Rise
Hike #121
New England Trail: MA Section #1
Rising Corner Road (Southwick, MA) to Feeding Hills Road/Route 57 (Agawam, MA)
Hike Distance: 4.5 Miles
Section Distance: 2.2 Miles
Date Hiked: 1/3/2015
Date Published: 1/3/2015
Hike #121
New England Trail: MA Section #1
Rising Corner Road (Southwick, MA) to Feeding Hills Road/Route 57 (Agawam, MA)
Hike Distance: 4.5 Miles
Section Distance: 2.2 Miles
Date Hiked: 1/3/2015
Date Published: 1/3/2015
For my second hike of 2015,
I decided to try something a little different from the first hike. I traded in the generally flat terrain for a
ridge walk and, instead of a loop hike, I decided on an out-and-back. I had to have some routine maintenance done
on my car in Enfield, so I opted for a trip along the New England Trail.
From newenglandtrail.org:
The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) is a 215-mile hiking trail route that has been in existence for over half a century. The NET travels through 41 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and is comprised primarily of the historic Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock (M-M-M) Trail systems. The NET travels through classic New England landscape features: long-distance vistas with rural towns as a backdrop, agrarian lands, un-fragmented forests, and large river valleys. The trail also travels through colonial historical landmarks and highlights a range of diverse ecosystems and natural resources: mountain ridges and summits, forested glades, wetlands and vernal pools, lakes, streams and waterfalls.
In January of 2014, on Hike # 80, I re-hiked the northern-most section of the Metacomet Trail because the trail was moved from Warnertown Road to the woods of Suffield Mountain. On that hike, I turned around after crossing Rising Corner Road, just north of the CT/MA state line. My plan for this hike was to pick up the trail where I left off on that day.
To reach the trailhead from Hartford:
Follow I-91 north to CT-20 West. Turn right on CT-187 North then Left on CT-168 West. Bear right on Warnertown Road then turn right on Rising Corner Road after crossing the CT/MA state line. There is a parking area on the north side of Rising Corner Road.
On the morning of this hike, in addition to the vehicle maintenance I had scheduled, I also wanted to get a haircut. So, after heading out to Tolland for a 7am barber visit, I made my way over to Enfield for my service appointment at 8am and to the trail from there. I arrived at the trailhead shortly after 9am. Sadly, my morning appointments made it impossible to bring Roscoe for this hike.
I started by heading due north, following white blazes between two private properties…
From newenglandtrail.org:
The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) is a 215-mile hiking trail route that has been in existence for over half a century. The NET travels through 41 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and is comprised primarily of the historic Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock (M-M-M) Trail systems. The NET travels through classic New England landscape features: long-distance vistas with rural towns as a backdrop, agrarian lands, un-fragmented forests, and large river valleys. The trail also travels through colonial historical landmarks and highlights a range of diverse ecosystems and natural resources: mountain ridges and summits, forested glades, wetlands and vernal pools, lakes, streams and waterfalls.
In January of 2014, on Hike # 80, I re-hiked the northern-most section of the Metacomet Trail because the trail was moved from Warnertown Road to the woods of Suffield Mountain. On that hike, I turned around after crossing Rising Corner Road, just north of the CT/MA state line. My plan for this hike was to pick up the trail where I left off on that day.
To reach the trailhead from Hartford:
Follow I-91 north to CT-20 West. Turn right on CT-187 North then Left on CT-168 West. Bear right on Warnertown Road then turn right on Rising Corner Road after crossing the CT/MA state line. There is a parking area on the north side of Rising Corner Road.
On the morning of this hike, in addition to the vehicle maintenance I had scheduled, I also wanted to get a haircut. So, after heading out to Tolland for a 7am barber visit, I made my way over to Enfield for my service appointment at 8am and to the trail from there. I arrived at the trailhead shortly after 9am. Sadly, my morning appointments made it impossible to bring Roscoe for this hike.
I started by heading due north, following white blazes between two private properties…
Approximately 2/10 of a mile
in, shortly before crossing a swamp on a rather lengthy bog bridge, I passed a
trail register…
In the picture above, behind
the trail register, you can see the beginning of the bog bridge. Not only is this thing long, but I’m not sure
if it is 100% safe. There were several
places where a wrong step or a broken 2x4 (almost every single one of them creaked
under my “Christmas Cookie Weight”) would send me for a muddy swim. Minor safety concerns aside, this was a
really cool addition to the hike and you shouldn’t let it prevent you from
enjoying this section of trail.
On the other side of swamp, the trail gains almost 200 feet in elevation in about 1/3 of a mile. Hikers setting out on the New England Trail for the first time might find this climb challenging. Hikers who frequent the New England Trail will be used to this kind of climb. Having hiked this ridgeline before, I was immediately reminded of my Metacomet hikes…and felt like I was home again. I smiled under my balaclava and thought about how much I had missed hiking along the Metacomet Ridge.
Roughly 1.0 mile in, I came to a gas pipeline cut and enjoyed the western view in the picture at the top of this recap. I’m not exactly sure which ridge that is in the distance. I think it is too close to be the Berkshires, so I’m going to guess it is the Tunxis…or whatever the Tunxis ridge is called once it crosses the state line. There is also a view to the east from this spot, but the western view is the better one in my opinion.
Approximately 1.8 miles in, after a couple of turns (first west then north again), I passed a sign advising I was about to enter Private Property…
On the other side of swamp, the trail gains almost 200 feet in elevation in about 1/3 of a mile. Hikers setting out on the New England Trail for the first time might find this climb challenging. Hikers who frequent the New England Trail will be used to this kind of climb. Having hiked this ridgeline before, I was immediately reminded of my Metacomet hikes…and felt like I was home again. I smiled under my balaclava and thought about how much I had missed hiking along the Metacomet Ridge.
Roughly 1.0 mile in, I came to a gas pipeline cut and enjoyed the western view in the picture at the top of this recap. I’m not exactly sure which ridge that is in the distance. I think it is too close to be the Berkshires, so I’m going to guess it is the Tunxis…or whatever the Tunxis ridge is called once it crosses the state line. There is also a view to the east from this spot, but the western view is the better one in my opinion.
Approximately 1.8 miles in, after a couple of turns (first west then north again), I passed a sign advising I was about to enter Private Property…
Before reaching the private property sign, I’d
seen several archery stands just off trail.
Upon seeing the sign, I assumed the land was owned by whatever
archery club had set up the stands. I’m
still not certain who owns the land.
But, to my surprise, the trail eventually brought me to the side yard of
someone’s house. The blazes go right
through their yard and up their driveway.
Thank you, property owner, for allowing this section of the New England
Trail to exist.
As I approached the Feeding Hills Road / Route 57 crossing, I passed the front gate of the Agawam Bowman Club, which explained the archery stands I’d seen earlier…
As I approached the Feeding Hills Road / Route 57 crossing, I passed the front gate of the Agawam Bowman Club, which explained the archery stands I’d seen earlier…
Roughly 2.2 miles in, after
passing the entrance to the bowman club, I crossed Feeding Hills Road / Route
57…
I’m somewhat familiar with crossing
Route 57. One of the bike trails I ride
in the summer also crosses a section of this road, about 3 miles to the west of
where I was standing. I’ve probably
crossed this road on my bike a dozen times.
Now on the north side of Route 57, I took some more pictures…
Now on the north side of Route 57, I took some more pictures…
In the photo on the left,
behind the Southwick sign, is a parking area for the next section. That is where I plan to park on my next New
England Trail hike. For this hike, I’d
reached my pre-determined turn-around point.
So, I crossed back over Route 57 and started the journey back to my car.
This was a good hike. It was great to get out and do a different kind of hike before I head back to the relatively flat terrain in the southeast corner of Connecticut. But, as it always is, it was strange hiking without Roscoe. There is something about having him by my side that takes hiking to an even better place.
Until next time…
This was a good hike. It was great to get out and do a different kind of hike before I head back to the relatively flat terrain in the southeast corner of Connecticut. But, as it always is, it was strange hiking without Roscoe. There is something about having him by my side that takes hiking to an even better place.
Until next time…
For a map of this hike, along with elevation data, please click here.
Total 2015 Distance: 9.0 miles
(491.0 to Goal)