CFPA New England Trail Series: Highland Pond Prese LbNA #69431
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Add Location| Owner: | CT Forest & Park Assoc  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Nov 1, 2015 |
| Location: | Atkins St |
| City: | Middletown |
| County: | Middlesex |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Nairon |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Feb 10, 2024 |
| Status: | FFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Dec 1, 2015 |
New England Trail Letterboxing Series: Highland Pond Preserve
Total Distance: Approximately 1 mile round trip
Start at the Atkins Street trailhead in Middletown, CT
Google Maps Directions: https://goo.gl/EILJ1d
The 8-part New England Trail Letterboxing Series was created by Connecticut’s oldest non-profit conservation organization, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA). Grab your gear and get ready to experience one of America’s national scenic trails right here in your own backyard. Discover the rich natural and cultural features of this incredible trail. Enjoy this fun and adventurous learning quest! We challenge you to find all 8 in the series. To learn more, visit www.ctwoodlands.org.
Enter Middlesex Land Trust’s Highland Pond Preserve from the curbside parking on Atkins Street. Find the trail map kiosk to the left of the trail. Study the map, zap the QR code to download a copy of the kiosk map, or take a photo of the kiosk map with a camera or smartphone.
When you’re ready, set off by following the blue-blazed Mattabesett section of the New England Trail (NET). The trail follows an old raised railroad bed, trailing through a forest predominantly made up of oak and maple trees. Cross a red wooden bridge and enjoy the walk as the trail runs parallel to the banks of Highland Pond.
Before car ownership became common in the mid-1900s, many people relied upon trolleys for transportation. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Connecticut’s population centers were all connected by a system of trolley lines. The railroad bed you are walking on was once a small piece of this network, serving Middletown’s Highland neighborhood. Back in the 1800s, this area was a rural farming community, with widely spaced houses and extensive farmland. Towards the end of the 19th century, with industrialization in full-swing, it was common for wealthy vacationers to travel to rural communities for some quiet time in the country. To serve their needs, the Highland Hotel was built nearby (though nothing remains to this day of the building), with guests coming and going via the trolley. Today the Highland district of Middletown is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. As you walk this section of trail, imagine yourself as one of those 19th century vacationers taking the trolley through here.
When you reach the far end of the pond, be sure to check out the kiosk on the right to discover which wild inhabitants call the Preserve’s wetland their home. Did you notice the dam? Highland Pond is not a natural pond but instead was created by the construction of this dam on Sawmill Brook, a tributary of the Mattabesset River. Though the original dam structure dates back to the 1800s, what you see today is the result of a major reconstruction in 1993.
To find the letterbox, continue on the trail past the dam. Stop when you reach another trail map kiosk on the left of the trail before the gate. The letterbox is hidden inside a hollowed piece of firewood behind the kiosk. Replace and make sure to cover well when you’re finished. Simply reverse your direction to walk back to the trailhead.
Hike length: 1 mile
Total Distance: Approximately 1 mile round trip
Start at the Atkins Street trailhead in Middletown, CT
Google Maps Directions: https://goo.gl/EILJ1d
The 8-part New England Trail Letterboxing Series was created by Connecticut’s oldest non-profit conservation organization, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA). Grab your gear and get ready to experience one of America’s national scenic trails right here in your own backyard. Discover the rich natural and cultural features of this incredible trail. Enjoy this fun and adventurous learning quest! We challenge you to find all 8 in the series. To learn more, visit www.ctwoodlands.org.
Enter Middlesex Land Trust’s Highland Pond Preserve from the curbside parking on Atkins Street. Find the trail map kiosk to the left of the trail. Study the map, zap the QR code to download a copy of the kiosk map, or take a photo of the kiosk map with a camera or smartphone.
When you’re ready, set off by following the blue-blazed Mattabesett section of the New England Trail (NET). The trail follows an old raised railroad bed, trailing through a forest predominantly made up of oak and maple trees. Cross a red wooden bridge and enjoy the walk as the trail runs parallel to the banks of Highland Pond.
Before car ownership became common in the mid-1900s, many people relied upon trolleys for transportation. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Connecticut’s population centers were all connected by a system of trolley lines. The railroad bed you are walking on was once a small piece of this network, serving Middletown’s Highland neighborhood. Back in the 1800s, this area was a rural farming community, with widely spaced houses and extensive farmland. Towards the end of the 19th century, with industrialization in full-swing, it was common for wealthy vacationers to travel to rural communities for some quiet time in the country. To serve their needs, the Highland Hotel was built nearby (though nothing remains to this day of the building), with guests coming and going via the trolley. Today the Highland district of Middletown is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. As you walk this section of trail, imagine yourself as one of those 19th century vacationers taking the trolley through here.
When you reach the far end of the pond, be sure to check out the kiosk on the right to discover which wild inhabitants call the Preserve’s wetland their home. Did you notice the dam? Highland Pond is not a natural pond but instead was created by the construction of this dam on Sawmill Brook, a tributary of the Mattabesset River. Though the original dam structure dates back to the 1800s, what you see today is the result of a major reconstruction in 1993.
To find the letterbox, continue on the trail past the dam. Stop when you reach another trail map kiosk on the left of the trail before the gate. The letterbox is hidden inside a hollowed piece of firewood behind the kiosk. Replace and make sure to cover well when you’re finished. Simply reverse your direction to walk back to the trailhead.
Hike length: 1 mile