Narragansett Trail Section Exploration
Posted By auntie on February 6, 2019
2.44 miles; North Stonington, CT
Today’s hike was like deja vu all over again (see Pelloni, Phony Baloney). I had heard through the hiking grapevine that this section, closed since the Spring of 2016, might be re-opened, so I decided to take advantage of yet another lovely February day and go check. Um… not so much…
First Obstacle
This is the section of the Narragansett Trail that runs from Wintechog Hill Road to Ryder Road, and here is the trail notice, dated January 5, 2016, from the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, which maintains this trail as part of its 825-mile network of trails throughout the state:
The Narragansett Trail, between Wintechog Hill Rd and Route 2, is temporarily closed. Private landowners are clearing a large property for pastureland. The trail will be relocated and returned to the area when the work is complete. Please, under no circumstances, attempt to hike this trail section. Large land clearing equipment is being used and hikers need to stay far away. We look forward to re-establishing the Narragansett Trail on Wintechog Hill at the end of the summer and, we thank you good hikers, for your patience!
I decided to start from the Ryder Road end, risking certain death crossing Route 2. After going over the pedestrian bridge at Hewitt’s Pond (or Gallup Pond, depends on what map you use), this is what I was confronted with. You’re looking at an intimidating-looking single wire fence (electrified? maybe?) and the sign on the other side of the fencing that says “Trail Closure.” So, um, no, not open from this end.
Not Even a Sign
I am nothing if not, euphemistically, “persistent,” so I decided to drive around to the other end of the closed section. This trailhead is across Wintechog Hill Road from the North Stonington Transfer Station, i.e., the dump. You do not want to be hiking in this area when the wind is from the south. Ask me how I know this.
Anyway, this was at first glance also a bust, but just maybe 50 feet down the road, I saw freshly-painted blue blazes. “Huzzah!” I thought! “The trail IS reopened after all!”
Fresh Blazes! Newly-cleared Trail!
Sure enough, the trail was freshly blazed and newly-cleared and very nice (and yes, that’s Foxwoods Casino off in the distance). I say it was very nice, but only up to a point…
The Last Blaze
This was the last blaze I encountered. Beyond this was, yup, more intimidating-looking single wire fencing. There was a narrow strip outside the fence (mostly) and next to a rock wall that looked rather trail-like to me, so I decided to follow it and see if there were any more blazes anywhere. When I tell you I walked almost a mile, believe me, I am not exaggerating. Well, yes, maybe I am, but it sure SEEMED like a mile, and the fence just kept going and going. That was a crap-ton of fencing.
At first I thought, “Well, this must be the trail route, it’s just not blazed,” because I was following a distinct track. But slowly, ever so slowly, light dawned on Marble Head, because I realized that if IF that wire was electrified, they’d have to keep vegetation clear of it so it didn’t short out, which meant someone, either the landowner or the hired help, had to walk the entire fence line with a set of loppers regularly, keeping it clear, hence the established track. And the distinct and suddenly obvious lack of vegetation touching the wire.
Sigh. Okay, so no, the Trail section is not completely open. Or not “officially” open. I sent an email off to the CFPA to inquire about it, but I don’t really expect to hear back. They have 825 miles of trails, and must get tons of emails, and I doubt they have the staff to deal with it. But you guys will be the next to know if I do find out more, so stay tuned.
You can read more about the vast (825 miles at last count) network of blue-blazed trails throughout Connecticut at the website of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Be sure to check out the interactive map. As always, click on the image caption, above, for details about this hike and to download the GPS track(s), such as they are.
Oh, and word to the wise, there is what seems to be some sort of manure composting operation in the area between the old trail head and the new one on Wintechog Hill Road. I parked on the shoulder, and my car reeked so badly when I got home that my husband made me take it through a car wash before he let me park in the garage. And I don’t exactly blame him.
Thanks for posting this. A couple of weeks ago a friend and I hiked Lantern Hill and then from Ryder Road to Wyassup Lake, but we couldn’t figure out whether there was a connection between Lantern and Ryder. Now I’m glad we drove around.