The Shenipsit Trail
East Hampton – Stafford
About 50 miles long
Began: May 2009
Completed: December 2016
The Shenipsit Trail is located in Central Connecticut and mostly follows the low ridgeline east of the Connecticut River. It runs for about 50 miles in a north-south direction. There are about 25 miles of regional Shenipsit Trails as well. The southern trailhead is in the Cobalt section of East Hampton near Great Hill and goes north to a random road in northern Stafford, just shy of the Massachusetts border.
Great Hill Overlook at the East Hampton/Portland line near the southern terminus
For whatever reason, the S’nip is always overlooked when discussion Connecticut’s (relatively) long distance trails. Which is a shame, because it has a lot of interesting features along its way. The trail runs primarily through the Shenipsit and Meshomasic State Forests, but also hits some Air Line State Park bike trail in Vernon and places such as Case Mountain, Gay City, and Soapstone Mountain.
The trail navigates through several populated suburban areas and it also crosses a few a few highways. The most difficult one is Route 2… the trail used to officially have hikers run across the 4-lane divided highway, which is what I did in 2009 when the trail was blazed as such. There is a tunnel under the highway which many people take, but officially, now, there’s a looooong 3+ mile roadwalk to a bridge. Officially, I can’t tell you which route choice to make.
Let’s do this trail!
CFPA Trails Map
CTMQ’s CFPA Blue Trails Challenge
Pine grove in the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon
Hikes are numbered beginning from the southern terminus at Gadpouch Road in East Hampton north to Greaves Road, Stafford.
Section 1: Gadpouch Road to Route 2, E. Hampton, Portland, Glastonbury
Section 2: Route 2 to Coop Sawmill Road, Glastonbury
Section 3: Coop Sawmill Road to Exit 67/Rte 31 Commuter Lot, Manchester, Bolton, Vernon
Section 4: Exit 67/Rte 31 Commuter Lot to Hopkins Rd., Vernon, Tolland, Ellington
Section 5: Hopkins Road to Old County Road, Ellington, Somers, Stafford
Section 6: Old County Road to Greaves Road, Stafford
Also, CTMQ’s hikes of the Shenipsit Regional Trials
As I think you know, I hike the section between the powerlines in Glastonbury and the intersection with Birch Mtn. Rd. in Manchester a lot. I’m looking forward to hearing your take on that area.
For an interesting experience my son had at the Birch Mtn. Rd. trailhead see my new thread on Rock on Top TRs.
You might have seen this, but I’ve written a couple posts in Rocks about a relo of the Shenipsit in Glastonbury:
http://www.rocksontop.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=6132