Quick
Link to other recreation options
Hiking
Trails
Most
of the information here comes
from a mixture of my own experience on the trails and data
on the trail locations and acreage from the third edition
of the The Book of Trails by Joan Ensor and John G. Mitchell.
The fourth edition was published in 2005 by the Redding Land
Trust and the Redding Conservation Commission (and is available
at the Mark
Twain Library).
Tom Ebersold, hike
leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club has written up a
document to supplement Books III and IV in providing additional
detail, especially with regard to parking and locating trailheads.
Tom spent the winters of 2004 and 2005 exploring virtually
all the trails within the town of Redding so it is a very
helpful document that Tom has been kind enough to forward
for use on this page. Below I'll highlight his comments under
"Tom's Notes".
Click Here to
download Tom's Document. Thank you Tom!
NEW:
View all of Southwestern
Connecticut's hiking trails, online! New from the Norwalk
River Watershed Association.
There is one major
change in land trust policy: dogs are permitted on all these
trails, provided they are under control of the owner.
Huntington
State Park
Acreage: 900
Miles of Trail: 7.5
Entrance: Sunset Hill Road
Easiest
way to get there: Route 58 East or West. Coming from
Bethel, you will pass Putnam Park Pond on your left, bear
left at the fork following Rt. 58 for approximately 1.5 miles,
Sunset Hill is to the left at the apex of a right-hand curve,
you will travel up a steep incline for about 3/4 miles, Huntington
State Park is on the right. Coming from Easton, your point
of reference is the four way stop at the junction of Route
58, Cross Highway, and Church Hill, from there Sunset Hill
is the third road on your right about 3/4 miles up. Also,
see Tom's Notes below.
What is
it like? Wide open. Very good place to introduce
the children to the great outdoors. The trails are well maintained,
there are four ponds and a lake(state permit required to fish),
it is also open to horses and bikes
Tom's
Notes: The map in the book provides a useful overview
of the park. However, it does not include many key details,
including the parking area on Dodgingtown Road, the full trail
loop in Bethel, and the color codes for the trail. By far
the best map of Huntington State Park is published by the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. This full
color map includes point-to-point distances along the trail.
You can download the map at http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/huntington.htm.
The Sunset Hill
Road parking lot is better known and more commonly used, but
the Dodgingtown Road lot has some advantages. When you finish
your hike and you return to that lot, you do not need to slog
up the steep hill, which is often windswept. This other lot
also has more parking. Alas, you do give up the views of the
wolf and bear statues. To reach the Dodgingtown Road parking
area, continue north past the Sunset Hill Road parking area.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: There are two updates to the map printed in
Book 4: The open area north of the Sunset Hill Road parking
area is now the Couch Hill Preserve, owned by the town of
Redding. A description of this property may be found on page
22 in Book IV. Wood Road is labeled on the map in Book IV,
but not in Book III.
New
Trail: Six
mile trail opens on Poverty Hollow Road Six-mile trail
that starts on Poverty Hollow Road and runs through parts
of Redding, Newtown and Easton was officially opened Friday,
June 2, the day before National Trails Day. The Aspetuck Valley
Trail is situated among 15,300 acres of land and connects
with existing trails in Collis P. Huntington State Park in
Newtown and Redding. The Aspetuck Valley Trail goes through
The Centennial Watershed State Forest, which is managed by
the state Conservation Land Committee. Formed in 2002, the
committee came together when the state of Connecticut and
The Nature Conservancy bought and obtained conservation easements
from lands belonging to Aquarion Water Company.
Ground
Pine Sanctuary & The Mahony Gift
Acreage: 61
Miles of Trail: 1.25
Entrance: Sport Hill Road
Easiest
way to get there: Route 58 to Meeker Hill, right
onto Poverty Hollow, second right onto Sport Hill Road, left
into Charles Sanford Road(unpaved).
Tom's
Notes: Charles Sanford Road is blocked off and
apparently abandoned. Park by the boulders blocking the road
at the entrance off Sport Hill Road. The entrance is opposite
87 Sport Hill Road.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The Ground Pine map in Book IV has been reduced
in size as compared to the one in Book III, yet the scale
of 1 inch = 400 feet is indicated as being the same. The reduction
means the scale is now incorrect for this particular map in
Book IV, and, in fact, makes distances in Book IV only for
this map look longer than they really are.
Samuel
E. Hill Little River Preserve
Acreage: 92
Miles of Trail: 2.89
Entrance: Cross Highway & Tunxis Trail
North
Easiest
way to get there: The trail head at Cross Highway
starts in the valley, parking is scarce and the trail is not
in good shape. The trail head at Tunxis Trail North is also
in need of repair, but is the best place to park. To get there
take Newtown Turnpike-from Cross Highway it is 3/4 miles from
the blinking light on the right, once on Tunxis trail it T's
about 100 yards down, make a right and park. From Rt. 53,
follow Newtown Turnpike Tunxis Trail is the third road on
the left about 3 miles from the reservoir.
Tom's
Notes: The main trailhead can be found between
19 and 21 Tunxis Trail North. There is no suitable parking
on Cross Highway by the trailhead, which is near 99 Cross
Highway. The trailhead for the Little River North Trail is
directly opposite this trail. To stay within the Little River
Preserve, head east on Cross Highway, crossing the Little
River on the road. Make a right into the field past the bridge
and head straight back to re-enter the woods.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The Equus Trail from Cross Highway is now
shown paralleling the property boundary with the wording "Crossfield
Scenic Area" added. The arrow indicating North is inconveniently
located at the center of the book binding, making it difficult
to read. Book III indicates that the Equus Trail is closed
from March 1 to June 1. This restriction has been lifted in
Book IV.
Little River North Trail
Acreage:
Miles of Trail: 2.8
Entrance: Pheasant Ridge Road and/or John
Read Road
Easiest
way to get there: Route 58 East or West. Coming from
Bethel, you will pass Putnam Park Pond on your left, bear
left at the fork following Rt. 58 for approximately 1.5 miles,
Sunset Hill is to the left at the apex of a right-hand curve,
you will travel up a steep incline for about a mile, Pheasant
Ridge is on the left. Coming from Easton, your point of reference
is the four way stop at the junction of Route 58, Cross Highway,
and Church Hill, from there Sunset Hill is the third road
on your right about 3/4 miles up. You can also catch the trail
half way down at John Read Road.
What is
it like? The
trail from John Read Road to Cross Highway follows the Little
River and is both scenic and tranquil. The trail is singletrack,
flat and winds along the babbling river. If you are looking
to de-stress, this is the place.
Tom's
Notes: There is no suitable parking on Cross Highway.
There is limited parking on John Read Road near the bridge,
maybe 2 to 3 spots. There is plenty of parking on Pheasant
Ridge Rd. (off Sunset Hill Rd). The trailhead is across from
61 Pheasant Ridge Rd. You can also park on Putnam Hill Dr.
(off Rt. 58, about sixth-tenths of a mile south of Rt. 107).
The trail passes through the driveway at 8 Putnam Hill Dr.
When traveling north on the trail, as you exit Putnam Hill
Drive, make a left onto Black Rock Turnpike, and walk a tenth
of a mile. Look for the trailhead past the mailbox for house
number 453. The mailbox, on the opposite side of the road
near the trailhead, reads 53, since the 4 fell off. It took
me some time to puzzle out how the maps for the Little River
Preserve and the Little River North Trail align. Look at the
pages 26 and 27 for the Little River Preserve. Turn the book
sideways, so that Cross Highway is at the top. The map for
the Little River North Trail would fit directly on top. Note
that the maps have two different scales, so it is not an exact
fit.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: Bridgeport Hydraulic land is now part of Centennial
Watershed State Forest. Putnam Hill Drive is now indicated
on the map.
The Joan
Plishner Wildlife Preserve
Acreage: 35.6
Miles of Trail: 1.3
Entrance: Bartram Drive
Easiest
way to get there: Follow Lonetown Road past Putnam
Park Road, Bartram Drive is on the right, park in the turn-around.
Tom's
Notes: The trailhead is at the end of the cul-de-sac
on Bartram Drive. The trail starts between the driveways for
15 and 16 Bartram Road. There is plenty of parking on this
quiet cul-de-sac. The Plishner Preserve can also be reached
from Putnam Park. There is a sign marked "Trail" on the upper
walkway near the guardhouse.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: None
Limekiln
Natural Area, The Marcus Gift & Todd's Wood
Acreage: 183.5
Miles of Trail: 4.2
Entrance: Off north side of Limekiln Road,
.2 mile west of Lonetown Road; through opening in stone wall.
Special note: Park east of SNET pole 1836 & 30 yards west
of entrance, on wide shoulder by stone wall. Private driveway-Do
Not Block.
Easiest
way to get there: Follow Lonetown Road past Putnam
Park Road, Limekiln Road is on the left.
What is
it like? A
hidden oasis. Once you get past the small swampy entrance,
the trails open up to offer some of the best trails I've walk
in Redding. The terrain is rocky with enough ups and downs
to get the heart rate pumping.
Tom's
Notes: The book suggests parking on Limekiln Road
on the shoulder. I find it much better to park on the street
off Ridgewood Drive, a quiet side road. The trailhead for
the Accessway is 100 yards east of Ridgewood Drive (toward
Rt. 53). The Boulder Trail exits onto the road opposite 117
Limekiln Road. The map implies that the Knoll Trail is an
out-and-back hike. In reality, it is actually a small loop
on the northern side of the AT&T right of way. This right
of way is not indicated on the map and should not be confused
with the overhead Connecticut Light and Power powerlines.
The Lariat trails turns up a hill to complete the loop back
to the Gneiss Trail. At this location, an unmarked trail continues
out to Limekiln Road. The turnoff is easy to miss, so keep
an eye on the blazes.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: John Todd Way is described in Book III as
being proposed. The road has been built and this change has
been reflected in the map for Book IV. The trail starting
at the end of John Todd Way, to the right of the gate for
house #15, does exist and is unmarked. Continuing straight
from John Todd Way, along the unmarked trail, and crossing
the AT&T right of way leads to Bald Rock in Bethel, which
is owned and managed by Bethel Public Utilities. As of this
writing, Bald Rock was marked with "No Trespassing signs."
Bogus Brook
Preserve
Acreage: 36
Miles of Trail: .27
Entrance:Chuck Wagon Road
Easiest
way to get there: From West Redding Station, take
Long Ridge Road toward Danbury, second road on the right is
Old Lantern Road, follow that to Chuck Wagon, park in the
turn-around.
Tom's
Notes: The Sidecut Trail begins opposite 30 Sidecut
Road. There is limited parking at the trailhead. More extensive
parking is available down the street at the West Redding train
station.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: There is a minor change to the map for the
Sidecut Trail.
Drummer
Lane Yovan Tract
Acreage: 13.79
Miles of Trail: .5
Entrance:Drummer Lane
Easiest
way to get there: Lonetown to Gallows Hill Road,
Drummer Lane is the first road on the right or Route 53 to
Gallows Hill Road, Drummer Lane is the third road on the left.
Park on the road near entrance.
Tom's
Notes: Park at the trailhead on Drummer Lane, which
is six tenths of a mile from Gallows Hill Road. The trailhead
is between houses 50 and 58 Drummer Lane. There is plenty
of parking on this street. The sign on the tree reads "Drummer
Trail."
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: None
Gallows
Hill Natural Area
Acreage: 72.9
Miles of Trail: 2.19
Entrance:Gallows Hill Road CL&P transmission
line.
Tom's
Notes: If you plan to hike only in this area, park
on Drummer Lane and enter through the Yovan Tract on the Drummer
Trail. There is no realistic parking on Gallows Hill Road.
You can also park at John Read Middle School and hike on the
Reeve Biggers and Dan Beard Trails, cross Gallows Hill Road
on foot, and enter the Gallows Hill area.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: None
Reeve Biggers
& Dan Beard Trails
Acreage: 153.5
Miles of Trail: 1.19
Entrance:Gallows Hill Road CL&P transmission
line. Opposite side of road.
Tom's
Notes: Park at John Read Middle School on Route
53. Walk south along the shoulder of Rt. 53 for one tenths
of a mile. Look for the trail leading off to the left. When
connecting to the Gallows Hill area, make a right onto Gallows
Hill. The entrance trail (the Drummer) will be on the left,
opposite 144 Gallows Hill Road.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: Bridgeport Hydraulic Land is now part of Centennial
Watershed State Forest.
Saugatuck
Falls Natural Area
Acreage: 312.4
Miles of Trail: 5.74
Entrance:Route 53, opposite of John Read
Middle School
Easiest way to get there: Route 53 to John
Read Middle School.
What is
it like? Perfect for families and nature lovers.
If you like the flats take the "old field" trail,
it gets hilly off the "falls trail"- take "hemlock
trail" to "knapp way" for a good work out.
Tom's
Notes: The best place to park is John Read Middle
School. There is parking available at the entrance near the
archery range off Diamond Hill Road. To access Stormfield
from this entrance, as you exit Saugatuck Falls, make a right
onto the gravel access road, make a right onto Diamond Hill
Road, and then a left onto the blue-blazed Moffett's Brook
Trail. All these distances will measure less than a tenth
of a mile.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: None.
The Saugaway
Acreage:
Miles of Trail: 4
Entrance:West Redding Fire House
Easiest way to get there: Route 53 to Umpawaug
Road, Fire house on the right about 150 yards up.
Stormfield
Acreage: 161
Miles of Trail: 4
Entrance:Fox Run Road
Easiest
way to get there: Route 53 to Diamond Hill(Mark Twain
Library/Waterfall), Fox Run is the second road on the left
at the peak of a decent incline. Trail head at the apex of
a sharp turn a 1/4 mile down the road.
What is
it like? If
you like "loops" this is a nice set of trails to
wander through. Whether you go left or right at the entrance
you will face a nice climb, at the top it levels out. I enjoy
the trail on the left "Halley's Comet" to "Harp
Trail" that takes you up to the "Halo" loop
that borders the property formerly owned by the Hermes family-
great for running. You won't see Mark Twain's estate- it was
lost to fire- nor the grounds - too many trees- but if you
ever get caught in a thunderstorn up there you'll understand
why Clemens changed the name from Innocents at Home to Stormfield.
Tom's
Notes: The only realistic parking area is off the
Fox Run Road entrance, which has perhaps six parking spaces.
There are scattered places along Rt. 53 to park. The "trail"
on the map connecting Stormfield to the Reservoir Trail and
the Ravine Trail is not really a trail. It involves walking
along the shoulder of Rt. 53.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: None.
The Peter
& Nell Fitzpatrick Preserve
Acreage: 5.5
Miles of Trail: .30
Entrance:Wayside Lane
Easiest
way to get there: Route 107 to Umpawaug Road, Wayside
Lanes' second entrance which happens to be the second road
on the right-the first road on the right is also Wayside so
be sure to note it. From the second Wayside Road entrance,
the trail is .3 mile on the left. Limited parking available.
Tom's
Notes: I incorporate this area into a hike from
Stormfield. There is virtually no parking on Wayside Lane,
only an occasional spot along the shoulder of this very narrow
road. If you want to hike from the trailhead on Wayside Lane,
enter the Fitzpatrick Preserve by walking down the shared
driveway to 28-34 Wayside Lane, which is one third of a mile
from Rt. 107. The driveway is on the right-hand side as you
come from Rt. 107. At the end of the driveway, walk left down
the slope into the preserve. Look for white trail blazes.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The mileage for the Link Trail is indicated
in Book IV.
Arthur
F. Brinckerhoff Nature Preserve
Acreage: 85.92
Miles of Trail: 3
Entrance:Beeholm Road
Easiest
way to get there: Route 107 to Beeholm Road. From
Georgetown Beeholm is the third road on the right. From the
Saugatuck River Beeholm is the fifth road on the left.
Tom's
Notes: This preserve offers the greatest parking
challenge among any Redding hiking area. There is simply no
useable parking area near either trailhead. The main trailhead
is located between 5 and 24 Beeholm Road, near Farview Farm
Road, a private road with no public parking. There is almost
no parking near this trailhead, just an isolated parking spot
here and there on the shoulder. Nearby roads are also too
narrow for parking. There is no parking at the trailhead on
Dorethy Road. The trail from this location is at the end of
the road with a wooden sign simply marked "Trail." I access
this area from the parking area off Dayton Road and hike to
the Brinckerhoff Preserve through Devil's Den.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: References to the Orange Trail connecting
the White Trail to Dorethy Road have been deleted from Book
IV. The trail still existed in February 2005.
Ravine
Trail & Tussock Bog
Acreage: 158.6
Miles of Trail: 1.4
Entrance:Off Deer Hill Road or Off Route
53
Easiest
way to get there:Deer Hill Road-Make a right or left
up Hill Road(Rt. 107) depending on your direction, Deer Hill
is the second road on the right, trail is .7 miles down the
road. Route 53-follow Route 53 toward the reservoir, the trail
is .2 miles from the Junction of 107 & 53, parking on
the right just over the water crossing.
Tom's
Notes: The trailhead begins on the left side of
the driveway at 56 Deer Hill Road. The road near this driveway
is the best place to park and offers plenty of spaces. There
is only a parking spot or two along Rt. 53. The trail exits
at a driveway near the causeway over the Saugatuck River on
Rt. 53. When connecting to the Reservoir Trail, turn right
on Rt. 53 and walk along the guardrail. The Reservoir Trail
begins just past the causeway.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The property is now called simply the Ravine
Trail. The former Bridgeport Hydraulic land is now part of
Centennial Watershed State Forest. References to the Tussock
Bog trail, blazed blue and only 0.2 miles long, have been
deleted from Book IV. The trail may still exist.
Reservoir
Trail
Acreage:
Miles of Trail: 4.9
Entrances:Multiple entrances off Route 53.
One opposite the Ravine Trail, one off Dayton Road, one at
the Redding/Weston line, one off Valley Forge Road, one off
Godfrey St., and one off Davis Hill Road.
Easiest
way to get there: The trail system follows the reservoir
and Route 53, therefore one can start at any point along the
trail. See above for parking.
Tom's
Notes: There are numerous small parking areas along
this trail. The best parking area is the gravel parking lot
at the corner of Rt. 53 and Valley Forge Road. From this parking
area, walk south on Valley Forge Road for two tenths of a
mile. The trail crosses the road at this point. The trails
are now marked with white blazes. Many of the aluminum "H"
signs mentioned in Book III are faded away. The trail system
is supposed to become part of the Blue Blaze Trail system
managed by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. If
so, then these blazes will be changed from white to blue.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The former Bridgeport Hydraulic land is now
part of Centennial Watershed State Forest. There are no references
to the "H" signs in Book IV.
Dayton
Road to Devil's Den
Acreage: 52(attaches to Weston's 1600-acres)
Miles of Trail: 3.2
Entrances: Dayton Road(Route 53 side)
Easiest
way to get there: Route 53 toward Weston, right onto
Tudor Road then right onto Dayton Road, trail head is on the
left, parking on the right. You have to walk up a driveway
to get to the trail.
What is
it like? What a View! Take Pinchbeck to the Great
Ledge for a great view of the reservoir in the winter months.
Be careful to make note of where you are in here- I've ended
up in Weston a couple times and had to backtrack out.
Tom's
Notes: The Bruzelius Trail as marked on the map
in Book III on page 65 no longer exists. The Redding Trail
on this same map in Book IIII now bears a sign on the trail
that reads "Bruzelius Trail, formerly the Redding Trail."
When hiking in this area, I strongly recommend getting a copy
of the Devil's Den map, available from the Devil's Den entrance
off Pent Road in Weston. The Devil's Den map has numerous
marker posts to help orient you to the map.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The updated name of the Bruzelius Trail is
reflected on the map in Book IV with any references to the
Redding Trail now deleted. However, the text description on
the page opposite the map in Book IV describes a two-acre
land trust property as abutting the Bruzelius Trail. This
property, marked R.L.T. on the map, in between the words "Dayton"
and "Road" lies to the left of where the original Bruzelius
Trail was located.
The map on page
67 in Book III indicates "To Bruzelius Trail." As stated in
the previous section, the Bruzelius Trail near marker post
61 no longer exists. This particular section of connecting
trail does not bring you directly to the "new" Bruzelius Trail.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV, This change has been properly reflected in
Book IV. References to Bridgeport Hydraulic Company property
have been removed from Book IV.
Lucius
Pond Ordway Preserve
Acreage: 1660
Miles of Trail: 20+
Entrances: Pent Road
Easiest
way to get there: Route 53 toward Weston, right onto
Godfrey Road then right onto Pent Road, register at the map
hut.
Tom's
Notes: This map is quite good. For the most recent
map, which is also in color, go to the trailhead for Devil's
Den, off Pent Road in Weston. Changes from Book III to Book
IV: None
Lonetown
Marsh Sanctuary
Acreage: 11
Miles of Trail: .5
Entrances: Lonetown Road, across from the
Elementary School
Easiest
way to get there: Route 107 to Elementary School.
From Bethel it will be on your right a half mile to three
quarter mile from the Redding Country Club. From Route 53
it will be a mile and a half on the left. Park at the school.
Tom's
Notes: Park at Redding Elementary School near the
south entrance. Cross Rt. 107 on the crosswalk. turn right
on the opposite side. The trail starts at an opening in the
stone wall, across from 29 Lonetown Road. The map does not
include the full trail. The trail extends north to Deacon
Abbott Lane, South, a dirt road where there is no parking.
Changes from Book III to Book IV: None
Marchant
Farm
Acreage: 9.6
Miles of Trail: .8
Entrances: Charlie Hill Road and Topstone
Road
Easiest
way to get there: To Charlie Hill road: From Route
53, turn onto Umpawaug Road and follow past the Fire House
and Red Schoolhouse, make a right onto Marchant Road, Charlie
Hill Road is the first road on the left. To Topstone: From
Route 53, turn onto Umpawaug Road and follow past the Fire
House and Red Schoolhouse, continue up Umpawaug, Topstone
is the second road on the right, park at Topstone Town Park
about a mile down the road on the left. The trail starts at
the turnaround on Charlie Hill Road. The Topstone trail starts
just up the hill from the parking lot at Topstone Park. After
parking, make right out of the parking lot, up the hill about
150 yards is the trail head on the left.
Tom's
Notes: Park on Charlie Hill Road. There is little
realistic parking on Topstone Road. If you park at the end
of Charlie Hill Road, there is a driveway at the turnaround
with a sign that says, "Private Road." As you face the sign,
the entrance is to the left with white blazes. The map does
not reflect the fact that there are three stream crossings
across Blackman's Pond Brook.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: There is a slight change to the map. In Book
III, the Blackman's Brook Trail connects to Marchant Road.
In Book IV, the trail intersects Charlie Hill Road shortly
before Marchant Road.
Huckleberry
Swamp *Currently Closed
Acreage: 54
Miles of Trail: 1
Entrances: Chestnut Woods Road and Topstone
Road
Easiest
way to get there:To Topstone: From Route 53, turn
onto Umpawaug Road and follow past the Fire House and Red
Schoolhouse, continue up Umpawaug, Topstone is the second
road on the right, park at Topstone Town Park about a mile
down the road on the left. To Chestnut Woods Road: From Route
53, turn onto Umpawaug Road and follow past the Fire House
and Red Schoolhouse, make a right onto Marchant Road, Chestnut
Woods Road is the second road on the left.The trail starts
at the beginning of the swamp(you'll know you went too far
if you cross over the swamp). The Topstone trail starts just
up the hill from the parking lot at Topstone Park. After parking,
make right out of the parking lot, up the hill about 150 yards
is the trail head on the left. Instead of taking a right to
Marchant Farms, go left.*Be careful! The boards are rotting
in some areas. Not a recommended walk for children.
Tom's
Notes: There is room for perhaps one car at the
Chestnut Woods Road entrance of this neglected property. The
boardwalk along the swamp has rotted and fallen into the water.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The map in Book IV properly reflects the fact
that the boardwalk no longer exists. There is a loop on the
red diamond trail within the Steichen Preserve that leads
from the Westway Connector back to Charlie Hill Road. However,
this trail is not shown on the map as a complete loop.
Windy Hill
Acreage: 56.9
Miles of Trail: .14
Entrances: Seventy Acres, Umpawaug Cemetery,
Firetower Road(Off Old Redding Road)
Easiest
way to get there: Seventy Acres-Route 107 or Route
53 to Umpawaug Road. From 107, Seventy Acres is the third
road on the left. From 53, Seventy Acres is the fifth road
on the right. Once on Seventy Acres, Indian Hill Road is the
first road on the left, park there. Make a left out of Indian
Hill, the trail head is 50-75 yards on the right. Umpawaug
Cemetery-Seventy Acres-Route 107 or Route 53 to Umpawaug Road,
it is the only cemetery on the road-you can't miss it. Trail
head is at the back of the cemetery. Firetower Road-Route
107 or Route 53 to Umpawaug Road, from 107 Old Redding Road
is the fourth road on the left, Firetower Road is .1 miles
up the road on the left. From 53 Old Redding Road is the fourth
road on the right.Firetower Road is .1 miles up the road on
the left.
Tom's
Notes: This property is best used as a link to
connect the Rock Lot and Scott Preserve with Topstone Park.
There is no parking on Old Redding Road and limited parking
on Seventy Acre Road. The best parking is on Mine Hill Road
or Windy Hill Road, off Seventy Acre Road. The trailhead for
the Swamp Trail is near 90 Seventy Acre Road. The trailhead
for the Dead End Trail is located on Windy Hill Road, about
one-tenth of a mile from Old Redding Road. Look for a small
sign that reads "Trail."
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: Windy Hill Road, listed as proposed on the
map in Book III, has been built. This change is indicated
in Book IV. A new subdivision has prompted a slight relocation
of The Dead End Trail near Windy Hill Road. The trailhead
is less than one-tenth of a mile from Old Redding Road and
is marked by a sign that says "Trail."
Topstone
Park
Acreage: 274
Miles of Trail: 3.69
Entrances: Topstone Road
Easiest
way to get there: From Route 53, turn onto Umpawaug
Road and follow past the Fire House and Red Schoolhouse, continue
up Umpawaug, Topstone is the second road on the right, park
at Topstone Town Park about a mile down the road on the left.
For full details
on the park contact the Redding
Park and Recreation Department, Mon
- Wed 8:30 am-5:30 pm Thurs 8:30am - 6:00pm. 203-938-2551.
Tom's
Notes: Park near the entrance in the off-season
where there are nine parking spaces. The gate is open during
swimming season. (Users must purchase a pass to swim). There
is no realistic parking on Old Redding Road or Topstone Road.
The trailhead off Old Redding Road is by 74 Old Redding Road.
There is adequate parking available on Topledge Road or White
Birch Road. The trailhead off Topledge Road is between 23
and 26 Topledge Road. The trailhead to the Saddleback Trail
off Old Redding Road is located near 140 Old Redding Road.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: The connection to Windy Hill is indicated
in Book IV with the beginnings of a trail.
The Rock
Lot & the Mary Evelyn Scott Nature Preserve
Acreage: 213.2
Miles of Trail: 4.48
Entrances: Seventy Acres, Peaceable Street
Easiest
way to get there: Seventy Acres-Route 107 or Route
53 to Umpawaug Road, from 107 Seventy Acres is the third road
on the left, from 53 Seventy Acres is the fifth road on the
right. Once on Seventy Acres, Mine Hill Road is the second
road on the right, park there, the trail is across the street.
Peaceable Street-Route 107 or Route 7 to Peaceable Street,
from 107 travel approximately 3/4 mile down Peaceable looking
for a CL&P power station as your reference point, once
you see the power station on the left, the Preserve is just
over the hill on the right. From 7 make a left or right onto
Portland Avenue(Bridge over Norwalk River), go straight over
RR tracks, up hill, make left on to Peaceable St. stay right,
go up steep hill, trail head is just up the road from a small
pond on left.
Tom's
Notes: The best parking is on Mine Hill Road, off
Seventy Acre Road. The trailhead is opposite Mine Hill Road.
There is parking at the trailhead on Peaceable Street.
Changes from Book
III to Book IV: Two trails in this property have new names
as compared to the ones in Book III. The Mountain Road Trail
has been renamed the Lincoln Selleck Trail. The Rock Trail
is now called Joan's Trail. These changes are reflected on
the map in Book IV. Book IV mentions a loop trail running
through the Meadow Ridge property near Georgetown. There is
no map for this trail. I have not hiked it and when I do,
I will add that information to this guide.
NEW:
View all of Southwestern
Connecticut's hiking trails, online! New from the Norwalk
River Watershed Association.
Other
Recreation Options in Redding, Connecticut (CT)
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