Lyme’s Open Space Coordinator has announced that on Tuesday mornings, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., she and other explorers will be leading “Tuesday Treks” – weekly walks through different Town preserves. The trek leaders will alternate each week between Sue Cope, the environmental director of the Lyme Land Conservation Trust; Wendy Hill, Lyme’s Open Space Coordinator; and Kristina White, executive director of the land trust.
All walks are moderately easy unless noted. Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle and to dress appropriately for the weather. Space in each trek is limited to 5 people and reservations are required. (To reserve a spot, contact the appropriate trek leader; see below.) Participants must wear masks in the parking lot at the start and end of each trek; masks can be removed during the walks as long as social distancing is maintained. In the event of inclement weather, the treks are canceled.
Tuesday Trek Schedule
(subject to change)
October 27 – Ravine Trail – Kristina White
- Directions: Meet at Ravine Trail parking lot on Mitchell Hill Road. A more arduous hike of roughly 2+ miles through a primeval hollow passing through laurel groves and by a beaver meadow.
- Contact: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
November 3 – Hartman Park – Wendy Hill
- Directions: Meet at main parking lot on Gungy Road. Hartman Park has a lot to offer, from archeological ruins to natural beauty and, of course, beavers. 1.5 to 2 miles.
- Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
November 10 – Banningwood Preserve – Sue Cope
- Directions: Meet at Banningwood Preserve parking lot off Town Street for a moderate 1.5-mile walk that takes you through woodland wetlands, flood plain areas, field and upland forest.
- Contact: stewardship@lymelandtrust.org
November 17 – Pleasant Valley Preserve – Kristina White
- Directions: Meet at Macintosh Road parking lot. Easy 1.5- to 2-mile hike through fields and woodlands.
- Contact: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
November 24 – Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve – Wendy Hill
- Directions: Meet at the Brush Hill Road parking lot. Beautiful stone structures, stone walls and an old abandoned quarry offer clues to past human activity. We will walk along the old Platt Road to the Selden cemetery – about 2 miles.
- Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
December 1 – Eno Preserve – Sue Cope
- Directions: Meet at the parking lot across from the preserve next to the cemetery. Walk through the mature hardwood forest of majestic poplars and historic stone walls.
- Contact: stewardship@lymelandtrust.org
December 8 – Walbridge Woodlands/Young Preserve – Kristine White
- Directions: Park at Young Preserve. A longer hike of more than 3 miles that will take you on ridges, laurel groves, old wood roads and past stone outcroppings.
- Contact: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
December 15 – Jewett Preserve – Wendy Hill
- Directions: Enjoy a section of the red trail ridge walk with beautiful overlooks – about 1.5 miles.
- Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
December 22 – Chestnut Hill Preserve – Sue Cope
- Directions: Meet at trailhead on Sterling Hill Rd. Easy 1-mile walk that takes you into Nehantic State Forest.
- Contact: stewardship@lymelandtrust.org
December 29 – Plimpton Preserve – Kristina White
- Directions: Meet at the trailhead on Sterling City Road. 1.75-mile loop with short walk on road to return to car. Parts are strenuous but worth the view from the overlook.
- Contact: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org