Shelton Trails

All levels of difficulty

From very easy…

…to challenging

~ Happy Trails ~

About the Trails Trail skills Trail Games

Multi-Use Paths

Pedestrians

Street Bikes

Baby Carriages

Wheelchairs

Paved or crushed stone

Shelton Riverwalk 0.3 miles

0.3 miles long(0.6 mi. loop)

Shelton Lakes Recreation Path4.5 miles – under construction

Downtown Shelton to Huntington Center4.5 miles in various stages of completion

Rec Path

Walking TrailsEasy to Moderate

Hiking

Mountain Biking

Footing often uneven, but not too steep

Shelton Lakes Greenway

10 miles of trails

Oak Valley Trail

Dominick Trail

Rec Path

Turkey Trot Trail

Nells Rock Trail

Riverview Park Trail(0.6 mi. one way)

Shelton’s Oldest Park

Downtown Shelton

• History

•Scenic Views

• Playground

“Bluff Walk” behind what is now the large baseball field,

Fort Hill: Pootatucks build a fort here in 1673

Constitution Oak is a descendent of the Charter Oak

Gristmill Trail (0.3 miles)

Fishing

Picnic Bench

Historic Mill Dam

Gristmill Trail

Gristmill Trail

BoehmPond Trails

(loop and spur 1 mi.)

Boehm Pond Trail

West Shelton – FAR Mill Street (not Mill Street)

Huckleberries

Huckleberries

Nicholdale Farm(Loops totaling about 2 miles)

Shelton Land Conservation Trust

Fields & Forest

Youth camp.

Maintained for wildlife

Cattle Underpass

NicholdaleFarm

White Hills, Route 110

Challenging Hiking Trails

Not for everyone!

Harder to find the trail

Terrain steeper

Possible scrambling over rock

Better wildlife viewing

Birchbank Trail

Red

Trillium

Dutchman’s

Breeches

Past Indian Well S.P., where the road crosses the RR tracks

Tahmore Loop (0.9 mi.)

Easy access to Paugussett Trail overlook

Ups and downs

Shelton Land Trust

Inner loops 0.5 mile

Paugussett Trail (8.7 mi.)“Blue Dot” Trail

Historic – 1930’s CCC project.

East Village, Monroe to Indian Well State Park, Shelton

Historically went to Roosevelt Forest in Stratford.

CFPA 800+mile system

Paugussett Trail parking

CFPA

Connecticut Forest and

Parks Association

Maps:

“Connecticut

Walk Book”

No bikes

Finding Your Way

Bring a map!!!

Pay attention to trail blazes.

Waymarkers at Shelton Lakes

Trail Maps

Online: sheltonconservation.org

sheltontrails.org

Community Center

City Hall

Trail BlazesRectangles of color-coded paint on trees, rocks, or pavement.

Blue – Paugussett “Blue Dot” Trail

Blue with yellow dot – Paugussett access trail or loop

Yellow – Shelton Lakes Recreation Path

Orange – Dominick Trail

White – all other trails

Crackingthe Code

Watch out for TURNS.

The “trail” may turn unexpectedly off of the pathway, especially around old woods roads or ATV trails.

One pathway, two trails

If you get lost…Relax. You’re not really lost. You’re in a suburb. If you lost the blazes, go back the way you came until you find them. Ask another hiker.If you feel panic, then sit down before you start going in circles.Know how to walk a straight line for a distance.

Trail Safety

Be prepared. Be self-reliant.

Don’t expect signs to direct you – bring a map and pay attention.

Check the weather, dress appropriately.

What to Bring

MAP

WATER

Cell phone

Bug Spray, hat for deer flies/may flies

Snacks

Benadryl

What to Wear

LAYERS. Many beginners overdress and get overheated.

Sneakers usually OK. All-terrain treads helpful.

Waterproof hiking boots may be helpful for challenging trails.

Ten Safety IssuesTeresa’s personal ranking

1. Falling; Twisting an ankle.

• Pay attention to your feet!

• Watch out for slick leaves and rocks.

Trail Hazards

2. WaspStings.

Late summer – Early Fall risk if you step off the trail.

Bring Benadryl if you might react.

If you start to get stung – RUN!!

Trail Hazards

3. Dehydration

Always bring lots of water in the summer.

Easy to misjudge water requirements.

Trail Hazards

4. Thunderstorms

Lightning

Wind

Hail

Check the radar before going out.

Greater risk in pm

Trail Hazards

5. Lyme Disease

Most trails are pretty clear and carry little risk. Watch out for overgrown & grassy areas.

Tick checks DAILY.

VIGILANCE.

Trail Hazards

6. Poison Ivy

Leaves of 3, Let it be.

Hairy vines

Caution in spring!

Clean exposed skin with rubbing alcohol asap.

Trail Hazards7. Getting Lost

Bring a mapPay attention to blazes.GPS receiver handy for large parks.Learn how to use a compass & use the sun to determine direction.

Trail Hazards

8. Random Falling Branches.

Wind increases risk

But branches still fall when there is no wind.

Cross your fingers!

Trail Hazards9. Creepy People

Be alert in places people loiter – parking lots, reservoirs, urban environments.Act confident. Talk on your cell or carry a potential weapon (like a rock)Actual risk is extremely low.

Trail Safety10. Wild Animals

Coyotes may attack dogs off-leash.

Poisonous snakes. Risk for letterboxers and geocachers. Not instantly deadly in CT.

Rabid animals – beware animals that act strangely.

Trail EtiquetteMulti-Use Trail

KEEP TO THE RIGHT

Pass on the left

Includes pets and children

Bikers alert pedestrians

Trail EtiquetteHiking Trails

Leave no traceTake only pictures

Leave only footprints

Trail Etiquette Hiking Trails

Don’t be obnoxiousCell phones

Loud voices

Dogs under control

Respect fishermen

Trail EtiquettesBlue Dot Trails (Paugussett)

Trails pass thru private lands

No bikes

Stay on the trail

Respect private property

Trail Games: Letterboxing

Search for hidden boxes containing rubber stamps.

Trail Games: Letterboxing

Clues are listed at: www.atlasquest.com and www.letterboxing.org

Easy to Impossible

English game more than 150 yrs old

Letterboxing Basics

Contents of a letterbox.

Logbook

Rubber Stamp

Bring your own ink pads, pen, logbook and rubber signature stamp

How to Letterbox

Find the letterbox.

Stamp the letterbox logbook with your signature stamp.

Stamp your personal logbook with the letterbox stamp.

Letterboxing Etiquette

STEALTH – be secretive

Repack the box carefully

Rehide carefully (watch children!)

Leave no trace

Help boxes that are in trouble (wet, ripped baggies)

Contact box owner

Letterboxing Lingo

“Three Sister Tree” = tree with 3 trunks

1 pace = 2 steps

Woodpecker feast = rotting tree

Noxer = a person who does not letterbox

Geocaching

Search for hidden caches using a gps receiver.

Some caches have trinkets for trade

All caches have a log to sign

Geocaching

Find listings at www.geocaching.com

Recreational gps receivers best

But car or phone gps receivers can work OK

How to Geocache

Download or enter coordinates onto gps

Go to the coordinates

Search the area, using any hints provided

Trading trinkets found in the cache is optional.

Geocaching Etiquette

Stealth

Leave no trace

Don’t dismantle stone walls

Never “trade down”

Log your find.

Happy

Trails!