Thompson Trails Committee
P.O. Box 899
North Grosvenordale, CT 06255
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MEMBERS
Karen Durlach - Chair/Secretary
John Kochinskas
Mike Lajeunesse
Al Landry
Lucille Langlois
Charles Obert
David Ostrowski
Rob Paton
Brian Loffredo
The Thompson Trails Committee is a volunteer committee. Voting members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The public is welcome to attend Committee meetings. We also maintain a list of people willing to do trail work, lead trips, advocate for trails with governmental organizations and volunteer for other trail-related projects. If you are interested in any of these activities, and would like to receive email notices of meetings, events, and trail workdays, please send your e-mail and contact information to <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
WHAT WE DO
Thompson Trails Committee Mission Statement: The Thompson Trails Committee will build, maintain and promote the use of public trails in Thompson, and to connect Thompson Trails to neighboring communities. We will work with landowners, non-profit organizations and local, State and federal officials.
The Town of Thompson is lucky to have within its borders many publicly accessible trails available for hiking or easy walking, nature study, biking, horseback riding and boating. These trails are diverse in terrain. Some provide handicap accessibility and some connect to trail systems in neighboring communities. They include Town-owned and State-owned properties, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineering land.
The Trails Committee has organized activities for the public, including hikes, nature and historical walks, horseback rides, and canoe paddles. We have participated in Connecticut Trails Day, Community Day, and Walktober. We will host a fundraiser at West Thompson Lake: the Turkey Trot (a 5K cross-country race) and the 2.5/5K Turkey Wobble (a walk) for teams and individuals.
Trail Maps are available at the Thompson Library Information Table and at Town Hall.
Thompson’s Trails
• Thompson Trails
• Airline Trail (from Mass. border to Putnam on old railroad bed)
• Tri-State Marker Trail (off Airline Trail, 2 miles round trip, steep & rocky)
• Orange Trail (Fabyan to West Thompson Lake, USACE)
• Fabyan River Trail/Fisherman’s Walk (1.2 miles round trip, boat launch & parking lot, USACE)
• Bull Hill Recreation Area (easy 1 mile loop)
• North Grosvenordale River Walk (3.2 miles round trip, mostly paved, handicap & bike accessible)
• Quaddick State Park (1.5 miles round trip, easy to moderate)
• Tamler Preserve (.6 miles round trip, mostly easy )
• Border Trail (access to George Washington/Pulaski Management Areas, R. I.)
For additional information & maps:
West Thompson Lake
Quaddick State Park, CT
Douglas State Forest, MA
Pulaski State Park, RI
Rhode Island Nature Trails
George Washington Management Area
How Trails Benefit the Community
• Recreation and exercise opportunities
• Preserving greenways, native habitat and wildlife corridors
• Preserving the rural character of Thompson
• Tourism & economic development
• Connections to neighboring communities
Thompson Trail Partners:
As the Town of Thompson Trails Committee works to maintain and extend our trail system, provide community events and continue legislative advocacy, we need more citizen involvement “on the ground” to act as trail stewards. We are looking for individuals and organizations to partner with us by making an annual commitment to a particular trail or section of trail. All that is requested is that your group do an annual spring clean-up (convenient to your schedule) and agree to monitor your adopted section of trail periodically throughout the year. For instance, Boy Scout Troop 66 maintains the section of Orange Trail running between Brickyard and Red Bridge Roads. In the spring, fallen brush from winter storms may need to be cleaned from the trail and trash picked up. Later, when there is new growth, some trails need brush cutting. Every trail is different but we can offer some initial training and advice if requested. If interested, please contact us.
MEETING SCHEDULE
Meetings are typically held the first Monday of alternate months at 7:00 p.m. in the Merrill Seney Room at Thompson Town Hall, unless otherwise noted.
