Meigs Point Trails: Come Explore!

When I was a kid spending my summers at Hammonasset, a gang of us would regularly ride the trails in the woods.   We felt like it was our secret trail society.  Now "gang" may be the wrong word to describe a group of grade school girls, but we were very cool on our Huffys and Schwinns with banana seats and motorcycle handle bars.   Those of us with groovy daisy decals were extra cool.  I can't help but smile when I see kids riding the same trails 40 years later.

These days, I feel like a kid again when I ride the trails at Meigs Point and Willards Island.  Though they are labeled and appear on maps, these places tend to be less crowded than the rest of the park. Entering the trails feels like entering a secret world.   The trees create a kind of grand entrance and the path curves off to the side so you can't see what lies ahead.  It's clearly an invitation to come explore and discover.

The trail out to the Cedar Island Observation Deck starts at the edge of the field in the back of Meigs Point - to the right of Pavilion 4.  It's marked with a sign thanking the Long Island License Plate Fund for the funding used to construct the trail and deck.  Embark on your journey down the path under old trees and continue down over the wooden bridges and out to the deck.   Once out there you will be rewarded with a fantastic vista that includes Clinton Harbor, the Breakwater, the end of the moraine trail.   Bring binoculars for some amazing bird watching.

The trail in Willards is actually the old tar roads remaining from the old camping days. Mother Nature has long since reclaimed the unpaved areas.  Pick up a map for a guided tour of the labeled nature stations. Out at the end of the island is the first observation platform that was contructed.   This spot gives you a grand view of the Griswold property and more of the harbor traffic. There are signs with much information about the area and the shore birds you can hope to see.  While out on Willards Island, see if you can locate the National Champion Pear tree.   Hint:  it gets a little easier when it is dropping pears on the pavement.  It's a very special tree and is included in the database of Connecticut Notable Trees.  Finding the tree is an adventure on it's own.

There is a third path at Meigs Point - the Moraine trail.   Bring your hiking shoes for this one.    It's very rocky and not very friendly to flip flops.  Who's Moraine?  It's actually "what is a" moraine.  A moraine is a deposit of rocks and other glacial debris left when the area was formed.  The trail starts to the east of the boat launch, up the hill, over rocks, and back down to water level.  You'll notice that this is the rockiest shore at Hammonasset.   Keep going along the water to the next vegetated area and you'll find a trail out to the easternmost point of the park.   Stand and enjoy.   If you're out at lows tide, see if you can pick out the fishing wier.

If you have never ventured out on these trails, give it a try.   It's a fun journey every time - just like being a kid.