Christmas Eve Letterbox on Flatbrook

Shenipsit Trail, East Glastonbury, Connecticut

Hiking distance to letterbox approximately 0.6 miles (45 min one way, enjoying the hike, relatively easy).

This letterbox was placed in its location along the Shenipsit Trail on Christmas Eve, 2002.  This section of the Shenipsit Trail follows flatbrook from near Diamond Lake into the Meshomaisic State Forest.  You will cross 2 very small unnamed brooks which feed Flatbrook on its way to the Blackledge River.  You will cross another beautiful small brook at the site of the letterbox, where there is small waterfall.  All the brooks have many stepping stones so even young children (6 and up recommended) can enjoy this walk.  It is 0.6 miles from the starting point to the letterbox, and the path gets a little steep in a few places.  There are some forks as well but the Shenipsit trail is well marked.

Precautions

In summertime (June Aug) these woods of Connecticut host the endangered Timber Rattlesnake.  These are generally docile and shy creatures but you should watch the path. A few have been spotted over the years.

Although the trails are well marked once in the State Forest it is pretty isolated.  A compass, cell phone, water bottle and a walking stick are advised.

The Trail

Take Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) east from Glastonbury, past route 83 (Manchester Road), and keep going east until you reach the top of John-Tom Hill at Marlborough Road.  At Marlborough take a right and proceed past the first stop sign (Diamond Lake Road) to Imperial Drive (3^nd Right after turning onto Marlborough) and make a right turn.

Proceed down Imperial past the first left (Empress Lane) until you reach the first guardrail on the left.  This will be 0.3 miles from Marlborough Road.  Park the car on the right side of the road and cross the street.  Look for a large rock with 2 blue blazes painted on it.  The rock is between the first and 2nd guardrails on the left side of Imperial.  The blue blazes mark the Shenipsit Trail and you will follow these markings almost to the letterbox.  The trail is visible by the trampled grass to the right of the stone.

Walk down the path.  You will hear Flatbrook gurgling on you left.  As you go around a small drainage pond (which is usually empty) you will enter some woods.  Note the blue blazes marked on the trees.   As you enter the woods here you will cross your first very small brook feeding Flatbrook.  This small one originates from Diamond Lake and is highly dependent on rainfall.

Continue along the main trail, SSE as it passes behind some homes in the subdivision.

At the pipeline clearing Flatbrook displays a few small rapids.  The trail veers hard to the left and follows just alongside the brook again. Continue following the blue-blazed trail, which eventually goes up the right bank, still following Flatbrook, from high on the hillside.

At 0.37 miles from the start you will enter a sizable grove of Mountain Laurels.  These are beautiful the first week of June.

100 feet beyond the end of the grove you will cross the second small brook (easy).  This one is cool and noisy for a few days after a hard rain.  At this point you will be 0.45 miles from the start of the path.

100 feet after this brook the path comes to a fork.  Bear Left, continuing roughly South, and following the blue blazes on the trees. 

At 0.54 miles the path comes to a T, at a tree with 2 blue blazes on it.  Bearing right follows the blue blazes, bearing left takes you along a short, unmarked trail down to Flatbrook and a waterfall, which you might be able to hear from here.  Follow the trail to the left (SSE) to the creek.  As you approach you will dodge a vary large, fallen pine tree.  As you pass this bear right along Flatbrook and you will see the waterfall.  Across the creek here is a small clearing used by hikers during the summer.  You are now in the Meshomasic State Forest.

The Letterbox

Stand at the point where a fallen tree lay (near the referenced pine tree), roots exposed, at the bank of the small waterfall stream.  At this point the waterfall is on your right, Flatbrook is on your left, and the stream coming down the waterfall is in front of you.  Look up the waterfall on the opposite bank to a tree, which is bent, and looks to have two small rooty holes exposed.  Cross the small stream and hike up the bank to this tree.  The lower right hand hole, facing Flatbrook, holds the prize.  At the box, as you face Flatbrook, your about 1/3 up the waterfall (which is now on your left 8 feet), and 25-30 feet from Flatbrook (the main stream).

The Return Trip

As you retrace your steps back bear right at your first main fork.  Remember, you are following Flatbrook back.  Shortly after this main fork there is a smaller fork, right, which takes you right down to the water.  Its a nice spot but the main trail is to the left at the small fork.  You will notice the blue blazes on the way back just as you saw them coming in.

Have Fun, Good Luck

The Sullivans