This little 2.6 mile loop is in Wolcott and roughly equidistant between Waterbury and Southington. Its said that Abraham Lincoln once walked through one section of this woodland. The trail consists of a right spiralling loop shaped like a Go Cart Track that meanders through a combination of boggy rocky marshland and slightly elevated dense old woodland of Oak, Birch and Hickory. The rolling rocks, lush vegetation and birdsong makes this place very magical.
Full Guide
We walked this trail during ‘the golden hour’ shortly before sunset on a sunny day in May.
We walked the loop clockwise which meant we got the more challenging rocky path section done in the first half mile leaving the rest of the trail easy to walk.
History of the Finch Brook Preserve
At more than 60 acres, Finch Brook Preserve is one of the Wolcott Land Conservation Trust’s largest properties, offering a well-blazed trail that meanders through the picturesque wooded hills of southwestern Wolcott. The bulk of the preserve was donated to the Wolcott Land Conservation Trust in 1997 and a subsequent land donation in 2012 helped to enlarge the property even further.
A Poetic Hike Through Finch Brook Preserve
The Trail is named after Finch Brook which runs through the centre of the 60 acre site.
According to the Trust, the preserve’s woods may be nearly a century old since the area was heavily forested in aerial photos taken of the area in 1934.
As you walk through the woods you’ll be surprised by various poets and poems on small frames on the trees. I wont spoil the surprise but I saw poems from Walt Whitman and a few other poets I know and like.
Swirling Marbled Rock
The second half of the clockwise loop is slightly more elevated woodland with dense canopy. The smaller rocks give way to larger boulders that you walk round, and many have a beautiful swirled marble effect through the granite.
The sound of water flowing beneath
In some of the woodland areas you can feel that the ground is ‘spongy’ beneath. If you listen carefully you can hear water flowing beneath the soil a few inches below the ground you are standing on.
Meandering Trail
The trail is well marked but there are a few paths that lead off elsewhere and you double back on yourself a lot so make sure you concentrate on the blue blazes and not just accept that the path ahead of you is the right way.
Summary
This little trail us a real treat. When Shona said she felt like this was a hidden wood of the fairies we all agreed this was a great way to describe this trail. We recommend doing it clockwise to get the most challenging rocky bit done first and we would recommend not going here shortly after or during heavy rain. Be careful for poison ivy and definitely bring bug spray too !
Parking
At the end of Barbara Drive in Wolcott.
Map
https://www.wolcottlandct.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/finch-brook-preserve-trail-map-rev004.pdf
