First Saturday Walks for 2009 Announced
SHORELINE GREENWAY TRAIL “FIRST SATURDAY” MONTHLY WALKS MAY THROUGH DECEMBER 2009
Join our popular First Saturday monthly walks along existing and proposed SGT trails, and other nearby trails for ideas, with SGT team leaders from Madison, Guilford, Branford & East Haven.
•Open to the public. Just show up. Leashed dogs welcome. Rain or shine!
•Wear sturdy shoes. Bring sunscreen and bug spray when advisable.
•For any changes, check www.shorelinegreenwaytrail.org
ALL WALKS BEGIN AT 10 AM. FOLLOW “SGT” PARKING SIGNS
MAY 2, 10am – WILDFLOWERS AT ROCKLAND PRESERVE IN NORTH MADISON
Explore a new area as guests of Rockland Preserve. Educator Heather Crawford will lead us through the magnificent 600 acre landscape, explain the geology and ecology of the area and its’ history of charcoal making. Prime wildflower season!. 1.5 miles, 2 hours – and somewhat hilly.
Directions: From the Route 80 circle, take Route 79 north for c. 4 miles. Just past County Road and a hikers’ sign on the right, look on left for stone pillars on either side of Dorset Lane. Left onto Dorset .7 mile to Devonshire Lane to Renée’s Way. MEET at parking lot at the end.
JUNE 6, 10am – CT TRAILS DAY ‘MYSTERY TRAIL WALK” IN BRANFORD
We will officially open the second completed section of trail in Branford, unveil our new Trailhead sign, then hike from our first completed Trail section off Birch Road, to potential new trail area. Clues for “Can you find?” nature game along the way. Bottled water provided. 2 hours round trip. Less than 2 miles. Easy, flat terrain. Muddy areas if rain.
Directions: MEET at Branford Day Care Center, corner of Birch Road & Pine Orchard Road. Parking lot next to school.
JULY 4th, 10am – GUILFORD GREEN TO TOWN MARINA WITH GUILFORD PARKS & RECREATION
Walk or bike – Join our family-friendly Holiday stroll from Guilford Community Center across the historic Guilford green, south along Whitfield Street to Marina. Enjoy views of Grass Island and Guilford’s harbor before return past historic Whitfield Museum, reputed to be the oldest stone house in America. 3 miles, 1.5 hours, on sidewalks. Bikers on the road.
Directions: MEET at Guilford Community Center, 32 Church Street. From I-95 exit 58, turn south onto Rt 77, to light at Route 1, go straight ½ block to Community Center on right. Enter parking lot just past building entrance. Info: Larry 453-3994 or Parks & Rec 453-8068.
AUGUST 1, 10am – EAST HAVEN BRADFORD PRESERVE & FARM RIVER STATE PARK
Board member Michael Gambardella will lead us thru picturesque woods to an overview of the Bradford Preserve tidal wetlands, along our recently constructed 1200 ft. trail at DC Moore School into Farm River State Park, peaceful & pristine. Easy, pleasant walk has one small steep area in the Park. One mile, one hour.
Directions: MEET at DC Moore School on Elliot Street, the western parking lot. From Elliot St, first right. From 142 west, right onto Mansfield Grove Rd, right onto Hoop Pole Road to School, second parking lot is left, just past the school.
SEPTEMBER 5, 10am – HAMMONASSET BEACH STATE PARK IN MADISON
Return to Hammonasset to view what we have accomplished with the magnificent grant from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and many other donors. Trailmeister Perry Rianhard will show us his handiwork and tell us about plans ahead. The hike will be 2.5 miles and relatively flat.
Directions: Exit 62, south thru Route 1 light into Park. Before the tollbooths, turn left onto road at break in the fence. Park & MEET at Hammonasset Beach State Park maintenance building lot.
OCTOBER 3, 10am BRANFORD – SHORT BEACH “SURPRISE” HIKE
Explore with veteran trailblazer Chet Blomquist on a route from Alps Road at Katie Joe Lane to the Farm River. Details and directions will be posted on www.shorelinegreenwaytrail.org.
NOVEMBER 7, 10am – COSEY BEACH AVENUE TRAIL IN EAST HAVEN
We will explore the proposed beachfront trail route on Cosey Beach Avenue, walking west to Caroline Creek, then back along Cosey Beach Ave., passing our town beach with views of Long Island Sound, then to Seaview Ave. area, for a beautiful overview of the Bradford Preserve tidal wetlands. Approx. 2 miles. Time: 1.5 hr. Easy walk – paved area.
Directions: MEET at East Haven Town Beach parking lot. From Short Beach Rd. (142)-proceed to intersection of Coe and Hemingway. Take a left at the light onto Coe Ave. continue straight on Coe Ave. for c. one mile. Turn right into parking lot before the town beach. From I-95 take exit 52 North High St. Left at the end of the exit. Go straight three traffic lights. Left onto Main Street. Right at first traffic light – Hemingway Avenue. Straight on Hemingway – becomes Coe Ave. at Short Beach Rd. Continue straight for approximately one mile. Turn right into parking lot before the town beach.
DECEMBER 5, 10am – GUILFORD GOSS PROPERTY, BEAR HOUSE HILL ROAD
Explore the 600-acre parcel newly acquired by the Town, near the Madison border. George Goss will lead a short 1-mile walk followed by an optional 3-mile hike. We will traverse rolling fields to the site of Indian encampments and historic Foote cemetery. Option 2 continues along a 3-mile loop over fields, past stonewalls and ponds to Goss homestead. Terrain varied, rough in places. 1 to 2 hr hikes.
Directions: I-95 South, Exit 59, at end of ramp turn right onto Goose Lane, take 1st left just past Yale New Haven Shoreline Medical Center onto Clapboard Hill Rd (if I-95 North, Exit 59, turn left, then right onto Clapboard Hill Rd, etc) for c. 1 mile. Left onto Duck Hole Rd (dirt road) 8/10 mile past red barns to gray saltbox house, Goss homestead, on left. Park and MEET in field on right across from house. For more information, call Larry Dowler at 453-3994.
Posted: Apr 26, 07:00 PM
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