Five and one half miles of well-maintained, well-marked trails afford visitors fabulous views of field, forest, and pond.
Visitors are welcome to walk the trails, or in winter ski or snowshoe. Trails are not for bikes, motorized vehicles, or pets… sorry.
Trails are open from dawn until dusk daily and are free of charge to the public. Donations are always appreciated.
Trail maps are available at the front desk during building hours. If you arrive after hours, just follow the diamonds and you shouldn’t get lost.
Blue = .5 miles. This trail starts at the parking lot and follows a paved trail to an overlook. The trail is newly repaired and perfectly smooth for wheelchairs and strollers. You will pass by a few small ponds where you should keep your eyes open for frogs and turtles. When you get to the overlook, you will have a wonderful view of our biggest pond, appropriately named “Big Pond.” From the overlook, you could turn around and follow the paved trail back the way you came, or you could continue on the mowed grass to an intersection. Turn right on the Maintenance Road for a shortcut back to the building, or go straight for the longer path through the woods.
Orange = about 1 mile. The Orange trail makes a big loop around our second-biggest pond – Spatterdock Pond. This trail also starts at the parking lot heading out the paved trail. When the paved trail takes a sharp right, however, keep going straight onto the mowed grass trail. Continue straight ahead to a small pond, then turn right. Follow the trail to the Red Pine Woods – a plantation that is over 40 years old. At the far end of the Red Pines, you’ll find a photo blind that looks out over Spatterdock Pond. You will then cross the boardwalk into a hemlock woods. A very small increase in elevation brings into a hardwood stand. Take a right at the huge old oak tree and cross the embankment. Midway along the embankment you will see a water control device. We can use this to raise and lower the water level in Spatterdock Pond. Continue along the trail keeping the pond on your right. When you get to the southeast corner of the pond, bear to the left and you’re on your way back to the building.
Spatterdock Pond changes a great deal through the seasons. In summer it is covered with duckweed and Spatterdock Lilies (of course). By fall, the water is clear and reflects the brilliance of the foliage. In winter, the water is mostly frozen and cattails release their seeds.
Yellow = about 2 miles. The longest loop takes you all the way around Big Pond. (Eventually I’ll finish this description…)
Google Map:
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