Report Type: TM Report
Trail Name: West Rock Ridge SP
Town: Hamden
Trail Conditions: Good
Observations/Information: The new section of the Red Trail at West Rock Ridge State Park is complete. The trail is open to use and I encourage people to go use it, so we can get some feet and wheels firming up the trail surface. This section moves the Red Trail from the open field by Farm Brook Reservoir into the woods, giving a path that can be blazed and maintained. Total distance is 0.4 miles. Total construction time is 130 hours from April to September 2015! I think a snail could have crawled that distance in less time. The most direct access is via the Red-White Trail from the Hill Street parking lot, which has a new fence, thanks to the state workers.
If you find any brush on the trail or any changes to the blazes, please let me know. The trail crosses an access road to a private driveway and this past week I found brush on the trail by the private driveway. I have had past issues with this homeowner (whose house and land are hundreds of feet away) and I suspect he is the person who placed the brush there. Thanks to all who helped make this project possible.
When riding from the gravel road near the Farm Brook Reservoir dam, the trail crosses a stone wall at the top of a short hill. From that direction, the trail DROPS over the wall and makes a sharp turn. Be careful riding down this on a bike. Just past this point, the trail descends a sandy slope that is slippery with loose sand. I hope to get some gravel on the wall to smooth out the descend and also firm up the sandy spot.
The complete details with lots of pictures are on the park website I created at
http://westrocktrails.blogspot.com/p/reclaiming-native-forest-from.html
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak123[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
How did you use the trail? Hiking/Walking
Trails Ridden: Red
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 85
Approximate Distance (Miles): 0.4
Image 1: Red Tr. N. top of stone wall descent, 9-15.jpg
Image 2: Red Tr. SB by stone wall cross, 8-15.jpg
Image Description(s)/Instructions: These pictures show two perspectives on the stone wall crossing near Farm Brook Reservoir.
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