Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy, which includes property in Bloomfield, East Granby, West Hartford, and Windsor, will hold a hike ‘Over the Mountain’ on Saturday, Nov. 1.

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It’s time again for this annual scenic hike from Bloomfield to Simsbury co-sponsored by the Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy (TRLC), Simsbury Land Trust (SLT), and Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services. The free hike – now in its 12th year – will showcase TRLC, SLT, and town properties that provide trail connectivity linking the two towns through Penwood State Park. And the fall scenery should still be on display!

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The hike will be approximately 5 miles. Meet at 9 a.m. at the hike’s end point, the recently refreshed Drake Hill Flower Bridge in Simsbury (off Drake Hill Road).

Please park in the commuter lot behind the Drake Hill Mall off of Iron Horse Boulevard. Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services will provide a bus to shuttle hikers to this year’s starting point, the historic Oliver Filley House in LaSalette Park in Bloomfield.

Hikers will begin their journey ascending a short hill for great views of the Hartford skyline. The route will connect LaSalette Park to the adjoining trails on TRLC’s Hawk Hill Farm property, a working farm with passive recreation trails and a number of notable trees. TRLC recently launched a designated Tree Trail highlighting these trees, including a magnificent American elm and white oak. From there, the hike will proceed northwest to TRLC’s Stout Family Fields, Bloomfield’s gateway to Penwood State Park.

In Penwood, hikers will visit Lake Louise and The Pinnacle for spectacular fall views of Simsbury and the Farmington Valley.

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From Lake Louise, the yellow trail will lead the group to SLT’s Tanager Hill property in Simsbury. SLT’s Walk Booknotes that Tanager Hill is “the most diverse parcel” of preserved land in Simsbury.

Tanager Hill connects to SLT’s Owen-Mortimer preserve where the group will exit for a short walk on the road back to their vehicles.

We invite you to take advantage of this annual opportunity to experience a different mode of journeying between our two neighboring towns and enjoy the final days of fall color. For more information and registration, please visit trlandconservancy.org. Please register for the hike as there is a limited bus space: https://forms.gle/R9NQEjjDf9cAh3Sq8.

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