|
TRAIL MAP:
Click to enlarge
|
Tahmore Conservation Loop
Shelton Land Conservation Trust
East Village & Indian Well region
Length: 0.92 mi. outer loop;
0.45 mi east half-loop;
0.67 mi. west half-loop.
Rated: Moderate
T rail markings: Blue blaze with yellow dot;
red blaze for short connector trail to make half-loops; blue blaze
(solid) for nearby Paugussett Trail.
 The combination blue & yellow trail markings signify that this loop is
an offshoot of the Paugussett Trail, part of the 700 miles of
blue-blazed trails maintained by the
Connecticut
Forest and Parks Association (CFPA). A short
detour from the Tahmore Loop onto the Paugussett Trail is recommended
for the views of the Housatonic River (seen best when the leaves
are off the trees).
The
property is owned by the Shelton
Land Conservation Trust, and it abuts Indian Well State Park to the
east. In places where the trail runs just in from the property
line there are some unfortunate views
of multiple "No Trespassing" signs, fences, and backyards, along with
the occasional barking dog. On the plus side, this trail has less hiking
traffic on it than others in Shelton and so is a good place to get away
from it all or to do some nature study. This trail is not
recommended for bikes and they are prohibited on the Paugussett Trail.
The trail skirts around a rocky hilltop and some moderate climbing is
involved. The woods are rather open, and the path is not
always obvious, so it is important to be able to find and follow the
trail markings. In addition, fallen oak leaves can make the
hillsides slick. The trail is therefore rated moderate.
Directions:
From
East Village Road, turn east onto Village Drive (located just north of
the East Village Park ballfields) and then left onto Tahmore Place.
Go all the way to the end of the cul-de-sac. The trail starts
there at a break in a stone wall (you should see orange and black
"Wildlife Safety Zone" signs).
| Detailed
Trail Description - clockwise around loop. |
| 0.0 mi. |
Parking at
end of Tahmore Place. Walk directly into woods and turn
left onto trail blazed blue & yellow. Follow blazes very
carefully! |
| 0.17 |
Short connector trail to the Paugussett Trail
goes straight ahead, while loop takes a sharp right. Easy to
miss this one. To go to the Housatonic River overlook,
follow the connector trail 70 feet and turn right onto the
well-worn Paugussett Trail. Views are another 300 feet. |
 |
| 0.35 |
Descend into ravine; Red Trail junction on
right. Trail continues along side of hill overlooking cow
pasture. |
| 0.57 |
Cedar Knoll. Good wildlife habitat in old field
and thickets to the west. The trail takes a sharp right
and the rest of the hike is mostly uphill. |
| 0.65 |
Bridge. |
| 0.92 |
Tahmore Place. |
|
