Nell’s Rock Trail

Shelton Lakes
Abbey Wright entrance

Length:  1.56 mile outer loop
0.62 mile half-loop

Easy mountain biking, hiking
Connects with other trails

This is an easy loop trail located off of Nell’s Rock Road, across from L’Hermitage Condominiums.  Ideal for a leisurely stroll, as an exercise loop, or for taking small children (there are Indian Caves.  This trail gets less traffic than other trails. 

Watch the white blazes very carefully on this trail!  In places there is a tangle of old wood roads and illegal ATV trails, so pay attention to the trail markings. 

For Kids: There are “Indian Caves” located about 100 yards uphill from the trail.  The caves are actually overhangs and crevises in a cliff face.  This cliff was reportedly used by Native Americans as a foundation for lean-tos. The cliff formed one wall and an overhang, while a second wall was constructed with poles and skins.  Have your kids bring a flashlight and a snack. Please be very cautious, however, because a fall from the rocks could result in serious injury!

Detailed trail description, going clockwise around the loop.

mileage	feature
0.00	Fence at Abbey Wright parking area on Nell’s Rock Road. Follow white blazes carefully – there are many trail junctions.
0.00	Turn left into woods 20 feet after fence
0.04	Access trail from L’Hermitage Condominiums comes in on left.  That access trail is more prominent than the main trail due to illegal ATV activity.  Go straight.
0.35	“T” Junction.  Nell’s Trail turns left.  [To make it a half-loop (the old Nell’s Rock Trail route), turn right and follow orange blazes for the Dominick connector trail to the return leg of Nell’s Rock Trail, and turn right.]
0.64	Junction with Dominick Trail, painted orange.  Continue straight.
0.72	Junction.  Turn right onto “Pagliaro Road” (property acquired in 2006).
0.93	Junction with powerlines.  Go under the electric tower, down a short hill, cross a small stream and turn right on the utility road.
0.99	Junction with Rec Path (yellow) coming from left.  Follow combination white and yellow blazes.
1.05	Turn right off of powerlines, passing under an electric tower, and go into the woods.
1.34	Junction at “Four Corners”.  Go straight.  Dominick (orange) crosses at right angles and the Rec Path (yellow) ends here.
1.56	Return to parking area on Nell’s Rock Road.

Background: Nell’s Rock Trail is located on a 56-acres section of Shelton Lakes known by the Conservation Commission as the “Abbey Wright”  piece.  This piece of land was acquired long before the other sections of Shelton Lakes. At one time, the city planned to use this property as a landfill, although the advent of new environmental regulations nixed that idea.  For a long time the land was not really used by the City except to dispose of old stumps and large concrete pipes. 

Nell’s Rock Trail was constructed in 1996 by Terry & Teresa Gallagher although the property was still rather junky. In 2004 and 2005 Royce York and fellow Scouts undertook an ambitious project to create a parking area at Nell’s Rock Road.  They cleared a large area and installed a split rail fence. The City Parks & Rec Department then removed the old concrete pipes, graded the parking area, and spread millings and woodchips.

In 2006 the trail was doubled in size after the City acquired the Pagliaro section of open space.

Directions: From Bridgeport Avenue near Wall-Mart and the car dealerships (Near exit 13 off Route 8): Drive towards downtown Shelton and take a left at the first light (Nell’s Rock Road). Follow Nell’s Rock Road until you pass L’Hermitage Condominiums on your right. The park is located across the street. Pull to the side of the road and park near the gated entrance or next to Chordas Pond. The gate is always closed, but the park is open to hikers.

From the High School: Take Shelton Avenue (Rt. 108) towards Huntington Center. Take a left and intersection with Nells Rock Road/Constitution Blvd. Pass the reservoir and Oak Valley Road on your right. When you see Chordas Pond on your left, pull off to the right near the entrance gate.