Community Corner
Celebrate National Trails Day in Groton
Grotoners of all ages are invited on a couple nature walks to celebrate the event.
Step outside this weekend and reconnect with nature in Groton with a nature walk, hike, paddle or all of the above on National Trails Day!
Groton will be marking the national event with some walks, hikes and a paddle this weekend, according to the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association pamphlet.
On Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. there's a through-hike (6 miles) on public hiking trails from Bluff Point State Park to Haley Farm State Park to town-owned Mortimer Wright Preserve, to Groton Open Space Association’s The Merritt Family Forest, to Town-owned Beebe Pond Park, to Avalonia Land Conservancy’s Moore Woodlands and Town’s End Preserve at Beebe Cove. Bring a snack and beverage. Solar toilets will be available at Bluff Point and Haley Farm.
Meet at the Bluff Point State Park parking lot (the Town of Groton’s Park & Recreation Dept. will provide return transportation to the parking lot). Sponsored by the Groton Open Space Association (gosaonline.org), Avalonia Land Conservancy (avalonialandconservancy.org), and the Town of Groton’s Parks & Recreation Dept. Rain cancels. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. Questions and to register: contact leader Sidney F. Van Zandt, (860) 572-5715, svanzandt3@aol.com.
On Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. there's an educational walk at Historic Sheep Farm and Fort Hill Brook. Take a 2-mile hike through meadows, forests, and mountain laurel glens to Fort Hill Brook. A gristmill dam from the early 1700s and a 10-foot waterfall over one of the many ledges found on the property will be some of the highlights. Colonial era stone walls and roads as well as many natural features will also be noted.
Meet at 245/255 Hazelnut Hill Road (up from the Pequot Health Center entrance). Pre-registration is RECOMMENDED. Questions and to register: contact leader Sue Sutherland, (860) 245-0568, suesutherland@snet.net
On Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. there's an educational walk at Bluff Point State Park and Coastal Reserve. Geologist Ralph Lewis and coastal ecologist Juliana Barrett will discuss the park’s ecology and geologic history within the context of landscape and habitat development. Topics presented will cover the Connecticut Science Curriculum Framework Standards (grades 6-8): Landforms are the result of the interaction of constructive and destructive forces over time. Recent storm-related changes to the various rock, cobble, and sandy beaches at Bluff Point will be examined. The 2.5-mile hike will follow a stable, relatively flat unimproved roadway and various beach types. Some climbing over rock/boulder and cobble beaches will require good balance and proper shoes.
Meet near the picnic tables at far end of the unpaved parking area near the trailhead to the beach. Rain postpones to June 2, 1:00 PM. Pre-registration is NOT NECESSARY. Questions: contact Ralph Lewis, ralph.s.lewis@uconn.edu.
On Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. there's a paddle at Bluff Point State Park. Please join us for a leisurely 3- to 5-mile paddle down the Poquonnock River out to Bushy Point Beach. We will stop to enjoy wildlife and explore wetland areas along the way.
Meet leaders John Sheer and Gerald Payfer at the picnic tables located at the end of the main parking lot. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. Questions and to pre-register: contact John Sheer, (860) 447-8448
On Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. there's a hike at Candlewood Ridge. Take an adventure at GOSA’s new open space acquisition project. We will travel through diverse habitats of mountain laurel and oak-beech forest; over rocky outcroppings, ledges, and boulder fields; and past streams, beaver habitat, and areas that protect the Haley Brook Watershed. Expect moderate to challenging terrain.
Park and meet at the grassy area at the end of the drive/laneway at the green mailbox #174 on the north side of Route 184 (100 yards west of the intersection of Route 184, Flanders Road, and Lambtown Road). Rain cancels. Preregistration is RECOMMENDED. Questions and to register: contact leader Sue Sutherland, (860) 245-0568, suesutherland@snet.net
A total of 152 Connecticut towns will be celebrating National Trails Day on June 1 and 2, according to the Connecticut Forest & Park Association.
Take a look at the online brochure for more information.
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