Featured Activities

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Winter Family Hike

Family Hike at Belden Forest

West Mountain Trails Guide(2.5 mb)

Featured Winter Walk

A Simsbury Farm Bike Tour

Two Great Hikes for Viewing Fall Foliage

Great Pond State Forest

A “Great” Family Fall or Winter Hike

Winter Family Hike

By Fred Feibel

“In the Woods Is Perpetual Youth"
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Winter is a great season to enjoy the peace and solitude of some of Simsbury’s popular trails. The surroundings take on a very different look after the leaves have fallen and a chill has settled in. A light coating of fresh snow will allow you to catalogue the purposeful movements of the local wildlife much more easily than at any other time of year. Great Pond State Forest (Simsbury Land Trust Walkbook page 38) is flat with wide, easy to navigate trails in any weather. A trip around the pond takes less than an hour. Enjoy the rich green of the high pine canopy and the cathedral-like quiet that it exudes. Watch for year round winged residents searching for leftover seeds and berries. Appreciate the trees for their shapes and textures. Getting around is relatively easy. Great pond is conducive to skiing, snowshoeing and even skating if the ice is well frozen (be very careful with children and pets near the ice). Have fun!

Family Hike at Belden Forest

This summer as the sun beats down and your thoughts turn to seeking shade, pack up your family for a walk in the Belden Forest. Often ignored, though situated in the center of town, the Belden Forest hides long, easy to traverse trails under a high canopy of shady pines, oaks and beeches. You will find no rugged terrain or rocky outcroppings here, this hill was formed from gravel deposited on the edge of a shallow lake by glacial action 12000 years ago. The trees are tall with very little under-story which allows a cooling breeze to move trough the 42 acre forest. On your hike take time to note the forests numerous standing dead trees called snags. These snags are a complex ecosystem unto themselves where woodpeckers drill for pine beetles in fungi softened wood. Eventually cavities can form large enough for birds and small mammals to shelter in.

This easy family hike is suitable for all ages, and is approximately one mile long. To access the forest park one tenth of a mile down Beldenwood Road on the right and pick up the trail between two circular town open space markers. Hike out on the yellow trail and return on the blue trail. For additional information see page 48 in The Simsbury Walkbook.

Featured Winter Walk

The Ketchin Quarry

Location

On the east side of Quarry Road just north of Pharos Farm, park on the expanded shoulder of the road (marked by Simsbury Land Trust sign). Walk 30 feet up to a narrow landing to view the vertical stone ledges outlining the quarried area. Do not proceed into the quarry or attempt to climb the walls because of the danger of poor footing, vertical drops, and rock slides.

Distance

0.25 miles

Description



	Photograph by Sandy Hunt

Dating back at least to the early 1800s, this quarry was part of a nearby farm and provided stone for various small projects such as foundations, wells, and fences. In the early 1890s William Ketchin and his father, two of the area’s best known masons, purchased the quarry and made it into a sizable commercial venture.Over the next 25 years, stone from this quarry was used to build many of the Ensign Bickford buildings as well as the current Webster Bank, the Methodist Church, Central School,The Belden School (current Town Hall) and the Tariffville Fire Station, among others. Today the Simsbury Land Trust owns the quarry. Watch for informational signs along the way.

A Simsbury Farm Bike Tour

LOOP 1 - Weatogue – Simsbury Center (Approximately 7-1/2 miles)

LOOP 2 - Weatogue – West Simsbury (Approximately 16-1/2 miles)

LOOP 3 - Weatogue – West Granby – West Simsbury (Approximately 24-1/2 miles)

LOOP 1 - WEATOGUE—SIMSBURY CENTER (7-1/2 MILES)

START at Rosedale Farm, 25 East Weatogue Street
Rosedale Farm, 25 East Weatogue Street (produce and a variety of local fare, flowers, AWARD WINNING WINES, Fall hayrides to pumpkin patch, a CORN MAZE, CSA memberships) Owners: The Epstein Family*
Left from Rosedale Farm onto East Weatogue Street
Dewey’s Flower Farm,51 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 1.92 miles (produce, flowers, HOMEMADE PICKLES and RELISH) Owners:Charlene and Carl Dewey
Ryan Family Flower Farm, 64 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 2.18 miles (flowers) Owners: The Ryan Family
J.L. Hall Farm, 83 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 2.31 miles (produce (A MUST FOR FRESH ASPARAGUS AND STRAWBERRIES IN THE SPRING0, pumpkins). Owner: Joseph Hall, III
Left on Ferry Lane @ 2.5 miles
Left on Terry’s Plain Road @ 3.18 miles
Left on Tariffville Road (Route 315) @ 3.7 miles
Left on Hopmeadow Street (Route 10) @ 4 miles and hop onto bike path (the Farmington Valley Greenway) on eastern side of Route 10, going South.**
Stay on Greenway as it runs North along the eastern side of Iron Horse Boulevard to the end. (As you pass Simsbury Town Shops on your right, cross Iron Horse and take a side road right to enter the Simsbury town center area. Enjoy ice cream at J Fosters or October Farms, pizza at Little City, coffee @ Starbucks, dinner on the patio at Apollo’s, Sunday breakfast or brunch on the deck @ Café Luna)
Left on Drake Hill Road @ 6 miles (cross Drake Hill to pick up bike path on North side)
Right on Old Bridge Road and cross Flower Bridge
Right on Riverside Road after the Flower Bridge @ 6.10 miles
Right on East Weatogue Road @ 7 miles
END at Rosedale Farm @ 7.66 miles

* Through partnership with the Simsbury Land Trust, Rosedale Farm is now permanently protected from development. Enjoy wine tasting in the farm store, and stroll the marked SLT walking path through the farm fields to the beautiful Farmington River.

** For a nice side trip, before taking the Greenway South at this point, go right and follow the Greenway North to its end point just past Town Farm Dairy (on the right), and also visit Town Farm Dairy (73 Wolcott Road) before doubling back to the intersection of Routes 315 and 10 (3.5 miles round trip)

LOOP 2 - WEATOGUE—WEST SIMSBURY (16-1/2 MILES)

START at Rosedale Farm, 25 East Weatogue Street
Rosedale Farm, 25 East Weatogue Street (produce and a variety of local fare, flowers, AWARD WINNING WINES, Fall hayrides to pumpkin patch, a CORN MAZE, CSA memberships). Owners: The Epstein Family*
Left from Rosedale Farm onto East Weatogue Street.
Dewey’s Flower Farm, 51 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 1.92 miles (produce, flowers, HOMEMADE PICKLES and RELISH) Owners:Charlene and Carl Dewey
Ryan Family Flower Farm, 64 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 2.18 miles (flowers) Owners:The Ryan Family
J.L. Hall Farm, 83 Terry’s Plain Road, on Left @ 2.31 miles (produce (A MUST FOR FRESH STRAWBERRIES AND FRESH ASPARAGUS IN THE SPRING), pumpkins) Owner: Joseph Hall, III
Left on Ferry Lane @ 2.5 miles
Left on Terry’s Plain Road @ 3.18 miles
Left on Tariffville Road (Route 315) @ 3.70 miles
Right on Hopmeadow Street (Route 10) @ 4 miles**
Left on Hoskins Road @ 4.14 miles
Through Stop Sign @ Ely Street to continue on Hoskins
Right on County Road at the fork @ 4.8 miles
Left on Holcomb @ 6.23 miles (Continue straight through stop signs at Barndoor Hills and Firetown Rds.)
Left on Old Farms Road @ 8.18 miles
George Hall Farm, 180 Old Farms Road, on Left @ 8.75 miles (ORGANIC PRODUCE, CSA MEMBERSHIPS, farm stand, eggs from HAPPY CHICKENS, and George) Owner: George Hall
Right onto Hedgehog Road @ 9.3 miles
Left on Westledge /Farms Village Road (Route 309) @ 10.55 miles
Right onto Sugar Loaf Cut @ 10.65 miles. (Continue straight through stop sign onto West Mountain.)
Right on Shingle Mill Road @ 11.05 miles to Flamig Farm
Flamig Farm, 7 Shingle Mill Road (EGGS, PETTING ZOO, Fall hayrides to pumpkin patch, HALLOWEEN HAYRIDES, Awesome SUMMER CAMP (ask any kid)) Owners:Nevin and Julie Christenson
Left from Shingle Mill Road back onto West Mountain Road
Right at Stop Sign @ 11.25 miles to stay on West Mountain Road
Right on Westledge/Farms Village Road (Route 309) @ 11.45 miles
Tulmeadow Farm, 255 Farms Village Road, on Right @ 19.6 miles (plants, farm store with produce, meat, dairy, and local products, HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, ICE CREAM STAND) Owners: The Tuller Family***
Right from Tulmeadow Farm back onto Farms Village Road
Right on Stratton Brook Road @ 11.85 miles
Left and onto bike path @ 12.65 miles @ the T-intersection with Town Forest Road on right.
Stay on bike path through Stratton Brook Park and follow as it turns right (east) to its end point at the intersection of Bushy Hill Road and West Street.
Right on West Street @ 13.85 miles (Cross West Street to continue on dedicated bike path on North side.)
Left on Hopmeadow Street (Route 10) @ 14.6 miles
Right on Drake Hill Road @ 14.7 miles (Stay on dedicated bike path as it turns on Old Bridge Road, and cross the Flower Bridge.)
Right on Riverside Road after the Flower Bridge, @ 14.9 miles
Right on East Weatogue Street @ 15.8 miles
END at Rosedale Farm @ 16.4 miles

** For a nice side trip, before taking a right on Route 10, pick up the bike path (the Farmington valley Greenway) on the right and follow the Greenway North to its end point just past Town Farm Dairy (to the right of the Greenway), and also visit Town Farm Dairy (73 Wolcott Road) before doubling back to the intersection of Routes 315 and 10 (3.5 miles round trip)

*** Through partnership with the Simsbury Land Trust, much of Tulmeadow Farm is now permanently protected from development. (An SLT fundraising campaign is underway to protect another portion of the property, including the beautiful triangle at Sugar Loaf Cut.) Stroll the marked SLT walking trail along Tulmeadow’s farm road, and enjoy spectacular views of the hills of West Simsbury.

LOOP 3 - WEATOGUE—WEST GRANBY—WEST SIMSBURY (24-1/2 MILES)

START atRosedale Farm, 25 East Weatogue Street
Rosedale Farm, 25 East Weatogue Street (produce, a variety of local fare, flowers, AWARD WINNING WINES, Fall hayrides to pumpkin patch, CORN MAZE, CSA memberships) Owners:The Epstein Family*
Left from Rosedale Farm onto East Weatogue Street.
Dewey’s Flower Farm, 51 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 1.92 miles (produce, flowers, HOMEMADE PICKLES and RELISH) Owners:Charlene and Carl Dewey
Ryan Family Flower Farm, 64 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 2.18 miles (flowers) Owners:The Ryan Family
J.L. Hall Farm, 83 Terry’s Plain Road, @ 2.31 miles (produce (A MUST FOR FRESH ASPARAGUS AND STRAWBERRIES IN THE SPRING), pumpkins). Owner:Joseph Hall, III
Left on Ferry Lane @ 2.5 miles
Left on Terry’s Plain Road @ 3.18 miles
Left on Tariffville Road (Route 315) @ 3.70 miles
Right on Hopmeadow Street (Route 10) @ 4 miles and merge onto bike path (the Farmington Valley Greenway) going North
Right on Wolcott Road @ 5.15 miles (A sign for Wolcott Woods will be across the street)
Town Farm Dairy, 73 Wolcott Road, @5.45 miles (milk, and coming soon, yogurt) Town Farm Dairy is operated on a nonprofit basis
Right back onto Wolcott Road from Town Farm Dairy
Right on Westcott @ 6.0 miles
Right on Hopmeadow Street (Route 10) @ 6.25 miles
Left on Buttles Road @ 7.0 miles
Left on Canton Road @ 7.9 miles
Right on County Road @ 8.49 miles. Continue on County Road as it turns into Simsbury Road, and pass Holcomb, Barndoor Hills and Firetown Roads, continuing into West Granby
The Garlic Farm, 76 Simsbury Road on Right @ 11.75 miles (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, GARLIC, ONIONS, SHALLOTS, and Gary and Barbara) Owners: Barbara and Gary Cirullo/Miller
Left from Garlic Farm and back onto Simsbury Road
Holcomb Farm Environmental Center and CSA, 11-113 Simsbury Road, on Right @ 11.95 miles (CSA memberships, numerous hiking and walking trails, many leading into McLean Game Refuge) Holcomb is operated on a nonprofit basis
Right on Firetown Road @ 12.75 miles (Enjoy a moderate uphill climb on this beautiful shaded road)
Right onto Old Farms Road @ 15.3 miles
George Hall Farm, 180 Old Farms Road, on Left @ 16.8 miles (ORGANIC PRODUCE, CSA MEMBERSHIPS, farm stand, eggs from HAPPY CHICKENS, and George) Owner: George Hall**
Right on Hedgehog Road @ 17.35 miles
Left on Westledge /Farms Village Road (Route 309) @ 18.6 miles
Right on Sugar Loaf Cut @ 18.7 miles. Continue straight through stop sign onto West Mountain Road
Right on Shingle Mill Road @ 19.1 miles to Flamig Farm
Flamig Farm, 7 Shingle Mill Road (EGGS, PETTING ZOO, Fall hayrides to pumpkin patch, HALLOWEEN HAYRIDES, Awesome SUMMER CAMP (ask any kid)) Owners: Nevin and Julie Christenson
Left from Shingle Mill Road back onto West Mountain Road
Right @ Stop Sign @ 19.3miles (to stay on West Mountain Road)
Right on Farms Village Road (Route 309) @19.5 miles
Tulmeadow Farm, 255 Farms Village Road, on Right @ 19.6 miles (farm store with produce, meat, dairy, and local products, HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, ICE CREAM STAND, and PLANTS) Owners: The Tuller Family ***
Right from Tulmeadow Farm back onto Farms Village Road
Right on Stratton Brook Road @ 19.9 miles
Left and onto bike path @ 20.7 miles @ the T-intersection with Town Forest Road on right).
Stay on bike path through Stratton Brook Park and follow as it turns right (east) and to its end point at the intersection of Bushy Hill Road and West Street.
Right on West Street @ 22 miles (Cross West Street to continue on dedicated bike path on North side.)
Left on Hopmeadow Street (Route 10) @ 22.75 miles
Right on Drake Hill @ 22.85 miles (Stay on dedicated bike path as it turns right on Old Bridge Road, and cross the Flower Bridge.)
Right on Riverside Road after the Flower Bridge, @ 23.05 miles
Right on East Weatogue Street@ 23.95 miles
END at Rosedale Farm @ 24.6 miles

** With George Hall’s CSA membership, you pay for your share at the beginning of the year and then weekly during the growing season, collect your share of the farm’s fresh, organic vegetables, pick flowers, and chat with George. What a deal!

*** Through partnership with the Simsbury Land Trust, much of Tulmeadow Farm is now permanently protected from development. (An SLT fundraising campaign is underway to protect another portion of the property, including the beautiful triangle at Sugar Loaf Cut.) Have an ice cream cone and stroll the marked SLT walking trail along Tulmeadow’s farm road, to enjoy spectacular views of the hills of West Simsbury.

Two Great Hikes for Viewing Fall Foliage

By Fred Feibel

There is no more inspiring time of year than autumn to get out on the trail and work out those summer kinks. The air is cool and crisp and the plants and animals around us are picking up the pace, instinctively answering the first calls

of winter. Best of all, foliage season is upon us and few people live in a better town in which to enjoy it!

The classic foliage hike in this area is along the Talcott Mountain ridge (Simsbury Land Trust Walkbook pages 70 - 71) and shouldn’t be missed, but…sometimes I find it more gratifying to sacrifice a little scale for a whole lot of privacy. If you like this idea, try hiking along the Simsbury Land Trust’s blue trail on the eastern ridge of West Mountain (Walkbook pages 16 - 17). The trail can be accessed from the end of North Saddle Ridge Drive or north of the parking lot at The Masters School. There are numerous rocky vistas with sweeping views east across Simsbury, the color particularly vibrant in the Simsbury Land Trust’s bog at the base of the mountain (can you find Great Pond?). You will observe numerous species of birds migrating through and fattening up for winter. The topography of the ridge is more barren in spots than the valley, with many trees showing the effects of low water and high winds. Finally, the best thing about this ridgeline—it’s ours forever!

Great Pond State Forest

A “Great” Family Fall or Winter Hike

By Fred Feibel, Trustee

Great Pond State Forest consists of a large, managed white pine forest with numerous interconnected trails and a shallow 30- acre pond centrally. It offers varied habitats and numerous wildlife species. The pond was formed in a depression left by a huge melting ice block at the end of the last ice age. Islands of vegetation actually float on the surface of the pond.

The flat, open trails of Great Pond offer easy hiking through the changing seasons. In the fall numerous migrating waterfowl make the pond their temporary home. One may see grebes, mergansers and goldeneyes feeding there. The sand plain / pine forest is home to many species of land birds year round. In the winter enjoy a trip around the pond on snowshoes or cross country skis crossing through a thicket of large rhododendrons on the northeastern edge. The tall pines of the forest offer a sense of quiet unique to this spot which is especially charming with a new coat of snow.

(Editor’s note: Great Pond State Forest is located off of Great Pond Road, between Laurel Lane and Old Farms Road. Additional information and a map can be found in The Walkbook, pages 38 – 39, or on the SLTwebsite.)