THOMPSON HERITAGE WAY LETTERBOX:
THOMPSON, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted: June 11, 2004
Length: Riverside Park to North Grosvenordale Pond and Letterbox; 1.6 miles
Thompson Library parking lot to Letterbox; 1 mile
Grosvenordale Pond parking lot to Letterbox; 1/4 mile
Difficulty: Easy. Paved trail except for 0.3 miles of stone dust. Mostly flat.
Directions:
From I-395 northbound, take exit 98 and proceed north on Route 12 to the junction of Route 200. From I-395 southbound, take exit 99 and head west on Route 200 to the junction of Route 12. From this junction proceed about a mile north on Route 12. To start from Riverside Park, turn left on Main Street, cross the railroad tracks and turn right into the park. The trail starts next to the gazebo. To start from Thompson Library, continue north on Route 12 for another 1/2 mile, then turn left into the library parking lot just after crossing over the French River. To start Grosvenordale Pond, continue north along Route 12 for another 1/2 mile, then turn right just past the Knights of Columbus's large white building. This takes you down to the boat launch parking area.
Starting from Riverside Park; The trail runs north, next to the French River, through the park and around the ball field. It then follows a small paved trail to a wooden ramp that takes you over the French River via a black iron bridge. After crossing over the bridge, follow the trail as it takes you around the west side of the Thompson Library to the front parking area. From the Thompson Library parking lot, the trail crosses over Route 12 and brings you over another wooden ramp next to an old mill canal. The river was diverted to this canal to provide power for the mill which was built in 1872. You cross over the mill road and the trail takes you alongside the French River again. Notice the old stonework along the riverbank. When you come to Buckley Hill Road, the trail goes up a slight incline and crosses over this road next to a bridge over the canal. You now enter a tranquil area high above the river, which is down to your right. The canal is on your left. At 1 1/4 miles you come to the North Grosvenordale Pond Dam, with its two spillways. We saw what we believed to be a Crane, although I'm not a great birder. You can also see the railroad tracks from here, as well as some old valves. I think these probably opened up some gates below the surface to let water into the mill canal. You then come to the Grosvenordale Pond parking lot. The trail then turns to stone dust, until it ends at 1.6 miles. Hopefully they will continue this trail further north in the future. Just before the stone dust ends, a dirt road begins on the left. Take this road a short distance, looking to your right for the remnants of an old stone wall. It will be just before a clearing and a sharp left turn in the road. Take 9 paces (1 pace=2 steps) alongside this stone wall, passing by a Pine tree and coming to an Oak tree. On the north side of the stone wall, behind a flat stone is the Thompson Heritage Way Letterbox.
HH
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
JUNE 21, 2009
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING