PARKING: There is a small parking lot and Paugussett kiosk at the trailhead located on Buddington Road. Parking is also available on the other side of Buddington Road. GPS 199 Buddington Road with the parking lot to the east.
BLAZE COLOR: Starting with the Paugussett Blue Blaze to a left on the White Blaze Trail to the Rec Path to the Red Flower Blaze to return via the Blue Blaze trail to the parking lot.
TRAIL MAP:
HIKE DESCRIPTION: From the Paugussett Buddington Trailhead, follow the access trail on the left to the Paugussett Trail, cross the boardwalk over the pond and continue to follow the blue blazed Paugussett Trail north. The trail goes generally uphill, crossing a pedestrian bridge, through a mountain laurel grove until it reaches the power lines.
After crossing the power line corridor and going through the woods, you will come to an intersection with the Nells Rock Trail blazed in White. The blue and white trails go together for about 50 feet, when the blue trail takes a sharp right up the hill. Stay on the white trail which bends gently to the left. Follow the white trail as it climbs up to the power line. You will go under a power tower and cross over an intermittent stream. Turn right (north) and follow the power lines for about ¼ mile. You will see the white blazes heading right toward another power tower. DO NOT follow the White Trail back into the woods. Rather look left and take the utility road 75 feet to the Rec Path and go straight ahead (north).
Follow the Rec Path past the first gate and to the second gate (a large silver gate just after crossing a driveway). Before the gate, take the red flower blaze trail to the right up the hill and follow that trail across the power lines and shortly thereafter look for the red flower trail to go to the right. Follow this trail to cross Oak Valley Road and back into the woods to the back gate of Eklund Garden and the intersection with the Paugussett Trail. (If you have time turn left into Eklund Garden, a collection of native flowers, many with labels, protected by a 7-foot deer fence.)
To continue the Lollipop League Loop, take the Paugussett Trail south as it go up hill gradually, then take either the bypass of a steep slope or the steep slope down to a swamp and a small foot bridge, then on to a another intersection with Nells Rock Trail (blazed white) at a place we call "Four Corners." Go straight across the intersection and follow the blue blazes on an old road. Watch for the blue blazes to leave the old road on the right, and head gradually up to the top of a cliff face where you look down on Nells Rock Trail. The trail goes left to follow the top of the cliff, then right to descend steeply down to Nells Rock Trail, completing the loop.
Follow the blue blazes to come out to the power lines once again briefly then head back into the woods, cross a wet area, and then you're back to the power lines, which you will now cross. The trail heads back into thick mountain laurel with a few ups and downs, finally coming back to the boardwalk and the spur trail to the Buddington Road Parking Lot.
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