Freja Park
21 acres in Bolton, CT
Parking: Access from the Park & Ride off Rt. 44 or at Bolton Notch State Park
Trail Map Trails: 0.88 miles Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Peter Marteka framed this park as a gateway and I think that is absolutely the right way to look at it. In fact, that sentiment has only improved since he wrote that in 2000. Today this small park serves as a hub for the Hop River Trail, the blue blaze Shenipsit Trail, the East Coast Greenway, and easy access to Bolton Notch, Valley Falls, and Risley Pond.
Hiking
Freja Park has two main trails. The obvious blue-blaze Shenipsit Trail which provides the main entrance and exit and the green blaze inland trail. From the Park & Ride entrance the trail starts on an old asphalt driveway between the old Manchester Drive-In Movie Theatre and Bolton Notch Pond.
From here the trail splits. Taking the right leads down the Shenipsit to an info kiosk by the pond and soon a tiny overlook before reaching a small ridge that connects down to the Hop River Trail. Taking the left follows a wide green-blazed forested path that has several trails shooting off northwest that could be taken to connect to Risley Pond. After a third of a mile the trail reconnects with the Shenipsit where it meets the Hop River Trail.
Heading North: 2.2 miles on the Hop River Trail to Valley Falls
Heading South: 0.9 miles on the Charter Oak Greenway
History:
Purchased by the town in 1967. Volunteers cleaned up the park around the turn of the century after it had been abused by dirt-bikes and illegal dumpers.
Links:
- CTMQ – Freja Park (2020)
- Peter Marteka – Reclaiming a Gate to Nature’s Glory (2000)
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Last updated June 12th, 2023
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