Posted By auntie on June 12, 2014

6 miles, north stonington, ct

this was the second of two guided hikes this sunday of connecticut trails weekend. this time we began and ended at the wyassup lake boat launch in north stonington. it’s really a figure-8 hike, as we walked out on an old woods road, crossed the narragansett trail, and then picked it up again after crossing a beaver dam. then we crossed the dirt road on the way back on the narragansett trail.

we saw a lot of native american stonework, and also some massive beaver dam activity.

horseshoe

here is our guide showing us a horseshoe enclosure. from what i’ve read, these were used to keep track of the solstices. i didn’t happen to notice the orientation of this one.

foundation

this is a foundation or cellar hole, probably much more recent than native american, and generally speaking, native american constructions are not so rectilinear.

vehicles

this is basically why i don’t hike in the pachaug state forest too often. it is the only state forest in connecticut where motorized vehicles are allowed. a group of 3 dirt bikes came by us during this hike, and one almost ran over a dog. to be fair, this was not on the section of the hike that is the blue-blazed narragansett hiking trail; it was on a dirt road or forest road. still, it was noisy, smelly, and intrusive. all around unpleasant, for me at least. i presume they were having fun.

beaver lodge

this is the big beaver pond on the narragansett trail. i have blogged about this pond before. there are several lodges on it.

blue flag iris

i’ve never been here in the right season to catch this, though. this is massive stand of blue flag iris in bloom on the pond. lovely sight.

i have added this loop hike to the hikefinder.

Categories: Rhode Island, Walks and Hikes
Tags: 5–7 miles, North Stonington CT