Peters Memorial Woods
61 acres in Clinton, CT
Parking: Small lot near 35 Valley Rd, Clinton, CT
Trail Map Trails: 2.6 miles Rating: ★★★☆☆
Trails haven’t changed much from the above trail map created in 1998 and they sure don’t need to. You can tell the care put into crafting these trails, hitting all the highlights of the property and offering a range of options. Though trails are pretty short there are enough sights and loops to satisfy most.
Hiking
The Clinton Land Trust has a short description of each trail. Below is more just a description of my hike.
My hike started dramatically in a rocky ravine on the yellow trail off the left of the parking area. It was a great opener crossing the brook between ice covered rock walls and carefully selected footing in the short rocky stretch. Just beyond this glen I quickly hopped onto the orange Burnham Trail climbing uphill to forested summits, down, and up again. One of these rocky knobs provided a semi-view down into the forest which was quite nice in the winter and the sun setting off to the west.
At the trail junction I took the pale blue Laurel Ridge Trail east towards the blue Princess Pine Trail. Most of the trails here seem to feature mountain laurel so visiting around July I’m sure is a great time. The Princess Pine Trail was easily my favorite. Not because I saw any princess pine, my eyes were caught by the bold rock faces as you criss cross the Marais Creek feeding towards the Menunketesuck River. Words won’t quite capture it so I highly recommend you hike it if you’re ever in the area.
The trail soon leaves the brook and passes down through some rocks. There is a ledge with a view off the left that I was surprised the trail doesn’t access, until I saw that it’s right above private property. So there is a view, you just have to enjoy it from afar. The blue trail heads back to the parking area along the red Bougie Trail which is the easiest trail in the park and also features a StoryBook Walk a partnership with the Henry Carter Hull Library.
History:
Links:
Peter Marteka – Hidden wonders await your hike through Peters Memorial Woods in Clinton (2022)
Peter Marteka – Peters Memorial Woods In Clinton Is A Magical Preserve (2010)
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Last updated December 26th, 2022
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