Each year, come the first weekend in June, more than 230 volunteer event leaders and organizers in Connecticut lead the largest trails celebration in the nation, offering hiking, biking, paddling, letterboxing, trail work parties, equestrian rides and trail experiences of all kinds. It’s a grassroots effort with Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) at the helm, and the Granby Land Trust is proud to support this effort by hosting a hike in Granby each year.
This year on June 1, the Granby Land Trust (GLT) will lead a Nature Walk on its 118-acre Godard Preserve on Donahue Road in North Granby. Recently cleared of winter blow-downs and re-marked with new trail markers, the Godard Preserve offers visitors a beautiful woodland walk with mostly level terrain but with some steep areas and brook crossings. The hike will be led by GLT board members Jen Plourde and John Weeks. The hike has been scheduled first thing in the morning to accommodate busy families. Hikers should gather at the Godard Trailhead on Donahue Road at 7:45 a.m. The hike will begin at 8 a.m.
The Connecticut Trails Day celebration is part of National Trails Day® (NTD), a nationwide hiking initiative established by the American Hiking Society in 1993. Trails Day encourages the public and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails while participating in numerous events held in each state. CFPA has been coordinating Connecticut’s participation since NTD began. This year’s Connecticut celebration will feature 230 trail events in more than 100 Connecticut towns.