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Mallory Preserve- Sherman
The ability to hike year-round in CT is one of the advantages of living in this area. Once the snow falls and actually stays on the ground, having a pair of snowshoes makes getting out onto the snowy trail or open field a little easier. If you’re fortunate to have a pair, there is a good chance you’ve taken a walk in them at Happy Landing, Burr Farm, or Williams Park. Those places are all great options and I would encourage you to check out the lesser known part of the red trail at Williams Park that leads down to Merwin Brook. Hiking back up to the fields will definitely get your heart pumping.
Looking for a change of scenery today, I ended up in Sherman at the Mallory Preserve which is a property protected by the Northwest CT Land Conservancy. I chose this location for three reasons: 1) I had never been before, 2) I knew there would be ample parking behind the Town Center buildings near the IGA parking lot on route 39, and 3) It is a short trail.
When I started out the sky was blue, the temperature was 22 degrees, and the ground was covered with 4 inches of fresh snow from the day before. I forgot my poles in the car which ultimately was not a problem since there isn’t much elevation change on this trail. The kiosk and entrance to the preserve are located right behind the Sherman package store in the plaza and are easy to find.
As soon as I entered the trail I came upon a 400 foot long wetland boardwalk that seemed to invite me into the woods. The loop trail begins at the end of the boardwalk and I chose to go counterclockwise. The layer of fresh snow on the ground, hanging onto the trees, and covering the stone walls made me feel like I had discovered a special spot that I had all to myself. The only noise I could hear was the chirping of some birds until I got close to the Sawmill Brook which was slowly flowing around snow covered boulders and under patches of ice.
Shortly into the trail, I came upon a sturdy and newly constructed bridge over the brook that connects the Mallory Preserve property to a portion of the Schneckenburger Preserve. A sign posted on the bridge recommends not hiking in that area as the trails have not been marked yet but will be at some point this year. Before I knew it, I had completed the 1 mile loop in about 30 minutes and hadn’t come across another person. I regret not turning around and walking the loop counterclockwise, just to extend my quiet walk in the woods. Although it was only a short trip out today, I felt refreshed and excited about what I had found. I look forward to going back next year for a longer walk that will include the Schneckenburger Preserve.
Overall, the Mallory Preserve is a well-marked, easy, and short walk or snowshoe in the woods. It is a good option for pets and people of all ages. You can find the trail map at https://ctland.org/our_trail/mallory-schneckenburger-preserve/.
Mallory Preserve- Sherman
The ability to hike year-round in CT is one of the advantages of living in this area. Once the snow falls and actually stays on the ground, having a pair of snowshoes makes getting out onto the snowy trail or open field a little easier. If you’re fortunate to have a pair, there is a good chance you’ve taken a walk in them at Happy Landing, Burr Farm, or Williams Park. Those places are all great options and I would encourage you to check out the lesser known part of the red trail at Williams Park that leads down to Merwin Brook. Hiking back up to the fields will definitely get your heart pumping.
Looking for a change of scenery today, I ended up in Sherman at the Mallory Preserve which is a property protected by the Northwest CT Land Conservancy. I chose this location for three reasons: 1) I had never been before, 2) I knew there would be ample parking behind the Town Center buildings near the IGA parking lot on route 39, and 3) It is a short trail.
When I started out the sky was blue, the temperature was 22 degrees, and the ground was covered with 4 inches of fresh snow from the day before. I forgot my poles in the car which ultimately was not a problem since there isn’t much elevation change on this trail. The kiosk and entrance to the preserve are located right behind the Sherman package store in the plaza and are easy to find.
As soon as I entered the trail I came upon a 400 foot long wetland boardwalk that seemed to invite me into the woods. The loop trail begins at the end of the boardwalk and I chose to go counterclockwise. The layer of fresh snow on the ground, hanging onto the trees, and covering the stone walls made me feel like I had discovered a special spot that I had all to myself. The only noise I could hear was the chirping of some birds until I got close to the Sawmill Brook which was slowly flowing around snow covered boulders and under patches of ice.
Shortly into the trail, I came upon a sturdy and newly constructed bridge over the brook that connects the Mallory Preserve property to a portion of the Schneckenburger Preserve. A sign posted on the bridge recommends not hiking in that area as the trails have not been marked yet but will be at some point this year. Before I knew it, I had completed the 1 mile loop in about 30 minutes and hadn’t come across another person. I regret not turning around and walking the loop counterclockwise, just to extend my quiet walk in the woods. Although it was only a short trip out today, I felt refreshed and excited about what I had found. I look forward to going back next year for a longer walk that will include the Schneckenburger Preserve.
Overall, the Mallory Preserve is a well-marked, easy, and short walk or snowshoe in the woods. It is a good option for pets and people of all ages. You can find the trail map at https://ctland.org/our_trail/mallory-schneckenburger-preserve/.