Whitney Forest Hibbard trail is near Lebanon in Connecticut and is a wonderful 1.5 mile blue blazed trail with beautiful rock walls, stream crossings and meandering paths through the woodland. I also happen to hold the current Fastest Known Time on this trail too !

This guide will give you everything you need to enjoy this trail including parking, pictures, gpx files and videos as well as some background history and hints and tips.

History of the trail

The Whitney Forest was donated to CFPA in 1998 by Dorothy Whitney to protect the property from further development and ensure its proper management well into the future. This wonderful woodland was harvested in 2015 to help regenerate oak and pitch pine species and to improve the site for wildlife.

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”//www.avantlink.com/link.php?ml=196169&amp;p=187869&amp;pw=242353″></script>

The property’s Hibbard Trail named in honor of CFPA’s former Executive Director, John Hibbard, is a 1.5 mile loop that traverses the property and acts as a forestry educational resource for all ages. 

Snow and smiles

Shona and I visited it on a cold wet and snowy February day but despite this we really enjoyed the charm of this loop trail. The trail features red maple swamps, fieldstone corrals, a tumbling stream and views over a neighboring marsh.

Remembering John Hibbard

The loop trail is named for John Hibbard, one of Connecticut’s premier conservation heroes. Hibbard served as CFPA’s executive director and secretary/forester from 1963 to 2000. Trained as a forester at UConn, Hibbard was a visionary who worked on big legislative issues that have had long-lasting impacts on conservation and recreation across the state. His forceful advocacy was integral to providing tax relief for farm, forest, and open space lands (PA 490) which currently totals 484,000 acres statewide. He worked on legislation that established town conservation commissions to protect our local air, water and open space resources.

Summary / Verdict

This is a lovely and easy terrain and very charming loop any time of year. Well worth a visit and accessible to all abilities of hiker and walker.

Map

Parking – click here for parking info on google maps .
212-276 Oliver Rd., (off Rte. 87)
Lebanon, CT 06249

Distance – 1.5 Miles Elevation – 105 ft

Garmin Connect Account GPX files click here