Hope you get a chance to enjoy this one, in old colonial agricultural
lands gone to seed, by a small lake with sweet, clear waters: it's also
on our web site at http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/drewclan/local5.htm#Gra
nny

Granny Austin's Tavern

Here's an easy 1 mile, level hike in undeveloped Red Cedar Lake State
Park in Lebanon, CT. Bring the kids! Directions: from CT Rte. 11, take
exit 22 and turn south off the ramp. The road will soon fork: branch
right onto Scott Hill Rd and drive 1.2 miles to an unmarked pole-gate
on the right where the road turns sharply left.

Park here and hike northwest through the gate up the trail. Shortly
pass a side trail on the left, which goes down to a view of the lake
and a small island. Note a little peninsula off to the right with a
stand of pines right up to the water. Returning to the main trail,
continue to the ruins of Granny Austin's Tavern, with a classic center
chimney beehive oven and a well (careful, kids!). In colonial days the
fields would have been cleared and there would be a good view of the
lake and the island. Continuing, pass a mess that hopefully will be
cleaned up, then fork left. Shortly fork left a second time and pass
more messy remains of an old campground to the lakeshore.

On a pleasantly open peninsula, enjoy the view and perhaps a swim.
Working down through the mountain laurel to the southwest corner of the
point, near the shore, find your reward on the ground under a rock in a
stand of white pines. (Please cover it up with leaves and small
branches to hide it a little from others).

Now you can return the way you came, or, extend your hike another
half-mile along the lake. It's level and easy to follow, with more
campground ruins (some quite extensive), and an interesting dam at the
end of the lake (to find the dam, turn left at the trail's end onto the
road and follow south a short way).


Enjoy, Jay and kids
P118F22