Hike #10: Roaring Brook Nature Center - Canton, CT

Date Hiked:  Saturday, February 20, 2016
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.81 miles
Weather: 55°F, sunny
Resources: Roaring Brook Nature Center, Trail Map
Highlights of the trip: waterfalls
Progress toward 2016 hiking goals:  10/52 hikes; 32.16/250 miles


After last weekend's below zero temperatures, I had to take advantage of today's nice weather and get out on a trail.  I didn't want to drive too far since I wasn't sure what I would find for trail conditions, but I wanted to do something I hadn't done in awhile.  Roaring Brook fit the bill.

I turned the map on its side to better match the GPS trail.

I have been to Roaring Brook many times over the years.  We have attended the Hobgoblin Fair and several concerts.  My kids enjoyed classes and camps here and have volunteered with friends to work in the Butterfly Garden.  We also came here to go hiking, just doing the Werner Pond Trail to begin with, the perfect length for little legs, and then expanding to include the trails on the other side of Bahre Corner Road.  It surprised me today, that there were still new things for me to discover.

I started at the nature center and headed counter-clockwise down the Werner Pond Trail (red).  The trail was covered with about an inch of slushy snow.  While not hard to hike in, it did slow me down.  My feet tended to slip as I pushed off.  I had brought my hiking poles with me and I was glad I did.  They provided some extra stability especially when going downhill or crossing over streams.

Along the Werner Pond Trail.

I took the Werner Pond Trail to Quarry Trail and crossed Bahre Corner Road.  I continued on the Quarry Trail in a clockwise direction and soon came to Jim Brook.  There were a lot of little waterfalls and even a small chasm.  I just wish I had brought my camera rather than having to rely on my phone for pictures.

Jim Brook

Note how the icicles are wider at the bottom.

I turned away from the brook and made my way past the old quarry and, after a moment of confusion, turned left onto the Orchard Trail (green) just before the stone wall.  This trail led south through the woods then turned north and crossed through an old orchard that seems now to be filled with weeds and oak saplings.  Upon entering the trees again, I came across a magnificent old Wolf Tree.  I love these big old trees that dwarf the younger trees around them.

I love this old Wolf Tree.

I came to another field and got confused.  I was looking for the Plantation Trail (gray), but looking at the trail map, I was thinking I needed to cross another field before turning left.  I think I see where I went wrong now.  The green trail took me to the rock wall closer to the Plantation Trail.  If I had just turned left when I came into that field, I would have ended up at the Plantation Trail.  No matter.  A little extra walking around the fields and I found the Plantation Trail.  I did that loop and came back to the field.

View upon leaving the Plantation Trail.

A little more confusion crossing the fields as I tried to find my way back to the yellow Quarry Trail.  I did eventually figure it out and came out on Bahre Corner Road again.

Back on the other side of the road, I decided to take the small Dish Mill Pond loop.  How had I never done this before?  The water flowing over Dish Mill Dam was stunning.  I have been to Roaring Brook with my kids countless times, but I have never been on this little trail.

I was out on the trail for almost two hours and didn't even go three miles!  I did stop to take a fair number of pictures, especially along the stream, but I think the slippery snow is what really slowed me down.   It felt great to be out on such a beautiful day and I'm looking forward to more hikes as the weather improves.