Posted By auntie on October 30, 2014

7.1 miles; mansfield, ct

this is one of the hikes on my to-do list, and i finally got to it. it turned into a much longer hike than i anticipated, and i’m not sure why. this was a very nice hike through both a state park and a state forest, with an interesting flood control project thrown in for good measure. i think the state deep map was not correct, and parts were much longer than it described. maybe. anyway, this one beat me up a bit.

beech foliage

there isn’t much foliage left on the trees now, except for the beech trees. in places they really light up the woods.

excellent blazing

the trails are really very well marked (if also rather creative), and they include a section of the blue-blazed nipmuck trail.

bridge over the fenton river

both this particular bridge and another one which both cross the fenton river are made from old iron trusses from other bridges demolished or removed from other places in the area.

bridge plaque

this is a second bridge over the river. this one was from the old cider mill road (wherever that is) bridge. this is so cool. i wish more public works departments did this sort of thing.

that is my car

part-way around the lake i looked out and could see the boat launch area where my car was parked. see arrow. what? isn’t it obvious?

flood control levee

this is a section of the flood control levee. this whole lake/levee system was originally created by the army corps of engineers, and the lake that the trails circle is a drinking water source.

i have added mansfield hollow state park to the hikefinder.

Categories: Connecticut, Walks and Hikes
Tags: 7–10 miles, CT, Mansfield CT