Length:                 Palisado Loop Trail; 1 mile

                                Palisado Ave parking lot to Letterbox; drive-by

                                Pleasant Street Park Spur; ¼ mile

                                Railroad Station Spur; ¼ mile

Difficulty:             Easy. Paved, mostly flat surface. Watch out for the Poison Ivy all along the sides of the trail. Spring flooding breeds a lot of mosquitoes. 

From I-91, take exit 38 and follow Route 75 south for 2 miles to Windsor Center. Turn left at the traffic light onto Route 159 north. A ¼ mile down on your right will be the Palisado Ave parking lot, with trail map sign. If  you take the next left on Pleasant Street, it will bring you to Pleasant Street Park. The trail starts near the boat launch, by the Farmington River.

Starting from the Palisado Ave parking lot, head right along the trail. This is the Palisado Loop Trail. You'll come immediately to a yellow wooden pole on your right, followed by a yellow "gas pipeline" pole. From the "gas line" pole, take 13 paces (2 steps = 1 pace) further along the trail. There will be a large Oak tree on your left and to your right, directly across from this tree, will be two Maple trees side by side in a grove of Maple trees. One is small and smooth, while the second is medium with rough bark. Behind these trees will be a pile of rocks and leaves. Just lift up the 2 bricks on top to find the Windsor River Trail Letterbox. Continuing along the trail, you then come to an intersection next to the horseshoe pits.

Note; The Loop Trail continues left over the bridge, while straight takes you along the Railroad Spur Trail. It's worth the short trip to continue straight, going around the pond and over a bridge before coming to Mechanic Street . Turn right on the road and then cross over to a sidewalk. This takes you along the railroad tracks and next to a nice brick building (Ride Share Company). You may then cross over the tracks to check out the Windsor Train Station. This spur trail is only a ¼ mile. You may also continue up the road past the train station to check out downtown Windsor and its scenic Main Street .

Continuing along the Palisado Loop Trail you cross over the iron arched bridge. Many frogs a croaking below. The trail then brings you alongside the Farmington River . At ¾ miles, you'll pass a picnic table overlooking the river and then come to another trail junction. The Loop Trail continues left while straight will take you to Pleasant Street Park. You end up back at the Palisado Ave parking lot after only a mile Loop . 

From Pleasant Street Park , follow the sidewalk, right of the boat launch, past the picnic tables. A dirt trail brings you underneath the Route 159 Bridge and to the paved section of the trail, less then a ¼ mile. You pass over an iron bridge and parallel the Farmington River . This brings you to the Palisado Loop Trail.

Note; this section of the trail sometimes floods in the spring and becomes impassable, so use the Palisado parking lot.