Photos
Description
Franklin Swamp WMA: Mahoney Pond
Connecticut Wildlife Management Area
50 acres in Franklin, CT
Parking: Tiny pull off on Under the Mountain Rd, Franklin, CT
Trail Map Trails: 1.5 miles Rating: ★★☆☆☆
It’s unlikely that you’ll ever seek out this short loop, more popular with hunters than hikers. Mahoney Pond is a part of the larger Franklin Swamp Wildlife Management Area.
Hiking
I started my hike from the small gated pull-off just north of the large open fields on the trail map above. The trail is more of a dam access road so offers wide easy access and a nice view southeast over the fields. The forest has had active management in the last few years so the trail is lined with a number of felled trees. Working your way down a steep gravel bank is the dam and outflow of Mahoney Pond.
The pond was swelled from recent heavy rains and I scared off a great blue heron who was fishing below the spillway. Despite the high water the spillway was easy to hop across and continue on into the forest. The forest changes to a denser pine and actually has a split off trail however both lead back to the other gated entrance farther north on Under the Mountain Road. You could complete the loop as long as you don’t mind a road walk (Under the Mountain is pretty quiet) but I chose to retrace my steps to take in the pond one more time.
History:
Links:
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Last updated April 24th, 2023
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