Cross My Hart Mill District Nature & Bassett-Kell Preserves, Hartland February 2023 The first clue that you're in deep woods in northern Connecticut is the fact that you're in Hartland. It is, after all, our little slice of New Hampshire. The second clue is when you approach the trail kiosk and see that the … [Read more...]
Charles and Lois Beach Nature Preserve
Son of a Beach Charles and Lois Beach Nature Preserve, Hartland February 2023 The funny thing about hiking in Hartland is that pretty much the entirety of Hartland looks like the rest of Hartland. It is remote, wild, and forested. The whole dang place! It's like the entire border town with 1,900 people is a … [Read more...]
NEFF: Horace B. Clark Woods
Trails Schmails Horace B. Clark Woods, Hartland November 2022 I doubt very much that you are familiar with the New England Forestry Foundation. I sure as heck wasn't before embarking on my years-long effort to list every legitimate trail in Connecticut. The NEFF covers all of New England, just as their name would … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Hartland
Everything Hartland I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Hartland CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If … [Read more...]
Hartland’s Town Trails
Hartland's Town Trails I know someone who grew up in Hartland. Really, I do. While there may be more bears than humans in the town, the humans I know from there are lovely humans. (And I'm sure the bears are lovely too. In fact, Hartland is one place that the state DEEP take the bears that have been captured from … [Read more...]
Hartland Land Trust Trails
Hartland Land Trust Hartland Not that counties mean anything in Connecticut, but pick someone up off the street in Hartford and drop them in the middle of the woods in Hartland and I'll bet they wouldn't believe that they are still in Hartford County. Especially after walking hours through thick forests in an … [Read more...]
Tunxis State Forest Intro
Tunxis State Forest Barkhamsted, Granby, & Hartland Although the CFPA's Tunxis Trail takes hikers south down to Southington, the state forest of the same name only covers land in the northernmost towns along the way. The forest surrounds the Barkhamsted Reservoir and always feels remote. Because it is remote. I … [Read more...]
New England Forestry Foundation Intro
New England Forestry Foundation East Lyme, Hartland, Pomfret, Woodstock Welcome to another one of those weird pages that is a category unto itself. The New England Forestry Foundation is... a foundation that cares about forests in New England. They own four forests in Connecticut and they claim that they have … [Read more...]
South Johnson Hill
South Johnson Hill Hartford County Highpoint (1,398 Feet), Hartland September 26, 2016 Connecticut has eight counties. (Actually, our counties are officially “pseudo-counties,” but let’s ignore that.) Each one has a highest point. Only one is worth visiting (Litchfield’s on Mt. Frissell) and several are … [Read more...]
Cascades Near Balance Rock Road
No, Really, It's Called "Cascades Near Balance Rock Road" Hartland October 2013 Hoo boy, this entry is a bit of a stretch. I’m not sure anyone would qualify these cascades as being worthy of inclusion in a book about Connecticut’s waterfalls, but here they are. Granted, I’m sure they are more impressive after … [Read more...]