Oriental Medicine Series
5 Boxes in Nehantic State Forest, East Lyme, CT
New London County
Easyvery family friendly hike.
10-20 minute hike one way (quick adult pace) -- without stopping
for boxes
Planted by Kristen and Sean 9-7-02

To Nehantic State Forest:
Off of either Route 95 or 395 take Route 85 North.
Follow 85 North to Grassy Hill Road on Left (Chesterfield is on
Right.)
Take a Left onto Grassy Hill. Follow for approximately 2 miles(?).
Take a right onto Upper Walnut Hill Road.
Follow to the end of this road and take a left onto Holmes Road.
Holmes Road goes straight into the Forest. Shortly after
entering the forest you will see a 1/2 circle pull off on the left.
There is room here for at least 4-5 cars. This road continues
south through this section of the forest. I highly recommend
turning around and leaving the same way you came. The road is
a dirt road that is only large enough for 1 car to pass through.
While there are a few places to pull off so other cars can pass
and it is a beautiful trip through the forest, it doesnt seem like
the best option for everyone. If you do decide to continue down
the road, youll be ushered the correct way by a few closed gates.
The road eventually connects to Grassy Hill Road (where youd
take a left to head back the way you came).

Unfortunately the map for Nehantic State Forest that can be
found online through the State site is for the other section of the
forest. This section is located in East Lyme. Please note that
hunting IS allowed here. As always wear appropriate clothing.

There are several sections of the path that are covered with
stones which are intermingled with sections that are simply dirt.
When I refer to the stony path I am referring to that particular
section of rock-covered path. Hencethe end of the stony
path does not mean that the trail ends, simply that a section
covered with rocks ends.

In each box you will find a baggie with an index card full of
information about that particular element. Please take and keep
an index card from each box and perhaps you can take a guess
at which one you are after reading them all. If there are only 2-3
cards left, please e-mail me (fox412@aol.com) and I will
replenish! In one or two boxes there may be more than one
card, please take one of each, they were meant to be kept for
future reference and study.

After parking look across the street for the yellow gate and follow
the path behind it.
Shortly down the path you will see a fork. Follow the path to the
right.

Fire:
A stone wall on the left will end and the path is covered with
rocks. From the end of the stone wall, walk 3/4 of the way to the
bend in the trail and look to your right for a long rock with a
smaller rock balanced on top. Go behind the large rock and look
at its base under some small rocks for the Fire box.

Earth:
Further down the trail you will see 2 large rock crops , one on
either side of the trail. Just after passing these look to your right
for a cleared area that goes up a small hill.
This path should be found prior to leaving the stony path.
Go up to the top of this hill to the clearing.
Directly to the north is a stone wall. Walk to the opening in the
wall and turn left. On the far side of the wall from the clearing,
walk approximately 9 steps along the back of the wall. If you turn
and face the wall, there should be a tree in front of you on the
other side of the wall. In a nook of the wall here you will find the
Earth box.

Metal:
Go back to the center of the clearing. Directly to the East is
another hill heading up to a splinter shaped rock. On the east
side of this rock you will find the Metal box.

Head back down the hill(s) to the main trail and turn right to
continue

Water:
Continue down the trail to another section of stony path. It will
only be about 20-30 feet long. Just ahead look for a 2-trunked
tree on the left. On the North side of this tree look for the Water
box under a pile of rocks.

Wood:
You will pass another small section of stony trail followed later
by a longer one. At the end of this stony section the path will
become very narrow and you will notice a large open section.
There are two options for finding the last box. If you cant find it, a
combination of these two clues should help:
1) Walk down the path until you are standing next to the solitary
tree. At 270-280 degrees is the tree you are looking for.
2) Follow the path past the solitary tree until the trail JUST starts
to head uphill and then stop. Turn around to face the trail and
look South-West. There you should see a double-tree growing
out of one trunk.

Under the wood at the base of this tree you will find the Wood
box and also the clues to find the BONUS box. The bonus box
isnt very far away from the Wood box. Please copy the clues if
needed(extra blank cards are included) and then return the
original to the box as found so that everyone who gets there can
get to the bonus box. Please only take 1 per person!!!

Somehow you can get back to the trailhead if you continue on,
but without a map we didnt dare venture further. This is a short,
yet beautiful, hike that is the perfect length for families and is very
flat (with the exception of the walk up and down a short hill for the
Earth and Metal boxes.)

Please re-bag, seal the box tightly and re-hide as carefully as
possible!
*Always leave things better than you find them.*

Enjoy the hunt and please let me know if you have problems or if
the boxes need some help!
Fox412@aol.com