SUMMARY: It's not a loop, but you're unlikely to meet any other hikers while you're on Stockmal or Willis Trails. This two-mile hike is fairly gentle. Some day we hope to obtain permission to extend Stockmal Trail across Means Brook and connect with a half mile loop on our Trombetta Woods Open Space.
PLANNING NOTES: Part of this trail crosses private property where there is hunting near the trail in late fall. Wear bright colors during hunting season. Avoid this hike when there is busy traffic, since you will need to cross Route 110.
PARKING: For this hike, park at the main lot for Nicholdale Farm. Use #324 Leavenworth Road for gps directions. The lot is below the highway and difficult to see. Look for the "Trailhead Parking" sign.
 |
| Click on map to enlarge |
MAPs: The full official trail map for Means Brook Greenway (Nicholdale/Pearmain/Willis) can be found here. Use our custom Google Map #2 to geolocate yourself along the route while hiking.
CONDENSED DESCRIPTION: Start the Nichols loop (blue) in the counterclockwise direction parallel to Route 110. TURN RIGHT to carefully cross Route 110 at the gas pipeline and enter Willis Woods on Stockmal Trail (white). Pass two junctions with the red trail, cross a bridge, and come to the end of the trail. Turn around and retrace your steps back across the bridge. TURN LEFT onto Willis Trail (red) and follow to end. TURN LEFT onto Stockmal Trail (white) and retrace your steps back to your car.
FULL DESCRIPTION: Look for the back entrance to Nichols Trail in the northwest corner of the lot. Facing the road, it will be on your left. (If you come to an information kiosk, you went the wrong way). Go down the steps and pass the old cattle underpass (may be overgrown). Continue through meadow and then woods roughly parallel to Rt 110.
When you come to a big clearing and just before a park sign with a blue arrow pointing left, you will TURN RIGHT onto a very short blue/white connector trail that leads to the Route 110 crossing. The best sight lines for crossing are at the blue/white blazes. Carefully cross the highway and head for the big "Willis Woods" sign.
Stockmal Trail (white) begins here and continues for about 3/4 mile. You'll pass two junctions marked with red blazes, then continue to cross a bridge. Until now you have been on property owned by the Shelton Land Conservation Trust, a private non-profit organization. Soon you will enter private property protected from future development via a land use agreement. The agreement requires the City to maintain a public hiking trail. The land is otherwise not open to the public, so be sure to stay on the trail. There may also be hunting in this area during the fall.
You'll cross an active farm road and continue past tall spruce tree to arrive at the end of the trail at the top of a Means Brook riverbank. It's marked with two horizontal blazes and some signs marking the land beyond as being part of Centennial Watershed State Forest. The Aquarion Water Company owns a narrow strip of property here along Means Brook, and the state purchased recreation rights over it in 2002. We've been hoping to obtain permission to extend the trail across the brook to access the Trombetta Woods Open Space on the opposite shore, but so far have been denied. There is an existing 1/2 mile loop on the Trombetta property, but there is no public access at this time.
Turn around and retrace your steps, crossing back over the farm road and the bridge. When you come to the red blazes on the left, TURN LEFT to head up Willis Trail. There is some interesting white quartz, and then a switchback up an area of ledge. Follow the blazes carefully as you descend back down the hill. This area has had some brush fires over the years, so you may see some blackened trunks. When the trail reaches Stockmal Trail, TURN LEFT towards Rt 110. Recross the road, TURN LEFT at Nichols Trail (blue) and continue to your car.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment