Section 6: No, THIS is ShenipThat'sIt! Stafford ~ 2 miles December 23, 2016 Ah yes, the good ol’ Shenipsit Trail. The oft-forgotten long distance CFPA trail right up the center of Connecticut. From East Hampton down near the Portland border up into Stafford near the Massachusetts border, this trail has never … [Read more...]
TSTL’15.6: Soapstone Mountain Tower
The Sky's the Limit 2015 Hiking Challenge #6 Soapstone Mountain (Shenipsit State Forest) Somers, June 20, 2015 Updates: In late 2018, the state replaced this rick-rack tower, so there will be another page on this tower for the new one. There was an older page about it from when I hiked through here on the … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Afterword
6 Section Hikes, 4 Regional Hikes Began: 11/24/2007 (Case Mountain Trails) Finished: 12/23/2016* *I completed the Shenipsit in 2010... but then they extended it at some point and I had to go back up to Stafford to complete it again. I have no idea how long the Shenipsit really is. Everything I read says … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 5
Section 5: ShenipThat'sIt!* Ellington/Somers/Stafford ~ 8 miles May 16, 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! … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 4
Section 4: SHHhhhhhhenipsit Vernon, Tolland, Ellington ~ 6 miles May 13, 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...]
Valley Falls Park Trails & Belding Path
A Walk Through the Valley of the Falls Multiple Trails, Vernon, solo April 1, 2010 Those who follow my hiking exploits know that I'm thorough both on foot and with keyboard. To officially complete the CT400(825) Club, one must not only hike all the main CFPA blue-blazed trails, but all the side trails mapped and … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 3
Section 3: A Seriously Mixed Bag Manchester, Bolton, Vernon, ~ 12.2 miles March 14, 2010 I’m glad I had a partner for this hike – the learned Dennis Paul Himes (trailname: Cumulus) – or else I may have gone crazy. For this is one very strange stretch of the Shenipsit. Four towns, 3 town parks, 2 state … [Read more...]
Gay City State Park
“We Built This Gay City… We Built This Gay City on Rocks and Roll(ing Hills)!” Bolton, Glastonbury & Hebron, about 11 miles total June 17 and 24, 2009 It is always challenging for me to logically and concisely present these "trail networks" for easy consumption. I put a lot of effort into planning for and hiking … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 2
Section 2: A Blistering Pace… A Bloody Failure Route 2 Crossing - Coop Sawmill Road, 8.2 Miles January 17, 2010 Argh. So frustrating. Now that I’m back to work, I can no longer just go for a hike any old time like I could in the good ol’ days of summer 2009. I did take advantage of that time, sure, but … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Regional Trails Intro
Shenipsit Regional Trail Network Bolton, Glastonbury, Hebron, Manchester, Vernon Like the Tunxis Trail, the Shenipsit has a whole host of trails leading to, leading from, or nearby that are included as sort of part of the main trail. I always figure the best way to present them is under their own separate section, … [Read more...]