Lake Bonair
26 acres in Tolland, CT
Parking: Shoulder parking near 111 Grahaber Rd, Tolland, CT
Trail Map Trails: 1.2 miles Rating: ★★☆☆☆
This section of the Shenipsit Trail which I’ve decided to call Lake Bonair was a bit of surprise on my June 2023 thru-hike. For some reason I’d assumed it was a road walk all the way from Shenipsit Lake to the Shenipsit State Forest, but after a fairly quiet two mile road walk the blue blazes took a turn into the forest next to a telephone pole.
The entrance was pretty easy to access, the initial trail a bit wet but lined with evergreen, and a bit rutted from ATV/dirtbike use off the utility corridor. From there the trail turned into dense fern forest. The trail is less traveled but easy enough to follow and gently climbs around Bonair Hill. Private property was just a couple hundred feet away, but I’d never have guessed in the peak foliage at the start of summer.
I startled a deer and soon crossed the gravel Bonair Hill Road. The next stretch passed through a marshy area, but while the trail was wet it was never enough to worry about soaking your feet. Lake Bonair came into view through the trees though you only get a few glimpses and the whole eastern side is more marsh than open water. Once you see the open water the trail turns away for good to meet Rt. 140. At 1.2 miles or 2.4 round trip this wouldn’t be a bad out and back starting from Grahaber Road since the forest is so nice. For thru-hiking, busy Rt 140 was a bit daunting with a narrow shoulder, but there was a good gap between cars to easily jog across to Hopkins Road and enter the Shenipsit State Forest.
Previous Section: 2 mile road walk coming from Shenipsit Lake
Next Section: 0.2 mile road walk to Soapstone Mountain
History:
The parcel that protects the trail just north of Lake Bonair has been owned by the Town of Tolland since 1995. Many of the properties off Bonair Hill Rd have conservation easements though it is unknown at this time how permanent they are.
Links:
- CTMQ – Shenipsit Trail: Section 4 (2010)
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Last updated June 12th, 2023
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