Fowler Grindstone Preserve

The Land Alliance reccommends the Upper Parking area (near 30 Fowler Rd I think) where there is a small pull-off and then you walk down someone's driveway to a trailhead at the back.  I'm rarely comfortable doing that so I parked at the Lower entrance (near 9 Fowler Rd) and easily found the trailhead sign.

This intial yellow blazed trail was pretty overgrown and appeared seldom traveled in this narrow corridor between private property with a large fetid swamp off to the right. The trail does open up onto what must be and old farm road, also a bit overgrown, with some twisted rusted old vehicle as a trailside viewpoint.

I did spy the yellow trail heading off towards the upper parking so I can confirm it is blazed but appeared even less traveled. From here the trail blaze switched to white/yellow until crossing Hetchel Swamp Brook. The trail map shows it continuing north and looping back around but either I missed it or it has been abandoned. After crossing over the brook the blazes switch to orange, briefly following the water and then climbing to a large erratic boulder.  The boulder even has a bolted ladder so that you can easily climb atop.  The orange blazes lead you out to Pendleton Hill Brook where a sign let's you know that you're entering 'Jeffrey Property' and the trail blazes switch yet again to blue.

This next stretch is technically on private property but is well-blazed and no signs stating No Trespassing so I continued on. Across the brook is 2 parcels of Pachaug State Forest, though no trails that I'm aware of. The trail follows the brook for almost the entire stretch and is well selected along the water if only a bit overgrown. Near the end is an old mill dam and large former mill pond. I haven't found any history on it yet. After a few more ferns and large erratics the trail drops you on a driveway for the property.  Total mileage was about 1.35 miles out so 2.7 round trip.