Recommended Trails for Snowshoeing

Rec Path off Wesley Drive right after a storm

Right after a big snowstorm, any of our trails Shelton can be snowshoed if you can get to the trailhead. Parking is the real issue. The hiker lots may go a few days without being plowed, and some are never plowed.  Here's some recommended snowshoe hikes with on-street parking (click links for maps):

Boehm Pond Trails: Park on the side of Winthrop Woods Road. There is a nice system of loops that doesn't get used much and is well-blazed. The trail system runs on both sides of the road. A big new beaver pond (Boehm Pond) is on the north side, while the trail loops are on the south side.

Tahmore Trail: Park at the end of Tahmore Place. The 0.9 mile blue/yellow loop has been completely redone in the past year and is much safer than it use to be. Expect some hills, but there is also a great overlook of the Housatonic River, and a 360° view through the trees at the top of Big Tahmore. If you only want to do half the loop, use the red connector trail. 

Birchbank: Park at Round Hill Road. Expect hills. Take the Paugussett Trail into Birchbank to the chimney. From there, you can continue following the blue blazes up to the overlook. For a lollipop loop, continue past the overlook and take the blue/white Birchbank Connector (recently reroute so it's less steep) to Birchbank Trail (white), turn left on white and take that back to the blue blazes, turning right to arrive back at the chimney. There are other loop options at Birchbank. 

Basil Brook Bypass/Rec Path (Shelton Lakes). Park on Wesley Drive and make a loop out of these two trails. Basil Brook Bypass is not blazed, so this is best done if you are already familiar with the trail. A highlight is Basil Brook Falls, which is often full of ice and flowing nicely during the winter, and there is lots of mountain laurel.  This end of the Rec Path isn't used as heavily as the north end, and Basil Brook Bypass tends to be completely ignored after it snows. 

Nells Rock Trail (Shelton Lakes): If the main lot (near L'Hermitage) isn't plowed, park at the end of John Dominick Drive and follow the white square blazes of the access trail to the main loop (white rectangular blazes). You can also pick up the Paugussett Trail and follow that to Hope Lake. This area is relatively flat. 

Places and parking areas that may be inaccessible for a long time when there is snow may include: Nicholdale (sporadic and unpredictable plowing), Willis Woods, lower Birchbank, Gristmill Trail, and the Paugussett at Buddington.