Saturday & Sunday • June 1 & 2 2013 CONNECTICUT Trails Day WEEKEND 259 Events Statewide www.ctwoodlands.org Spreading the Wealth Connecticut has a great wealth of outdoor assets, including parts of two National Scenic Trails (Appalachian Trail & New England Trail), a National Historic Trail (Washington-Rocham- beau Revolutionary Route), four National Recreation Trails, the 825-mile CFPA Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System, other local trails, forests, parks, preserves, the Long Island Sound, lakes & rivers, and generous, environmentally conscious property owners who allow access to their properties for suitable outdoor activities! Our goal this year was to share this wealth by in- volving all of Connecticut’s 169 towns in Trails Day Weekend events. As of this Celebrate writing, we had succeeded in receiving event submis- sions involving 152 of those 100 YEARS towns in 259 events. That’s pretty good, but we hope of Connecticut State Parks to get a few more before 2013 is the 100th anniversary of the State Park the big weekend and do even better next year! System, which has grown to include 107 parks Connecticut Trails Day including iconic places such as Gillette Castle State (CTD), coordinated by the Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, and Sleeping nonprofit Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA), has Giant State Park. Take advantage of these precious been a major part of American Hiking Society’s National Trails treasures and participate in one of the many CT Day (NTD) since it was established in 1993. Over the years, the Trails Day Weekend events happening at a state Connecticut celebration has grown to take place over the entire park (or forest)—PARKING FEES WILL BE WAIVED. weekend rather than just the first Saturday in June. Our state The success of this celebration would not be possible usually provides 5-10% of the total number of NTD events and without support from the Connecticut Department we expect to be in that range again this year. of Energy & Environmental Protection. For more As always, strong participation by CFPA, Appalachian information about our state parks and forests, visit Mountain Club (AMC), Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), local and regional land www.ct.gov/dep/stateparks. trusts, town agencies, outdoors-oriented businesses, volunteers, and our great sponsors is a key to the success of CTD. Jen Benner, CFPA’s communications associate, worked tirelessly to coordinate the effort and create/edit this booklet. The rest of the By attending today’s CFPA staff, especially Terri Peters and James Little, and volunteer event, I confirm Join the Great Connecticut Trails Day Committee members Hans DePold, Paul that I have read Park Pursuit Mei, Dave Boone, and Greg Clarke all worked hard to solicit and understand the This multi-week out- events, drum up support, and help prepare this booklet. We Connecticut Trails Day door family adventure also give special thanks to the many volunteer trail workers who event description. connects Connecticut again this year put in thousands of hours maintaining our trails I verify that I, and children and their for use during Trails Day Weekend and throughout the year! any minor children families with the won- Happy Hiking, accompanying me, ders of our state parks am physically able – Chuck Sack, Connecticut Trails Day Committee Chairman and forests. It’s a five to participate in this event. I release the week contest that will have you Connecticut Forest decoding clues and participating Get Connecticut Trails Day in fun activities and challenges. & Park Association Weekend event updates and (CFPA) and the event It’s too early to reveal which leader(s) from any Connecticut Trails Day Weekend additional listings by liability that may arise events will be part of the Great scanning here or visiting from our participation Park Pursuit. Check out www. www.ctwoodlands.org. in this event. nochildleftinside.org for details. 2 • www.facebook.com/CTForestandParkAssociation www.ctwoodlands.org • 3 Explore Connecticut Want to stay informed about other CFPA events? Sign up for our e-newsletter at and Our National Trails! www.ctwoodlands.org or text CFPA to 22828 to join the mailing list. North Canaan Colebrook Hartland Suffield Somers Union Salisbury Stafford Norfolk Enfield Thompson Granby Woodstock Canaan East Barkhamsted Granby Windsor Winchester Locks Ellington Putnam East Windsor Willington Ashford Eastford Tolland Simsbury Windsor Pomfret Sharon Canton Cornwall Goshen New Hartford Bloomfield Torrington South Windsor Vernon Killingly Avon Mansfield Chaplin Brooklyn Coventry Hampton Manchester West Hartford East Hartford Bolton Harwinton Burlington Hartford Warren Litchfield Kent Andover Farmington Windham Sterling Wethersfield Scotland Canterbury Plainfield Morris Glastonbury Columbia Bristol Newington Thomaston PlainvilleNew Britain Plymouth Hebron Washington Rocky Hill Bethlehem Marlborough Lebanon Sprague Watertown Berlin Cromwell Franklin New Milford Southington Wolcott Portland Lisbon Griswold Voluntown East Hampton Colchester Sherman Roxbury Woodbury Waterbury Middletown Bozrah Norwich Meriden Middlebury Preston Bridgewater Middlefield Cheshire Prospect New Fairfield Naugatuck Salem Durham East Haddam Southbury North Stonington Brookfield Haddam Montville Wallingford Beacon Falls Ledyard Oxford Bethany Danbury Newtown Chester Hamden Lyme Bethel Seymour North Haven Killingworth Waterford Stonington North Branford Deep River East Lyme Groton Woodbridge Madison Essex New London Monroe Ansonia Derby Guilford Old Lyme Redding Shelton New Haven Westbrook Ridgefield East Haven Clinton Old Saybrook Branford Orange West Haven Easton Trumbull Weston Milford Wilton Stratford Bridgeport Fairfield Appalachian Trail (AT) - National Scenic Trail New Canaan This footpath extends approximately 2,181 miles from Westport Maine to Georgia. Nearly 52 miles of the trail pass Norwalk Stamford through the northwestern corner of Connecticut, Darien Greenwich which is maintained by the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club. To learn more about the AT, visit Connecticut Forest & Park Association has been www.appalachiantrail.org. the state coordinator for the Connecticut Trails New England Trail (NET) - National Scenic Trail Day Weekend, part of the American Hiking This trail includes the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails Society’s National Trails Day, since 1993. This map in Connecticut and the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in gives an overview of where the 2013 events are Massachusetts, and winds over 200 miles of rugged, taking place (in the towns highlighted in green). classic New England landscape. The trail is jointly Participating in these events is a great way expe- managed by the National Park Service, Connecticut Forest & Park rience the many trails around the state, including Association, and Appalachian Mountain Club. To learn more about the three National Trails highlighted here. the NET, visit www.newenglandtrail.org. Connecticut is also fortunate to have four National Recreation Trails (NRT): Air Line State Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) - Park Trail (South), Quinebaug River Water Trail, National Historic Trail Sleeping Giant Trail System, and Willimantic This route encompasses 600 miles of Revolutionary War River Water Trail. An NRT is designated by the history, winding from Newport, Rhode Island through U.S. Secretary of Interior or the Secretary of Connecticut and eight other states to Yorktown, Virginia. Agriculture to recognize exemplary trails of local Many organizations, including the National Park Service, and state, and regional significance as part of America’s town, and historical groups, helped to establish the route and con- national system of trails. To learn more visit, tinue to develop its management plan. To learn more about the W3R, www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails. visit www.w3r-us.org. 4 • www.facebook.com/CTForestandParkAssociation www.ctwoodlands.org • 5 7 Ways to Prepare for a Fun Trails Day Outing Choose the right event for you. Long-distance hikes are great 1 for those who exercise daily, while short, flat adventures are better The Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail for less active individuals and/or small children. System has been generously Follow the leader. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the event maintained by Connecticut Forest 2 to sign in. Inform the leader if you have any medical conditions & Park Association volunteers (allergies, etc.) that might become an issue while out. Always stay since it was established in 1929. with the leader and group. Notably the largest trail network in the state, totaling over 825 Wear appropriate gear. Above-ankle boots (or sturdy shoes) miles, it is often recognized by 3 and socks are recommended for most events. Bike participants the blue-oval signage and symbol. must wear an approved helmet. Paddle participants must wear an approved personal flotation device. If you would like to give back to the trails and Pack some essentials. Bring plenty of water and high-energy become a volunteer, visit www.ctwoodlands. 4 snacks or lunch. Having sunscreen and an insect repellent of your org/trail-work. For more information on CFPA’s choice is a good idea too. Carry a cell phone for emergencies, but Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails, check out the leave it in the off mode. two companion guides, Connecticut Use the loo. Depending on the event’s location, bathroom facilities Walk Book East and Connecticut Walk Book West, which offer detailed trail might not be available.