Metacomet Trail, Plainville, Trail Re-Route

Direction of travel: South to North

The Metacomet Trail has been relocated on Bradley Mountain to eliminate the hazardous road walk on the Crooked St overpass over I-84 and Route 72. The trail now uses Black Rock Rd, Wooster St, and Route 372 in New Britain, reducing the road walk by 0.4 mi. The southern end of the relocation begins 0.6 mi. north of the orange-blazed trail from the south side of Crescent Lake in Southington. The relocated trail rejoins the existing trail at the Rte 372 trail head in Plainville, 0.2 mi west of the railroad track crossing. The old trail from Ledge Rd is now an access trail to the Metacomet Trail.

From the jct with the old trail — now an access trail (blue-red blazes) to Sunrise Rock and Ledge Rd — turn east, descend into a small valley, cross rock ledges with several vernal pools and an unnamed stream. Gradually descend to a woods road and cross a gas pipeline. Continue on the woods road as it turns north through hemlocks and veer left through a small overgrown grassy area. Cross the woods road, pass through a beech woods, and recross the woods road at a large rock. Cross a small stream and continue north through open woods with several intermittent streams.  Traverse a rocky wet area, coming out onto a small grassy area and a private gravel road, Bidwell Passway, and cross a small concrete bridge over a water supply canal. Turn left (north), follow the embankment of an abandoned section of the canal for a short distance, and continue through a hemlock grove. After a short rise, descend moderately along a north facing slope, turn east to cross a stream and continue to Black Rock Rd at Esther St. Follow Black Rock Rd to Wooster St, and turn left (north)  at Route 372. Follow north shoulder of the road, crossing to the south side at railroad tracks. (Parking is available east of the tracks at a gravel pullover area on the south side of the road.) In 0.2 mi, recross the road to continue north on existing trail.