CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AND SNOW SHOEING ON HOCKANUM RIVER HIKING TRAILS IN MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT

There are 9 hiking trails along the Hockanum River in Manchester, and 4 are rated easy for cross country skiing or snow shoeing.

The J.H. Hackett Trail is a mostly flat 3/4 mile loop trail with parking and the trailhead on the east side of New State Road on the right at the entrance to the Softball Field.  This grassy path goes south through a wooded meadow parallel to New State Road then into deep forest, curving around to the left, eastward toward Adams Street with views of 2 vernal pools and the Hockanum River beyond.  The trail goes north along the river and curves out to the ballfield, turns left, west, along the north side of the parking lot and back to the starting point.

The New State Trail is a 2.8 mile difficult loop trail, but the first 3/4 mile is an easy flat loop path that starts with the parking and trailhead at the west side of the Cheney Technical School Student Parking Lot, goes down a few steps, turns right and follows the path upstream, takes the left fork toward the river, bends right and follows the river further upstream through the woods, over a footbridge, curves inland, then close to the river again and at the right fork returns under the power lines to the next fork, then left and back to the start.

The Laurel Marsh Trail is a 3.5 mile difficult hiking trail around the entire Laurel Marsh, but the first 3/4 mile accessible trail loop is flat with one small slope.  The parking and trailhead are on the south side of Route 6 and 44 just east of the Interstate 84, Exit 60.  This first short loop goes either right or left through the woods, along Hop Brook, along a segment of the Hockanum and back to the start.  The longer loop goes over the big footbridge and steeper slopes beyond.

The Verplanck Trail is a 3/4 mile linear path and 3/4 mile return over the same course.  Easiest access and parking is at the gated entrance at the Leber Field Baseball Field on Love Lane.  The trail is reached about 500 feet up the dirt road to the field and goes either left or right, the longer path on the right connects with the Laurel Marsh Trail through forest and past outdoor classroom, to rest tired feet, on the left.  Beyond is a narrow low boardwalk through a wetland.

Cross-country skiing or snow shoeing is best in new light powder snow, and a variety of animal tracks, like rabbit, fox, deer or infrequent coyote can be spotted from time to time.  Close to the stream, River Otter tracks and their unique slides, into the water, can be found.

For further information, please call Doug Smith at 402-9908 or e-mail hikethehockanum@aol.com . Hockanum River activities, in 4 towns, can be found on the website www.hockanumriverwa.org