January 17, 2021 – Southington, Connecticut
Problem: Straightforward to Reasonable
Size: Roughly 3 miles
Max elevation: 643 ft.– whole elevation achieve roughly 305 ft.
Route kind: Circuit
Map: Crescent Lake Trails
Trailhead parking: 403-537 Shuttle Meadow Rd, Southington, CT 06489
**Bowhunting season on this property runs Monday via Saturday from September 15 to December 31. Hikers are suggested to not stray from the blazed mountain climbing trails on these dates for security functions. **
Overview:
The Crescent Lake Recreation Space, situated on Shuttle Meadow Street, is a 223-acre forested property containing a 56-acre lake. Boating, canoeing, fishing, mountain climbing, picnicking and seasonal bow searching are all obtainable to guests. Along with being a Leisure Space, Crescent Lake can also be the state’s first “Connecticut Grown Group Forest.” Ample parking is accessible and established trails run all through the positioning.
Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Crescent Lake (additionally known as Plainville Reservoir) occupies a bowl-shaped valley on the western facet of the Bradley Mountain at an elevation of 420 ft above sea stage. The 56-acre lake is open to the general public, with no residency necessities. State-mandated licenses for fishing and/or boating are required. Crescent Lake is throughout the Quinnipiac River Watershed, which drains into the Lengthy Island Sound.
Crescent Lake
Southington is situated within the Central Lowlands, an space of gently rolling terrain between the State’s western and japanese highlands. Situated across the Quinnipiac River and its tributaries, the City is surrounded by Southington Mountain, Bradley Mountain and the Hanging Hills in Meriden. The latter two are a part of the Metacomet Ridge system, a “backbone” of traprock ridges that extends alongside Southington’s japanese edge because it runs from Suffield to Guilford.
Traprock ridge – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Historical past:
The parcel was as soon as owned by the Plainville Water Firm, which secured water rights for the lake within the late 1800’s, and was often called the Plainville Reservoir. It provided Plainville with water starting round 1910. The lake was as soon as surrounded by orchards and farmland within the 1930’s, a stark distinction from the dense woods that you just see right now.
Within the 1960’s the water firm stopped utilizing the reservoir. It then sat unused for many years till the City of Southington initially expressed an curiosity in buying it in 1983. On the time, the Plainville Water Firm wasn’t curious about promoting it, saying they wished to carry onto it simply in case it was ever wanted.
In 1993, a tentative settlement was reached, adopted by 5 years of negotiations and talks with firm representatives and state officers. The city received the OK to buy Crescent Lake on March 11, 1998. In 2000, it was lastly opened to the general public to be used as a leisure space below its former identify, Crescent Lake.
Trails Overview:
There are roughly 7 miles of blazed trails various in problem, which are marked to be used. There are additionally quite a few unofficial unmarked trails and woods roads that criss-cross the property.
- Orange: Approx. 3 miles; rigorous & hilly
- Purple: Approx. 2 miles; slim, reasonable elevation
- Inexperienced: Approx. 1.5 miles; open path, some elevation
Please Observe: The Purple Path can get actually muddy and the mosquitoes can get bothersome.
Crescent Lake Trails Map
The higher ridgeline and boundary of the Crescent Lake Recreation Space can also be traversed by the 51-mile Metacomet Path, (maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Affiliation), which extends from the Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut to the Massachusetts border.
Metacomet Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Hike Overview:
We had been on the lookout for a straightforward to reasonable loop hike with some respectable views and determined to provide this one a try to it didn’t disappoint. Arriving at about 9am on a cold Sunday in January, the car parking zone had loads of obtainable spots. The paths are comparatively nicely marked, however there’s a huge community of unmarked trails and roads all through the property that being attentive to the blazes is crucial. Initially the loop was going to incorporate the Purple Path, which circles the lake, however once we reached that space, the path was very swampy so we determined to skip it. In dryer climate it could be higher, however on the day we visited, the low mendacity areas close to the lake had been principally flooded.
Crescent Lake Recreation Space Loop
Excluding one brief steep ascent and a few brief steep descents, the elevation achieve on this hike is minimal.
elevation profile – Crescent Lake
The Hike:
Together with your again to the lake, proceed to the southern facet of the parking space and decide up the Inexperienced Path. Observe the inexperienced blazes because it winds its manner via the woods in a southeasterly route, spending some unmarked trails alongside the best way.
Crescent Lake
Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
In slightly below a 1/2 mile, the Inexperienced Path turns left on a woods street and begins to go northeast. This street straddles the boundary with New Britain Water Division property on the suitable and Crescent Lake to the left.
Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
In about one other 1/2 mile, the Inexperienced Path ends at a 4-way intersection, with the blue-blazed Metacomet Path coming in from the suitable and becoming a member of the Orange Path, which begins simply forward. Start following the coaligned trails as they climb a woods street very steeply.
terminus of Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
terminus of Inexperienced Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
The path reaches the ridgeline in below 500 ft and ranges off, with partial views of Crescent Lake under on the left, throughout leaf-off season. Quickly the path veers left, leaving the woods street and continues north alongside the ridge.
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
The path continues alongside the ridgeline above Crescent Lake with some minor ups and downs alongside this stretch.
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Quickly the path ranges off and passes alongside a big hearth. A brief distance later, the path reaches a rock outcrop with a west-facing view of Crescent Lake and the Southington Valley. The Otis Elevator take a look at tower is seen within the distance.
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
View of Crescent Lake from the Blue/Orange Path
For those who depart the path and descend barely to a decrease rock outcrop on the suitable, there’s a higher view of Crescent Lake.
decrease rock outcrop that the image under was take from
View of Crescent Lake from decrease rock outcrop
The path continues alongside the ridge, turns left and descends steeply. It then turns proper and follows alongside the cliff wall, passing below a big rock overhang because it continues its steep descent.
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
A glance again on the traprock ridge that the path descends.
Traprock ridge – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
The path begins to climb once more, solely this time extra progressively. After the path dips down, it climbs a bit extra to an enormous rock formation with partial views to the northwest.
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Quickly the path descends steeply once more. On the base of the steep descent, the Orange Path turns left on a woods street because the blue-blazed Metacomet Path continues forward, climbing the ridge in the direction of Bradley Mountain.
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Blue/Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Flip left on the Orange Path because it descends progressively on a woods street. Because the path nears Crescent Lake, the path turns into muddy and in some sections, swampy.
flip left on the Orange Path
Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
Orange Path – Crescent Lake Recreation Space
The Orange Path ends on the northwest nook of the lake because the Purple Path is available in from the left. To increase the hike, you may flip left on the Purple Path or do as we did and proceed south. There are views of Crescent Lake simply off the path.
Crescent Lake
The Purple Path because it head south, veers proper and runs alongside Shuttle Meadow Street a brief distance and again to the car parking zone, the place the hike started.
Shuttle Meadow Street
Evaluate:
A very nice place to spend a number of hours within the woods. The topography of the world makes for an attention-grabbing hike and the view of Crescent Lake is sort of beautiful. For probably the most half, the primary trails are nicely blazed and straightforward to observe. We noticed only a few folks on the paths, however the car parking zone was full once we returned. Within the hotter months, the world across the lake might get actually busy. Value a go to to discover the paths.
Execs:
Metacomet Ridge, Crescent Lake, nicely blazed trails, scenic view, beautiful space.
Cons:
Swampy trails close to Crescent Lake.
Take a hike!
Crescent Lake Recreation Space Loop
Supply:
