Lem Walker Loop

Lem Walker Loop at Hatchet Hill

Hull Forest Products Property

Approx. 200 acres in Woodstock, CT

Parking: Shoulder parking near 1912 Rte. 198 Woodstock, CT

Trail Map     Trails: 1.3 miles      Rating: ★★★☆☆

There isn’t much info available about this property thought it is managed by Hull Forest Products though it is unclear if they or the Walker family own it.

Hiking

From the shoulder parking the trail starts just at the end of the guard rail downhill into some thick young pine growth.  The trail is an old forest road improved by Hull Forest Products and passes within sight of nearby private property.  About just about a quarter mile the begins to climb, passing a massive erratic and curves again off to the left.  This is the fork to the loop, the left fork appears easier to follow and the right heads off through a cut in the hillside.

I followed the left fork and took a steep quarter mile climb up Hatchet Hill a well known spot in the old days.  After the strenuous climb I was surprised to spot a picnic table and a charcoal grill stand.  Then I turned and saw, to my surprise, likely the best overlook in this part of the state.  The view is northeast over North Woodstock and into Massachusetts.  I sat for a good bit taking it in.

Continuing up and over the crest of the hill is another overlook west over to the rim of Bigelow Hollow. From here the trail heads down off Hatchet Hill making its way north to a marshy area along Cohasse Brook.  This part of the loop is a little muddier and a little more overgrown but easily passable.  I thought there might be a trail over to the Goodell Morse Memorial Forest owned by the New England Forestry Foundation but didn’t find any promising leads.  The trail connects back at the fork just over a mile in and I clocked the full round trip at 1.32 miles.

History:

The Walker family owned these woodlands for 160 years and Lem Walker was Connecticut’s Tree Farmer of the Year in 1993.

Links:

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Last updated October 30th, 2022