448. BOXING the NET (Part III)



A continuation of the New England Trail south of Route 80 in Guilford, CT, which can be hiked as a slightly over 2-mile "in-and-out", a 2-mile shuttle to Pepperbush Lane, or a 6-mile shuttle, combined with Bluebird's Boxing the NET (Part IV), to Sullivan Drive.

Starting from where we left off after Parts I and II of Boxing the NET, in the big parking lot on the north side of route 80, carefully cross the highway to head south, noting the little trail map kiosk just up the bank. Enjoy about a 10-minute stroll along the blue-blazed trail until you see a marked and blazed chokecherry tree on the left just before a stone wall. Take a dozen or so steps left here, before the wall, and look at the base of a tree with a stone for Box #1: Badminton NET.

Continue another 10 minutes or so along the trail until you reach some prominent rock ledges on the right with more ledges just up ahead on the left. Stop here at a yellow-blazed tree with a hole on your left, then take 10 steps off trail left and look behind a flat-sided triangular rock on the right side of a low-lying ledge for Box #2: Volleyball NET.

Now take some time just to enjoy the trail as you curve around a scenic lake and river with some pretty little waterfalls. When the trail takes a major turn left (east) and reaches a junction, note the medium-sized tree with 4 blue blazes and 2 white ones on the left. Take 6 steps left here off trail and look under a small stone behind a 4-trunk tree for Box #3: Tennis NET.

Now you can either turn back to return to route 80, or continue out to the next road, North Madison Road, where you could possibly spot a car just a bit to the east on Pepperbush Lane, or proceed with the clues for Boxing the NET(Part IV), if you have arranged a shuttle to the Sullivan Drive access or would like a longer hike!

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