2024 Marathon Level 2, Hike 1: Oak Valley/Paugussett Loop

SUMMARY: This is an easy two-mile loop in the Shelton Lakes Greenway that begins at the Dog Park. 

MAPS: The full official map for the Shelton Lakes Greenway is here. Geolocate yourself while hiking using our Custom Google Map #1. 

Click on map to enlarge

PARKING: Shelton Dog Park, #316 Nells Rock Road. 

CONDENSED DESCRIPTION:  Start on the Dog Paw Path (green/white), soon veering right at the split onto the blue/white connector trail. Veer right again onto Oak Valley Trail (red) and follow the loop trail counterclockwise. Keep right at the Rec Path junction and continue to the gate. Turn left at the gate to stay on red. Stay left to follow the Paugussett Trail (blue) along the Hope Lake shoreline all the way back to the parking lot. 

FULL DESCRIPTION: From the Dog Park parking lot, walk towards the red Trails Barn with the hiker weathervane. Keep to the right of the barn and find the Dog Paw Path blazes behind it (white paws on a green square). Shelton Ave should be to your right. Start up the path but soon veer RIGHT to follow the blue/white connector. Veer RIGHT again shortly to follow Oak Valley Trail (red). 

You're now on the red loop trail going counterclockwise. Cross the powerlines and then a bridge built in 1995 by volunteers. Continue with Shelton Ave off to the right and a large swamp to the left. Old deeds from the 1700s called it Cranberry Swamp. Circle around the tip of the swamp and come to a second bridge, this one new. Before crossing, look to the right to see a rock formation. Some stones make a zig-zag pattern along the edge of the brook and connect with the rock formation. There was probably an old zig-zag style of livestock fence there, and sheep were common, so we call this the Sheep Pen. 

The red blazes soon turn onto an old "highway", now closed to traffic, and join the Rec Path (KEEP RIGHT).  At the gate, TURN LEFT to stay on red-blazed Oak Valley Trail. Cross the powerlines and aim for Hope Lake. 

At the next junction, where the red blazes turn right and cross a bridge, KEEP STRAIGHT (stay left) to follow the blue-blazed Paugussett Trail along the shoreline of Hope Lake. 

When you get to the far end of Hope Lake, near the dam, the Paugussett Trail joins the Rec Path. Follow this down the hill back to your car.