Deertracks in the Snow

Blackledge Falls Park, East Glastonbury, Connecticut
Hiking distance to letterbox approximately 0.4 miles one way (15 mins), easy

This letterbox was placed near a 30 foot waterfall in the Blackledge Falls
Park in East Glastonbury January 12, 2003. The trail climbs (from a parking
area) the east slope of John-Tom Hill through woods and over small brooks.
It is a well marked trail, easy to navigate.

The Trail

Take Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) east from Glastonbury, past Route 83
(Manchester Road) and continue heading east. Follow 3-4 miles up John-Tom
Hill past, at the top, Marlborough Road. Continuing on 94 the road slopes
downward fairly steeply, and near the bottom, on the left hand side of the
road, a large wooden sign indicating Blackledge Falls. On the right there
is a turn in where you can park. This morning there was a lot of snow at
this turn in.

Park the car anywhere in this parking area and proceed back to the main road
and cross it, walking towards the sign for Blackledge Falls. Proceed to the
chain where the trail starts. From this point the box is 0.4 miles.

Follow the blue-white-blue blazes (some trees may have two of them that
s still the trail).

Just before the first bridge over a small brook there is a side path down to
a small dam on the Blackledge River. The water falls over the top of this
dam, and in spring and summer this is a fine spot to catch small bass and
trout.

As you proceed through the woods you will hike across two additional small
bridges over small brooks flowing to the river.

Just as the trail turns away from the river and into the woods there appears
to be a fork. The blue-white-blue blazes are indicated on the path to the
left (southerly), which is the course to follow. About 75 feet later a
small blue sign in a tree indicates the direction to The Falls, which is
where youre going.

The path follows a very pretty babbling brook up the hill to a point 0.35
miles from the start where another sign indicates a sharp left turn, over
the babbling brook, towards the falls. Follow the sign and head up the path
where, shortly, you will see the falls from a lookout. Enjoy the view
they are beautiful in all seasons.

The Box

As you proceed down the path to the bottom of the falls you will immediately
pass to the right of a large oak tree. Between it and the next tree, on the
left about 20 feet,is a small group of large stones. There you will find a
large fallen tree lying almost on a N-S line. At the North end of the
fallen tree, nestled in the stones, is the box.

Return as you came and enjoy the hike.

The Sullivans

For GPS Types:

Location of Start of Path: 41D 41.828 N, 72D 27.355 W
Elevation of Start of Path: 573 Ft

Location of Falls: 41D 42.041N, 72D 27.494W I will not put the location of
the box thats for Geocachers!
Elevation at Top of Falls: 727 Ft
Elevation at Bottom of Falls: 694 Ft