Ellington's Town Trails It's cool that the town of Ellington has seen to it to have some trails for humans to hike. There is always concern in town that the cows take precedence over people. And while there are tons of cow trails around Ellington, there are also plenty of people trails too. Yes, this is the … [Read more...]
Hockanum River Trail 21: West Road Trail
Good Ol' Smellington Hockanum River Trail: West Road Trail, Ellington ~1 mile one way, March 2018 If you are reading these Hockanum River Trails south to north, you have already read the Dart Hill North page. If you haven’t, it’s a fun one and you should. Better yet, start at the beginning with the HRT … [Read more...]
Shenipsit State Forest Trails
Just Stick to the S'nip Shenipsit State ForestTrails, Ellington, Somers & Stafford December 2016 & December 2023 & September 2026 Much has changed up here since my first visits, but I'll try to retrofit this page to some degree. If you are looking for the Bald Mountain Preserve and Pinnacle Loop Trail in Somers, … [Read more...]
Hockanum River Trail Intro
Hockanum River Watershed Association Hockanum River Trail East Hartford, Manchester, Vernon, Ellington HOCKANUM: From the Native American word "Hocquaun", meaning a hook-shaped or crooked river. I love the Hockanum Trail. There are no mountains or even hills. There are barely any rocks. The trail takes hikers … [Read more...]
Northern Connecticut Land Trust Trails
Northern Connecticut Land Trust East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Somers, Stafford/Stafford Springs, Tolland, Vernon These large regionalized land trusts that cover several towns are the way to go. Every few years smaller trusts are merging and spanning towns in Connecticut. You'll also notice that these regional … [Read more...]
Oldest Roadside Memorial in US
Steamwhealing Over Facts Oldest Roadside Memorial in US*, Ellington March 2013 *Well one of them anyway. And I think I can say this is the oldest in Connecticut, but that doesn’t have the panache. “Ellington is home to one of America’s oldest roadside memorials.” This is from the impeccable source called … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 5
Section 5: ShenipThat'sIt!* Hopkins Road to Old County Road May 2010 *The title implies that this section completed the Shenipsit. That later became inaccurate, for as you'll read, the northern end was extended. This just didn’t seem right. A hike on the Shenipsit – my final one – with good weather! While I … [Read more...]
Hall Memorial Library Exhibits
All Hail Hallowed Hall at Hall Ellington (Google Maps location) May 19, 2010 Connecticut museum visit #168. Somewhere along the CTMQ way, after readers kept pushing me to check out various libraries around the state for various reasons, I finally began to poke around what they have to offer. It’s a sketchy … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 4
Section 4: SHHhhhhhhenipsit Exit 67/Rte 31 Commuter Lot to Hopkins Road May 2010 Ahhh, such a clever title. For this is the secret section of what has become quite the oddball trail. I’ve come to learn why the Shenipsit isn’t included in the conversation with CFPA’s “big” trails (Metacomet, Mattabesett, … [Read more...]
Nellie E. McKnight Museum
Whoa, Nellie! Nellie E. McKnight Museum, Ellington (Location) August 2009 Connecticut museum visit #136. Ellington. Ellington. Ellington. Hm. I’m stumped. I don’t have anything to say about the rural community in north central Connecticut. Other than it’s rural and in the north central part of the state. … [Read more...]