Hazen Trail

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Hazen Trail

Town: Hartford and Norwich

Uses:

Amenities:

Length: 2 Miles (one way)

Surface: Packed earth

Trailhead:

From Wilder:

Trail access is immediately off US Rte 5 between I-91 exits 12 (Wilder) and 13 (Norwich). The dirt access road is 0.2 mile south of the I-91 overpass, just north of the village of Wilder and 0.5 mile south of the Dothan Brook School. A green post with 2393 marks the access. Park along this access road, but do not block the driveway gate.

A kiosk to the right of the parking area provides information about the Maanawaka Conservation Area where the Hazen Trail begins. From the kiosk, the trail rises up into the woods and, in about 100 yards, meets the junction of the Backwater and Hazen Trails.  

The Backwater Trail provides a short walk down along an inlet from the Connecticut River. Near the beginning of the trail, you can see remains of an old dam just off trail.

From Montshire Road:

The Montshire Road is the first left going uphill from the Ledyard Bridge between Hanover and Norwich. It is immediately east of the northbound exit ramp from I-91, exit 13.

Park off the edge of the Montshire Road and walk down the Museum driveway a short distance to the crosswalk, where the Blood Brook connector trail begins on the right. Follow the connector traill (red/orange blazes) a short distance up into the woods to meet the Ridge Trail (blue blazes). Take the right fork of the Ridge Trail—away from the Museum. The Hazen Trail (red blazes) branches off to the right in about 0.6 mile. (See Montshire Museum Trails for more information about the Ridge Trail)

Features: This walk is a rolling dirt trail that passes through forest and farmland above the Connecticut River, connecting Hartford just north of Wilder and Norwich. It can be started at either end, but there is limited access from the Norwich (north) end of the trail (see trailhead information). The Hazen Trail was conserved by the Upper Valley Land Trust and is well maintained. The Hartford end begins at Dothan Brook off of Route 5. There is also another good out and back trail, the Backwater Trail, which can be added for more distance (see route extension).

Description:

The Hazen Trail provides a 2-mile point-to-point or out-and-back walk along a forested ridge that follows the Connecticut River between Norwich and Wilder. The trail has some ups and downs but mostly follows a wooded ridge with some good views above the Connecticut River. Near the south (Wilder) end, the trail passes along the edge of a couple of fields and passes under a power line a few times. A few hundred yards from the Wilder trailhead, the Backwater Trail provides a short, 0.3-mile walk down to river level with a view upstream above the Wilder Dam.

The Hazen Trail proceeds north from the junction climbing up to a ridge along the river, crossing under power lines a few times and passing the Montshire Museum's "Pluto" marker. ( At 3.6 billion miles from the sun, Pluto is the last stop on the Planet Walk that begins at the Montshire Museum and follows the Ridge Trail to the Hazen Trail (Montshire Museum admission required)).

At the "Neptune" marker, the trail leaves the power lines. Although it remains mostly in the woods, the trail skirts a field or two in the Brookside Farm conservation area before entering Montshire Museum property near the marker for the planet Uranus. (No dogs are allowed on Montshire trails.)

At about 1.3 miles, the Hazen Trail ends at the Ridge Trail. Take the left-hand (western) part of the trail to reach the Montshire Road access. At the junction with the Blood Brook connector trail, follow that trail a short distance to the Montshire driveway; follow the driveway up hill to the left to Montshire Road.

From the Hazen-Ridge junction, the right-hand (eastern) part of the Ridge Trail follows the Planet Walk to the Museum itself; paid admission or a Montshire membership is required.

Easiest (free) access to the Hazen Trail is off Route 5 in Wilder, where there is ample parking for several cars. At the Norwich end, there is limited parking along the shoulder of Montshire Road between Rte 10A and the entrance to the Montshire Museum, where you can access the trail via the western part of the Museum’s Ridge Trail. If you are a Museum member, or you pay the daily admission fee, you may park in the Museum’s parking lot and explore the full Ridge Trail loop and other Museum trails; if you do so, check in at the admissions desk. Montshire Museum trails are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note that the Montshire Museum does not allow pets, except for service dogs, on its property, so you should stick to the Wilder end of the trail if your dog likes to hike with you.

 

 

The only bathrooms are at the Montshire Museum. A kiosk at the Wilder end and trail signs on the Montshire property provide information about the trail. The trail is well marked with signs and distances noted at most intersections; blue blazes mark the Ridge Trail and red blazes indicate the Hazen Trail.

 The Montshire Museum (including Museum trails) is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dogs are not allowed on the trails (except service dogs).

 

 

 

Volunteer Surveyors: Susan Hardy

Last updated on 7/28/10

 

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