Length: About 1.7 mile, easy
Markings: Orange
Features: Hope Lake
Trailhead at John Dominick Drive (directions)
Trailhead at Shelton Avenue (directions)
Description: Dominick Trail was designed as a major north-south artery that connects all the various trails at Shelton Lakes together. Most of it is easy, although there is one small stretch that is steep enough to cause problems for bikers (we have had one serious injury). The trail begins at John Dominick Drive (off of Buddington Road) and ends at Shelton Avenue.
| Detailed Description – Revised May 2006 to reflect re-route near Buddington Road area. | ||
| 0.00 miles | Trailhead at end of John Dominick Drive. From the end of the cul de sac, head into woods and turn immediately right onto old woods road known as “Old Kings Highway” on the Tax Accessor’s maps. This may be a colonial road. Follow orange trail markings. |
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| 0.09 | Veer right at first split in road. (The left branch, aka “Pagliaro Road” will be blazed white as the new 2006 Nell’s Rock Trail extension. The white trail goes to the powerlines and the Rec Path). | |
| 0.17 | New routing: Turn left following roadbed onto “Backtax Alley”. Nell’s Rock Trail (white) goes straight (Dominick Trail originally went straight here). | |
| 0.41 | Junction with Nell’s Rock Trail, blazed white. The trails join together for a short time. | |
| 0.43 | “Four Corners” junction with Nells Rock Trail and the Rec Path (blazed yellow). Follow the orange blazes straight across. Pay attention to blazes carefully since this area is being abused by a neighborhood child with an ATV. | |
| 0.62 | “J Pond” bridge. A productive but tiny vernal pool that is stream fed. A good place to see amphibian eggs in the spring. Immediately after the pond the trail goes steeply up a hill to the old Ecklund property. | |
| 0.82 | Pass through old Ecklund estate. The photo shows what the house looked like before it burned down in the 1990’s. |  |
| 0.89 | Cross Oak Valley Road. Trail on opposite side is a bit to the right. | |
| 0.94 | Junction with Oak Valley Trail (blazed white) at the shore of Hope Lake (formerly Nell’s Rock Reservoir). Turn left. At this spot you can walk out onto the “Point” unless the water level is too high. A favorite spot to take a break. |  |
| 1.02 | Bridge at Hope Lake inlet. Turn right immediately after the bridge. Follow the shoreline. | |
| 1.37 | The dam. | |
| 1.46 | Junction with the Rec Path, blazed yellow. Turn left and follow orange and yellow blazes. The Rec Path soon goes off to the left, while Dominick Trail goes straight. | |
| 1.64 | Junction with Oak Valley Trail, blazed white. Go straight. | |
| 1.68 | Powerline/gasline corridor. Turn right towards Shelton Avenue (Rt 108). | |
| 1.73 | Trail ends at Shelton Avenue, Rt. 108. |
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