became a state forest in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Barkhamsted, enders state forest, Granby

Natchaug SF: Chaplin, Eastford, & Hampton Block Trails

December 1, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

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...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Blue Trails Challenge, chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, Natchaug State Forest, Windham County

(Former) National Champion: Striped Maple

November 10, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

Acer pensylvanicum, Striped Maple Kongscut Mountain/Meshomasic State Forest, Glastonbury Big tree fans and big tree fans alike, you might want to grab a tissue for this one. Glastonbury's former national champion striped maple tree is dead. Like, snapped near the base and lying on the forest floor dead. Dead. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Biology & Geology, Everything Else, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Closed/Gone/Former, Glastonbury, Hartford County, meshomasic state forest, National Champion Trees, Trees

Monument House Museum

October 11, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

Deep House Beats Groton (Google Maps location) July 10, 2015 There's a lot going on at Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. A pretty park on the bluffs above the Thames River with an important history, a climbable tower, a Connecticut Freedom Trail site, and a little museum. Let's be honest; not too many people … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Museums, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Calvin, Damian, fort griswold battlefield state park, Free Museums, Groton, New London County

Boston Turnpike Trail

October 4, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

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...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites, Town Land Hikes Tagged With: Eastford, Natchaug State Forest, Windham County

Silver Sands State Park

September 30, 2021 by Steve 1 Comment

TomboLOL Silver Sands State Park, Milford August 2021 Spend a day hanging out with a 10-year-old and you might be shocked at how differently they see the world. Take, for instance, Silver Sands State Park. I've been excited to come here for the better part of a decade. Calvin had never heard of it. Why was I so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Everything Else, Geography, Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Birds, Calvin, Dubious Claims, Hikes with my Boys, Islands, Milford, natural area preserve, New Haven County

Nathan Hale NAP

September 28, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

A Sleeper Nathan Hale NAP in Nathan Hale State Forest Andover & Coventry The only reason I'm writing a few words about this place is because finding most of the state's Natural Area Preserves is a lifelong treasure hunt. Except there's almost never any sort of reward for finding one. They are often "hidden" in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Andover, Coventry, nathan hale state forest, natural area preserve, Tolland County

Nathan Hale State Forest

September 27, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

For Next Time Someone Tells You to Get Lost Nathan Hale State Forest Trails, Andover & Coventry September 2021 I only regret that I have but one hike to give for this forest. Okay, I could probably go back and do more, but then my hackneyed rephrasing of state hero Nathan Hale's famous last words would make … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Andover, Coventry, nathan hale state forest, Tolland County

Air Line State Park Trail: Section 2

September 23, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

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...]

Filed Under: Bike Trails, Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: air line state park, Calvin, chaplin, cycling, Hampton, James L. Goodwin State Forest, Natchaug State Forest, Pomfret, rails-to-trails, Windham, Windham County

Bishop Swamp WMA

September 20, 2021 by Steve 1 Comment

The Long Road Home Bishop Swamp Wildlife Management Area, Andover September 2021 Here's the deal: You never know what you're going to get with our state's Wildlife Management Areas. There's the singularly fantastic Sessions Woods in Burlington, then there are several that provide a nice little hike, then are those … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Andover, State WMA, Tolland County

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