James L Goodwin State Forest - Hampton CT

This was a perfect walk for families with Children. I would stick with the Red Trail if you and your children are not super used to harder hikes. We however, took the White Trail that started off nice and meandering and interesting with many different things to look at like beaver cut tree stumps and many pine groves. We continued the white trail up to Governors island, which was a perfect place to stop for lunch. Interesting look out platform that NEEDS lots of love, seemed like it was off balance and needed to be remade (I smell an Eagle Scout Project here), but while up there the kids saw ducks taking off and the long stretch of the pond!We did take the Red Trail back to the parking lot this was a bit harder at first because it seemed steep, but then leveled off as we headed back toward the pond. Again clearly marked and offered neat sights like woodpecker holes in trees and stone walls to follow.
In all we believe we hiked over 5 miles and we rewarded at the end with a small off shoot of the Blue Trail that lead up to a beaver observation hut, that you could go into and see clearly a beaver lodge. This time of year they were not active, but I am sure in the spring and summer it would be perfect to watch them without being seen. Looking forward to going back to this park and taking a few other of the trails.

James L Goodwin State Forest

23 Potter Rd, Hampton, CT (860) 455-9534‎
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2691&Q=322536

Right off Rt 6 in Hampton, CT - Easy to park - out houses provided at the start of the hike. Very clearly marked trails and maps were offered at the start of the hike.

Shorter Hike at The Mansfield Hollow

Post Halloween night activities we week really
did not start to move quickly, but we still set
off to do a short hike.

This week was a ReTrail on the Rt 89 side of the Mansfield Hollow State Park in CT.

Pretty easy start on the crosscountry sking trails, but the trail back seemed a bit more up hill and

not great for our tired little feet. Very few things

to hold the intrest of the boys as they struggled

to muster up the energy to walk back to the car

before dusk.

In general this is a good hike might be more interesting in the spring time. We saw lots of tracks, leaves, dear tree rubbings, Woodpecker holes and lots of fungus growing in and on trees. Might revisit this hiking trail in the spring.