Thornton Brook Preserve

There aren’t many mentions of the Thornton Brook Preserve online and the only reason I found out it existed was driving past it on my way to the Nathan Hale State Forest. I remembered the name and was able to find a rough trail map online, but no further information.

I headed back the next day and ventured down the wide mown path that was filled with rabbits and robins.  The path dipped into the woods before crossing over Thornton Brook.  From there the trail headed uphill and I caught my first glimpse of a styrofoam plate with an orange arrow.  Taking it as my first trail marker I followed it around the northwestern edge of the loop.  The trail was faint and covered in branches from recent storms.  I started off moving them out of the way, trying to be a good volunteer steward, but soon gave up since there were so many.  Along the backside of the loop, the trail faded out for good but I was able to see another styrofoam plate through the trees.

The plates guide you past enormous fallen trees to an old woods road winding out and around on rough trail before dropping you back on the trail where you came in, but I can’t recommend it since it certainly takes you way outside the town’s property.  There were recent horse hoofprints, possibly from Tara Farm Rescue.

The rest of the trails on the actual Thornton Brook Property look as though they haven’t been used in a long time and it was only through guessing where they should be that I was able to pick up the marks that guided me back to the start.  Here’s a map of the hike I ended up doing: