Last Updated:    August 30, 2009

Length:             Shelton Lakes Rec. Path; 4.4 miles

                             Dominick Trail; 1.7 miles   

Difficulty:          Shelton Lakes Rec. Path (Pine Lakes section and part of the Huntington Center section); Easy. Mostly level paved paths or gravel trails.

                             Dominick Trail and part of the Huntington Center section of the Shelton Lakes Rec. Path; Moderate. Narrow, hilly dirt path. Mt bike a must.

Directions:

To start from Pine Lake; From Route 8 take exit 14 to Route 110 (Howe Ave) north to downtown Shelton. Take a left onto Route 108 (White St-Perry Ave-Wooster St-Shelton Ave). When you come to Pine Lake (also referred to as Skelton Reservoir) on your right, there will be a small dirt parking lot. 

To start from Huntington Center; From Route 8 take exit 12 to Old Stratford Rd northwest, which turns into Commerce Drive. When Commerce Dr ends, take a right on Huntington St to Shelton Ave (Route 108) and head right. Take a right into "Huntington Village" by the Webster Bank. Parking available here. The trail starts next to the road by a bridge over the river.

The Shelton Lakes Greenway consists of many interconnected trails in the town of Shelton. The bikeway runs along two trails; The Shelton Lakes Rec. Path and the Dominick Trail. The Dominick Trail runs between the Pine Lake section and the Huntington Center section of the Shelton Lakes Rec. Path. The Pine Lakes section of the Shelton Lakes Rec. Path is the most bike friendly section. The Dominick Trail and part of the Huntington Center section of the Shelton Lakes Rec. Path is basically just a hiking trail and not bike friendly at this point in time.

Starting from Pine Lake; A map board and picnic tables are located here. Take the Shelton Lakes Rec. Path as it crosses a bridge over a dam for the lake. This brings you along a wide gravel trail around the lake. You pass through a Red Pine stand, following the "yellow" marked trail. Cross over Meadow St at 0.3 miles. Notice the nice granite markers that mark the trail entrances. The trail is now paved as it heads into the woods and up a slight hill. Soon you'll travel along a rocky stream and then come to some ball fields at a 1/2 mile. You'll come to an intersection at 0.7 miles. Left takes you to the intermediate school and right to the high school. Continue straight as the trail returns to gravel. You'll cross Constitution Blvd and come to the Turkey Trot parking lot. Another map board is located here. You head back into the woods along the "yellow & white" trail. When you come to a fork, bear left and continue along the "yellow" trail. Travel along a small berm and you'll come to a bridge. Nice overlooks of Silent Waters Pond. The trail briefly turns to crushed asphalt until you take a switchback where it returns to gravel. You reach Route 108 at 1.3 miles. A cross-light takes you over to a narrow crushed asphalt trail along Nell's Rd. This then brings you to the Dominick Trail at 1.4 miles. This is where I turned around as the trail is basically just a hiking trail and not bike friendly at this point in time.

Starting from Huntington Center (Not Recommended for kids on bikes or inexperienced bikers); From the "Huntington Village" sign the paved trail travels alongside Shelton Ave, first crossing a wooden bridge over Means Brook and ending at Huntington Ave. Huntington Ave splits into two one-way roads here. Therefore, because there is no continuous trail or sidewalk along the northbound section you'll need to utilize the cross-light to get over Huntington Ave, bear left very briefly and follow the brick path into the Green. A pavilion, benches and picnic tables located here. Exit off the Green at the southwest corner. Here, another cross-light will get you over Huntington Ave southbound to a sidewalk. Head left. Just past the Shelton Fire Dept, but before Huntington Ave merges together you'll need cross back over Huntington Ave to Lane St. Use Caution as there is no cross-walk. The paved trail briefly picks up here.

Note; If your coming along this trail from the opposite direction you'll head to Huntington Center by following the sidewalk north along Huntington Ave and traveling on-road when the sidewalk ends.

Follow the paved trail alongside Lane St, crossing another wooden bridge over Means Brook which then becomes Farmill River. This brings you to a parking lot at around a 1/2 mile. The Lane Street parking lot is a preferred starting point for kids on bikes. Continue on-road along Lane St (low volume) for a short distance past a cemetery and golf course and pick up the Rec. Path again on your right. Look for the yellow trail markers on the trees. Follow the narrow hard packed dirt trail past an open field and over a wooden boardwalk. A babbling brook passes below. The trail turns to gravel as you pass by a meadow and then returns to hard packed dirt at 0.9 as you enter the woods. Again, the next section is basically a hiking trail as you come to Waymarker #8 at 1 mile. Unless your a Mt biker, I'd wait until they improve the next section before continuing.