Granby - McLean Game Refuge

Date Hiked:  Monday, October 1, 2012
Number in Group: 8
Estimated distance round-trip: 2+ miles
Weather: 70° and sunny
Resources: McLean Game Refuge, Trail Map
Highlights of the trip: Nearly dry Kettle Pond, foliage starting to turn at Spring Pond

McLean Game Refuge is a place we have all hiked many times before, but what's not to like?  Instead of using one of the main entrances on either Route 10 or Barndoor Hills Road, we used the entrance on Canton Road near Spring Pond.

We proceeded downhill, but before getting to the pond, we turned right and followed the woods road as if we were headed to Trout Pond.  We soon came to a bridge over the Bissell Brook.

Bissell Brook.

We remained on the woods road until it intersected with the purple-blazed North Trail.  Here, we took a left and climbed the hill and took another left at the top and followed along the ridge (an esker?)  This trail meets up with another woods road that we followed until it the North Trail went left by Kettle Pond.

Cottonwood trees fell into Kettle Pond after October storm in 2011.

Kettle Pond is several feet below its usual level.  I think it is fun to take advantage of times like this to go out towards the middle of the pond and look around.  In addition to being able to see what is normally covered by water, I also like to turn and look back at my usual vantage point.

After a little exploring we headed up the hill toward the field.  We walked in the pine forest around the edge of the field and turned left off the North trail to go down to Spring Pond.  The colors are only just starting to show on the trees.

Spring Pond.

From Spring Pond, we headed back to our starting point, passing once more over the Bissell Brook.

Bissell Brook near Spring Pond.

The Game Refuge is one of my favorite places to hike.  There are plenty of trails and if you choose one of the less used entrances, you almost feel like you have the place to yourself.