2023

2023 Year In Exploration

Other Years: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

Stats

211,304 site views
24.3% of the state explored, that’s 482 out of 1,983
Explored 99 locations this year, 52 new to me and 47 I’d been before
Added 88 new locations to the map, 29% of the state is represented
4 movies and 4 newsletters published

Hikes by Month

January

Moss Tract – Quick return visit after discovering it’s hidden waterfall to check out the south section trails
Quinebaug Trail – Thru hiked the trail on a warm January day for about 17 miles round trip overlapping with heavy dirt bike presence
Hidden Valley Preserve – Revisited this great property hitting all the highlights from cave to river view to overlook
Steep Rock Preserve – The trail to overlook was closed on my last visit so I returned for it’s fantastic view before returning once more to the tunnel
Giuffrida Park – Hiked the Metacomet Ridge and returned along the reservoir in the standard rugged loop
Westfield Falls – Quick stop on a cold windy day to check in on the falls
Sleeping Giant State Park – Rehiked some of my favorite trails since I didn’t visit the Giant at all in 2022

February

Mount Higby – Hiked this section of the Mattabesett Trail on a rainy morning and made a movie of the views
Lewis Farm Bird Sanctuary – There are a fair number of trails tucked in this small property, I particularly enjoyed the curved bridge over the river here
Will Warren’s Den– The trail was a bit of a mud pit in the spring, but the views are always worth it
West Mountain Property – Caught Cathles Falls and the great overlook but didn’t have time to complete the full loop here
Mary Edwards Mountain Property – The first view is the best view, the trails are rugged, and I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised
Godard Preserve – Connected down to this preserve from Mary Edwards and the trails along the brooks provide peaceful hiking
Sunset Rock State Park – Hiked this to discover that you’re exploring Crescent Lake and its trails and the state park property is untrailed to the north, but a great overlook from the ridge line

March

Mansfield Hollow – Combining different loops here, still trying to discover new things at one of my most visited state parks
Pigeon Swamp – Rehiked this property after a couple years on a sunny spring afternoon, trails were exactly the same as I remembered
Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve – Lulled by the initial trails I was drawn in by the history and love the deep woods cabin and pond view
Schoolhouse Brook Park – Rehiked sections on either side of the road to see that mountain bike trails have been developing over the years

April

Sherwood Island State Park – First visit to one of CT’s uber popular beach parks, fun to walk the beach without the crowds
Trout Brook Valley – I feel like I only got to explore a tiny portion of this large and varied park
Kilkenny Rock – One of the few sections of the Metacomet I haven’t done before, fun hike that overlaps significantly with mountain bike trails
Mono Pond State Park – Stopped here for a quick hike on a breezy morning
Cotton Hollow Preserve – The ruins have been protected, but now the harder work of fundraising to preserve them begins
Holcomb Farm – Explored what I could here, but access to the majority of trails washed away with a bridge that has yet to be replaced unfortunately
Dewey-Granby Oak – First visit to this majestic old former champion tree
Katan Ensor and Old Messenger Road Preserves – This new preserve is a real gem connecting multiple parcels, but the views were all fogged in due to rainy weather
Shelter Falls – Last hike here was in 2018, this time I found an abandoned stretch of trail down to a small pond
Sperry Falls – Got the timing just right to see these rare falls roaring after heavy rains
Mahoney Pond – Poking around these old woods roads to find a simple forest loop
Cedar Wood Preserve – Still a work in progress, but interesting trails that feel longer than their length
Barrett Preserve – This property felt tucked away despite being surrounded by private property, the streams and bridges were a nice surprise

May

Bush Hill Preserve – Did nearly a full loop of the property and stopped to explore the barn tag sale land trust fundraiser
Stony Brooke Park – Hiked the northern stretch of trails, some of which are pretty overgrown
Shafran Conservation Area – Last hike here was in 2018 and not much has changed, the cool clear streams here are perfect
Tower Hill Preserve – Caught this just a couple days after its grand opening to find a well crafted trail with a surprise hidden waterfall
Blackledge Falls – Quick hike up to the falls and then connected into the southern edge of Gay City before looping back
Bigelow Hollow – Hiked the western perimeter and then along the East Ridge Trail, the parking was packed but we didn’t seen another person
Pixie Falls – Backpacked out to see the well-crafted fairy house above the falls and did an overnight at the nearby backpacking site

June

Thru-hike of the Shenipsit Trail – Hiked all 50.2 miles over two days during peak mountain laurel bloom
Peterson Park – The start of the Mattatuck Trail here is perfect riverside trail
Allanach-Wolf Woodlands – Finally revisited one of my old favorites to find trails have been officially extended and connect to Wolf Den Land Trust property
Codfish Falls / Fenton Tract – Finally connected these two thanks to a fallen tree over the Fenton River to check out the rerouted Nipmuck Trail

July

Woodtick Recreation Area – Great first hike doing the full loop around the Scoville Reservoir with great sights along the way
Simpson Woods – Revisited this property after a couple years to find that trails are slowly getting overgrown
Mt Hope Park – Still a short beautiful hike along the river, but still a shame the beavers have flooded the full loop connection
White Memorial Conservation Center – Did the classic boarkwalk hike, which had a couple flooded sections, but removing my shoes gave me the boardwalk to myself
Camp Columbia State Park – Last hiked this in the winter, so visited again in the summer, most just visit the tower so the hiking loop is overgrown

August

Risley Park – A few years since my last visit, enjoyed the trails, enjoyed the bench on the far side of the pond even more
Gay City State Park – Hiked the blue trail out to its Shenipsit connection and then back through the center of the park
Goodwin State Forest – Out on the Natchaug Trail again, highlight of the hike was an owl among the pines
Camp Aya-Po – Always try to rehike this one whenever I’m in the area
Dart Hill North Hockanum River – First hike on the Hockanum River Trail as odd as Steve from CTMQ says but certainly has its moments
Oakland Trail Hockanum River – Jumped onto another section soon after, great loop hike on both sides of the river
Dart Hill Park – A third section, stayed on theme – odd but has its moments too
Coney Rock – Quick afternoon hike with a view

September

Talbot WMA – Didn’t have time to hike the full loop, so enjoyed the walk down to the river bend and back
Nathan Hale State Forest – Despite intending to, I’ve never done the same hike here twice, a few miles through the woods and a stop at the farmer’s market

October

Dunhamtown Forest – Rehiked this loop after a few years and not a bit has changed
South Meadows River Trail – First of hike of this work in progress, some pavement, some grass, some mud, curious to see how it develops
Whetten Woods – I’d forgotten how short this loop is, so hiked it twice
Metcalf Nature Preserve – First hike of this short figure eight loop

November

Moss Sanctuary – An easy morning hike
McCann Family Farm – Despite hiking Whitaker a few times, I’d never jumped over to these surprisingly rugged trails
Avery Farm Nature Preserve – First hike of this great loop that’s just challenging and varied enough
Crystal Ridge Trail – First hike of this new town trail, the area has potential but the trail needs more use

December

Rock Springs – Fun visit hitting all the highlights and an easier hike without all the summer overgrowth
Harvey Preserve – Visited JT’s newest preserve a couple days before it opened and found a surprisingly great little loop
Talbot WMA – Rehiked the loop here and it was longer than I remember, lots of new fallen trees though
Mitchell & Reed Woodlands – Wet hike after recent rains on seldom used trail, interesting area but trails in poor shape
Benedict Benson Preserve – Solid little loop with stream views and an old car
Coney Rock – Late afternoon sunset hike
Niederwerfer Wildlife Sanctuary – First visit and missed part of the loop so the hike was short and uneventful
Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve – First visit and loved the extensive boardwalks
Bailey’s Ravine – Had to capture a waterfall after a day of heavy rains
R.H. Collins Preserve – First visit, short loop with plenty of interesting views, would like to visit in summer next
Portland Reservoir – Did most of the rim trail, areas are still flooded with beaver activity but was able to keep my feet dry
Oak Ledges Preserve – First visit, rugged little loop out to a surprise meditation shelter

Fenton Tract

★★★☆☆

41.824717, -72.237417

Fenton Tract University of Connecticut Open Space 579 acres in Mansfield, CT Parking: Shoulder parking near 2696 Horsebarn Hill Rd Mansfield, CT Small pull-off near 138 Old Turnpike…

Soapstone Mountain

★★★★☆

41.961605, -72.408513

Soapstone Mountain Connecticut State Forest 1800 acres in Ellington, Somers, and Stafford, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 399 Gulf Rd, Somers, CT Trail Map …

Shenipsit: Dark Hollow Section

★★★☆☆

41.669598, -72.503706

Shenipsit : Dark Hollow Brook to Flat Brook Falls Blue Blaze Shenipsit Trail and Connecticut State Forest in Glastonbury, CT Parking: Dark Hollow: At the end the road near… Read more…

Creaser Park

★★☆☆☆

41.778407, -72.358612

Creaser Park Coventry Town Park 57 acres in Coventry, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 109 Case Rd Coventry, CT Trail Map Trails:…

Freja Park

★★☆☆☆

41.786520, -72.455719

Freja Park Bolton Town Park 21 acres in Bolton, CT Parking: Access from the Park & Ride off Rt. 44 or at Bolton Notch State Park Trail…

Moss Sanctuary

★★☆☆☆

41.794613, -72.239224

Albert E. Moss Forest, Wildflower, and Wildlife Sanctuary Mansfield Town Park 135 acres in Mansfield, CT Parking: Pull off for two cars near 1105 Storrs Rd Storrs, CT. … Read more…

Giuffrida Park

★★★★★

41.562115, -72.762339

Giuffrida Park Meriden Town Park 598 acres in Meriden, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 800 Westfield Rd, Meriden, CT Trail Map Trails: 24.8 miles …

Dunhamtown Forest

★★★☆☆

41.786132, -72.256188

Dunhamtown Forest Mansfield Town Park 226 acres in Mansfield, CT Parking: Small lot near 109 Dunham Pond Rd Mansfield, CT Aerial Trail Map …

Dorwart Preserve

★★☆☆☆

41.796344, -72.195826

Dorwart Preserve and Lion’s Memorial Park Mansfield Town Parks 125 acres in Mansfield, CT Parking: Small pull-off near 215 Mulberry Rd Mansfield, CT Trail Map …

Bigelow Hollow State Park

★★★★★

41.994655, -72.130835

Bigelow Hollow State Park Connecticut State Park / Nipmuck State Forest 516 acres in Union, CT Parking: Several large lots along the park’s road off CT-171. Trail… Read more…

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2023

2023 Year In Exploration

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