Past Events
Sunday after Thanksgiving Hike – Hartman Park Red Trail
Date: Sun November 27, 2016Time: 1:00 - 3:30ish pm
Place: Meet at Hartman Park Entrance Parking Lot
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust Board member, and Lyme open Space Coordinator, will lead a walk on the Red Trail in Hartman Park. Work off your Thanksgiving overindulgence on this beautiful moderate trail that winds along craggy ridges strewn with boulders. The route will follow a portion of the Goodwin Trail.
The Goodwin Trail, overseen by the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee, is a an extended trail system crossing four towns: East Haddam, Salem, Lyme and East Lyme. In the future, the goal is to connect to other existing trail systems in surrounding towns. Dr. Richard H. Goodwin (1911-2007) was president of the Nature Conservancy from 1956 to 1958 and again from 1964 to 1966. The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, was started in 1951, and Dr. Goodwin was one of its founders. Since then, it has protected 15 million acres of land in the United States and 102 million acres in 29 other countries.
The entire walk is about 3.5 miles. We will have a snack break on the bald nubble about halfway through. Bring something to drink.
Meet at the of Hartman Park Entrance Parking Lot on Gungy Road in Lyme.
Rain cancels.
Directions: The parking lot is on Gungy Road about 1.5 miles north of the 4-way stop signs at the intersection of Beaverbrook Road, Grassy Hill Road, and Gungy Road.
Registration is appreciated: openspace@townlyme.org
Trailblazers – Walk at Gillette Castle
Date: Tue November 22, 2016Time: 9:30 am
Place: Gillette Castle, Meet at the Hadlyme boat launch parking lot
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for this moderately easy walk in Lyme and East Haddam, at one of the State’s most popular and beautiful parks. Everyone is welcome. We will walk up to the castle from the Hadlyme boat launch parking lot where we will meet. It is a steady but not too steep climb with beautiful views.
Part of this weekâs hike will explore the rail trail at Gillette Castle State Park which follows the path of the narrow gauge train William Gillette once owned. The path has beautiful views of the Connecticut River with wooden trestles and a tunnel. The hike will be led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Open Space Coordinator for the Town of Lyme. The hike is about 2 miles long.
Rain Cancels.
Directions: Rte 156 N to end. Turn left onto Rte 82. At Hadlyme Four Corners, continue straight onto Rte 148 for 1.5 miles. Turn right into the parking lot.
photo by Wendolyn Hill
CANCELLED Trailblazers – Walk at Gillette Castle
Date: Tue November 15, 2016Time: 9:30 am
Place: Gillette Castle, Meet at the Hadlyme boat launch parking lot
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
This walk has been postponed until November 22 due to the weather.
Join us for this moderately easy walk in Lyme and East Haddam, at one of the State’s most popular and beautiful parks. Everyone is welcome. We will walk up to the castle from the Hadlyme boat launch parking lot where we will meet. It is a steady but not too steep climb with beautiful views.
Part of this weekâs hike will explore the rail trail at Gillette Castle State Park which follows the path of the narrow gauge train William Gillette once owned. The path has beautiful views of the Connecticut River with wooden trestles and a tunnel. The hike will be led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Open Space Coordinator for the Town of Lyme. The hike is about 2 miles long.
Rain Cancels.
Directions: Rte 156 N to end. Turn left onto Rte 82. At Hadlyme Four Corners, continue straight onto Rte 148 for 1.5 miles. Turn right into the parking lot.
photo by Wendolyn Hill
Trailblazers walk- Overlook at Pleasant Valley Preserve
Date: Tue November 8, 2016Time: 9:30 am
Place: Meet at Pleasant Valley Parking Lot, MacIntosh Rd., Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for this moderate walk in the woods. We will be walking up an incline to get to the overlook at Pleasant Valley. Everyone is welcome.
This weekâs hike will explore Pleasant Valley Preserve, led by Gary and Carol Weed, Lyme Land Trust volunteers. The hike is a little more than 2.5 miles. This is the time of year to get a beautiful unobstructed view from the overlook at Pleasant Valley.
Rain cancels.
Directions: Rt. 156 north to left on Macintosh Rd. (across from Beaver Brook Road.) The parking area is about 1/4Â mile on the right.
Trailblazers walk- Jewett Preserve
Date: Tue November 1, 2016Time: 9:30 am
Place: Meet at Jewett Preserve Cemetery Entrance
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for this moderate walk in the woods at the Jewett Preserve in Lyme.
This weekâs hike will explore the Jewett Preserve, led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator. The hike is a about 2.5 miles.
Rain cancels.
Directions: Rt. 156 north to left on Mt. Archer Road. Travel about 1.25 miles. The Jewett Cemetery Entrance is on the right.
Trailblazers – Walk at Selden Creek Preserve
Date: Tue October 25, 2016Time: 9:30 am
Place: Selden Creek Preserve, Joshuatown Road, Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for this moderately easy (a few hills) walk in the woods. We will walk to an impressive overlook of Selden Creek and marshes with the CT River in the background. Everyone is welcome.
This weekâs hike will explore the Selden Creek Preserve led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Open Space Coordinator for the Town of Lyme. The hike is about 2 miles long with an option to walk longer. We will meet at the Selden Creek Preserve entrance on Joshuatown Road in Lyme.
Rain Cancels.
Directions: Rte 156 North to left on Joshuatown Road (about 5 miles from I-95); travel about 4 miles to park entrance on the left.
photo by Wendolyn Hill
Trailblazers walk- John Lohmann CT River Preserve in Old Lyme
Date: Tue October 18, 2016Time: 9:30 am
Place: Park along the road by 33 Coult Lane, Old Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for this moderately easy walk. Everyone is welcome. This preserve has dramatic rocky outcrops along Lords Cove in the CT River.
This weekâs hike will explore John Lohmann CT River Preserve in Old Lyme led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator. The walk is about 2 miles. When we arrive at the point, you will want to linger. The preserve affords magnificent views of Lords Cove and the Connecticut River. Bring a snack to enjoy while you take in the view.
Rain cancels.
Directions: From I-95, take Rte 156 north 2.1 miles to Coult Lane. The property is accessed from a trailhead located at 33 Coult Lane. You may park along Coult Lane but out of consideration for the residents, please do not block driveways or park directly across from driveways on the opposite side of the road.
Eightmile RiverFest 2016
Date: Sat October 15, 2016Time: 1- 4pm
Place: Devil's Hopyard State Park--Pavilion Area
Contact Email: pyoung@eightmileriver.org
Presenter: Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee
Please join us for a free family oriented event sponsored every two years by the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee in celebration of the Eightmile River.
Bluegrass Music- Eight Mile River Band (of course)
Great Food- chowder, chili, apples, cider, kettle corn and other treats.
Great Fun- Wildlife Cartooning, Birds of Prey, Native Reptiles and more family activities.
Great Information-Displays sponsored by local and
state organizations including the Lyme Land Conservation Trust.
Rain cancels. Check eightmileriver.org for updates.
Please join us for a free family oriented event sponsored every two years by the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee in celebration of the Eightmile River.
Bluegrass Music- Eight Mile River Band (of course)
Great Food- chowder, chili, apples, cider, kettle corn and other treats.
Great Fun- Wildlife Cartooning, Birds of Prey, Native Reptiles and more family activities.
Great Information-Displays sponsored by local and
state organizations including the Lyme Land Conservation Trust.
Rain cancels. Check eightmileriver.org for updates.
Trailblazers – Mt Archer Ruins
Date: Tue October 11, 2016Time: 9:30 am
Place: Meet at Mt Archer Preserve Parking Lot, Mt Archer Road, Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Join us for this moderately easy walk in the woods. We will also do some light maintenance if it is needed. In April a group of volunteers cleared Japanese barberry, other invasives and debris from the ruins on the White Trail. We will visit the site. Parker Lord recently mowed it again. Bring heavy duty work gloves and light-weight clippers in case we see some invasive plants that need to be removed from the walls and edges. Everyone is welcome.
This weekâs hike will explore the White and Yellow Trail in Mt Archer Woods, led by Wendolyn Hill, Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator and Lyme Land Trust board member. The hike is a little more than 2 miles. Meet at the Mt Archer Woods Parking Lot.
Rain cancels.
Directions: Rt. 156 north to Mt. Archer Road. Left onto Mt Archer Road. Go one mile on Mt Archer Road (bear left up the big hill). The parking lot is down a long driveway on the left, the 4th long driveway after you start up the hill. Look for the stone post marker that has âMt Archer Woods Town of Lymeâ written on it. It faces the road, so you canât read it until you are on top of it. (If you get to 100 Mt. Archer Road, you have gone too far).
Trailblazer Walk- Banningwood Preserve
Date: Tue October 4, 2016Time: 9:30am
Place: Banningwood Preserve, Town Street (Rte. 82), Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
This walk is cancelled due to weather.
Join us for a moderately easy walk at Banningwood Preserve on Tuesday, September 27 at 9:30 am. Everyone is welcome.
We will explore Banningwood Preserve led by Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Land Trust board member and Town of Lyme Open Space Coordinator. The hike is a about 2 miles. Banningwood is a beautiful preserve with meadows, mature forests, cedar groves, and dramatic rock outcroppings. Roaring Brook meanders through it.
Boy Scouts from Troop 26 led by Eagle Candidate Brendan Wright recently built a camp and picnic site which includes a tent platform, two picnic tables with benches, and a fire pit with benches. We will check this out. There are a few rocky areas so donât forget to bring your walking stick!
Photo by Humphrey Tyler, Eagle Scout project at Banningwood 2016.
Rain cancels.
Directions: The Preserve parking area is less than 1/4 mile north of Hadlyme Four Corners on Town Street (Rte 82). Look for the sign. From Rt. 156 West (going north): At the end of Rte. 156, turn left onto Rte 82. At the flashing red stoplight (Hadlyme Four Corners), turn right to continue on Rte 82W (going north). The parking area is less than 1/4 mile on the right.
