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| Hiking | 17.37 Miles |
1,385 AEG |
| | Hiking | 17.37 Miles | 9 Hrs 23 Mns | | 2.53 mph |
| 1,385 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 31 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Nipmuck Trail and Nipmuck Trail East Branch, from CT-74 (Nott Highway) south to Windham Road, about 17 miles.
I did this as a one-way trip, parking my car at the end of Windham Road and taking an Uber to CT-74. That turned out to be an expensive proposition as Ubers are uncommon in that area. Heading generally southwest, in about 2.5 miles I entered a series of conservation tracts, first the Royal Knowlton Preserve owned by the town of Willington, and then the UConn Forest Moss Tract. Turning south, the way comes upon the Fenton River, with many glorious mountain laurel trees in season.
Just before Route 44, there is lots of beaver action, and the submerged trail has been rerouted to cross their dam. South of Route 44, the trail follows old Turnpike Road west, where I encountered the site of the historic Gurley-Mason Mill, before turning off south. A sign indicates that there are further reroutes due to beaver action.
Further south, the trail continues past a research site where the trees have been wired up with sensors drilled into the side. Later, the trail passes a private pond where the owners have invited polite hikers to sit on their bench and enjoy the beauty. And still later, the trail passes the Gurleyville Grist Mill, open 1-5 Sundays during the warmer months.
Soon, it enters the Mansfield Hollow Wildlife Management Area (MHWMA), a narrow strip along the Fenton River all the way down to Mansfield Hollow Lake. It leaves the river to climb along a pipeline right of way, eventually coming out at the top of the hill to the intersection with the Nipmuck Trail West Branch and Nipmuck Trail East Branch. I continued on the East Branch, passing a nice viewpoint at “Fifty-Foot Cliff.” Soon the trail is following along the river again. About a half mile past the Chaffeeville Road crossing is the site of a historic north iron bridge on which the trail used to cross the Fenton River. The bridge is washed out, and the trail instead now turns away from the river and parallels close to the road. Older maps show the trail on the east side of the river between the old north iron bridge and the south iron bridge.
Close to route CT-89, the trail is confusing at times. North of the road, the trail is blazed both blue and yellow. South of the road, the trail goes out the northeast corner of the ballpark parking lot and is faintly blazed for a while. The route passes a picnic area with restrooms, but no running water, and a boat launch, before crossing the lake on a causeway.
The last mile of the trail runs within a hunting dog field trial area, which is subject to frequent scheduled closures. Check here before heading out: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Hunting/Field-Trial-Dates |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Lots of Mountain Laurel. |
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