ABOUT THE PARK:
Note that at the present time these trails are not in very good shape and in mid-May some are already very overgrown. There is also flooding and bridge construction in progress near Turtle Pond making the trails inaccessible.
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.484748, -73.602557
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXARahEsfYWyv8smizdzsweNF4hgfqZUkwe9T2sXC1AldVkueYOCqsbYCrc_oFgGboraFe6a4RR1BsIvETl-Azwe10zc6hwMW23QJr6xwtM3bhPni-YSvXld9fGlmRNSPqBeV71Ws4hlmUeuGzZh4B_LpkpZqfC7JhKqydXCoyQMlPcCyqhE9Lnhh6pH1o/w640-h254/a%20parking.jpg) |
For Turtle Pond: Pullout parking along Cornwall Hill Road across from Devon Road. I had intended to park here and hike all of the trails from one parcel to the next and back but when that as not possible I moved on to... |
GPS Coordinates 41.488357, -73.601543
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQUJc5s4Fazisent_W359xb_VgSJEFBsgmiS5zbhh7yGhBUnJvT1Oepe0mHGQL7kn1WrNOAGp9ACiZZ0ZS9p12BFTlL0vx2rxKF2TNAIJ_jvSkPzz6F-Jm7W9nZzQInvFL3rJ_H8wxG6614zDlBybkmdQtQiJ045GYGTmiWSuosSV7MPWohNBezRbhn6y/w640-h274/aIMG_6835.JPG) |
Literally around the corner from Turtle Pond is a small parking lot with room for 4 cars at Tom's Path. |
TRAIL MAP:
There is no trail map. The trails on the Gaia app are noted as "guess". This is what I came up with from what I was able to hike, color coded to the actual trail marker colors:
HIKE DISTANCE: 2 miles
THE HIKE:
TURTLE POND:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV1z3yjE_Pdh_itbvZeJYbym2izfnBw9W7rp6FWmHCdTStFmD6pMunCSygqDrCsttYhejO-soWEqM6LYrUIcMShT7T-LZTlQRhzu8icgV_jctsCRZtbPaRSMFkOQaOzFYuTUgSD7PqTL8bZOlZFM_G5utGbmf4OGTXRNGTBuyXr4j3741ByjNQeAlsbUs/s600/IMG_6737.JPG) |
Right off the bat I noticed wood for constructing something on the trail. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSFnD3FlvZN82jr_eD4206MElp5FwfkkqcVwHP1roG9H6wuJbVIwlXryTbnRO0jhIpAJiiwh92VOZ7T8koec8IPyTlBqClIsUSXq7DiU-x9Z91NG3XLIx6jAS_-SQRRLjo-vHbynwuqKsxA0-SpQAQrJOZCCYeJ2M8FmyN2rbTU2i0kfvzEj-GqAcssX-/s600/IMG_6738.JPG) |
Turning right at the kiosk, heading towards Turtle Pond on white. There were yellow markers going straight from the kiosk; we would be returning that way. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNY_N3tREOg9KB-JV4uJpWWAdgYNER2o40KO9fovpmb8g2wEKhnLwihqmv9EHX-q4TkEi9zsvj63rJwrYS9u4AQyi8OJeo-cMWN30eHTValtQ3cLkcvLIZ3O28p4C2yzB1mKMcWRHsLplfPS0MMaRWjJCR9qNvX-vgiAesWnGKrecTWx_q-rsGgAuU0uM/s600/IMG_6740.JPG) |
There are dramatic cliffs and rock ledges up ahead but I could not get close enough to see them well. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixp7Af8diEnlua40yMm3QMi33D10dGo2qqFXCSAkfWc0T9gdRZqVi_EA-rzQfjCiRHSjTR3MSI3bK3QqpTxkc5mgTM3JDXX5qxzhaAWLe7-l0QF-QawRaKmN6444HGLGLqn9vYwFfARJQrLTjk5Ic6CYwmgeEy8cHk0p4qS78_4uTZNHys1AGgTnfV4hu/s600/IMG_6741.JPG) |
At some point the yellow trail comes in from the left and the trail is now yellow. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj816bsJfjrMKcgYDIBmABBNVFpzPx-Qh3T_6-K8e6JqD-Ryr84GOJ0iaevMOSmLnnUi293a683S_sXFQOAmpPh3tgXWLU96lWBYlvzUJ6yKFuLXojbj4HpwdfGxpTU-JMoqDffOChCDLn5HGF1HuweYjOrXOL9IT50_hyLcImo_VY0YLY-iGUv9GWMLf6d/s600/IMG_6744.JPG) |
And this is as far as we could go. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaePuy-1nGafuPXCxJF4jDQv2WwcHSSCeHYtmDsl7srIDyeaMpICuG0qD0YGRGX4aWr89XfS2ADcFzgmtWafwvNWT38OgV4DEIf2vO2wQq7TsZxwciBZ5FYmV1NgEmPYEnNNvKLDNq79YXJkfoDRjFAPQg0JIsU0oWyWXthPIpfLbKBvXApZtcKcnTISN/s600/IMG_6745.JPG) |
Looks like everything is flooded out and a new bridge was up ahead with more materials around for more bridges. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacC5SquOKxc1bG_fr8iYfEmixqB4YlNsxArclpWVTC5llLiZwfkqPPLqysSPaA8zKVyqy6vfz3Pu8tm4CHlHv2VYFSu7otdcDYZEL56bCexUQHH4HPpY-niLNpAVvZ5eCMTiElAGw0eO8ekoAnV9h7_UP1swz-IsldHdFPgcwckRICQT38Zn_SuNbP8Hf/s600/IMG_6746.JPG) |
Heading back. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6T7p8IbsheeSPJ25DuIFG3ckE3KLBtgltGRXVrJadZnJQ4zbWVk5V1_e7W7v7GcvFMqm-UnPKN1YGVBe3s7VTqozlslfBR9FeBdg1le75VSbsscFpKo3VEvltnSIqyoG8MzhOCj-P5_lIqaPPkJ_dZbkoqkME9p-C-owynd-NbOxkFVne2Oj4uJwXCoR/s600/IMG_6747.JPG) |
Where the trail becomes white, veered right on yellow thinking that might offer a connection to the upper trails but I did not see that. Just ended up looping back to the kiosk. |
TOM'S PATH AND STERLING FARM:![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcAQ3fNt5YIRzZce6me-wIPtkNLyaQFURChHJYohzxMgifbIPNCpmkgcnH3WheDxY39nRx2Gm6lauZTPbcXSzwZY8Zq4TE0Oa5JSVwYmt8SeKPuixhz2q5XvWiqQ_G0F_oJcvbi9Qfdwm1XfWZSQF1xr8QDfGkXUWt5_WM-hF2LcysGLgskXWOdn_JlgQ/s600/IMG_6752.JPG) |
From the Tom's Path parking lot, taking the yellow trail around a loop. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSGAw01tys-g5o7kF82cxA0euXsj8d9L064EMAfYHMD6QxjYWoDvFjD5720dL4GcA-P0kMs0x0FAeTQj0Xeb3c0eoP38lMnO0ndpudRodYjejZI_BWRRaHi_-htXWkG14HK9E_N1e-d9lUJ1nH7V8Ypy8w4rOuLpYnAaGUnXLR_M3AQZTbO8W7eHzu0cU/s600/IMG_6757.JPG) |
The trail starts out clear and well-defined. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuidwya8Cs_jfgQkCsD5kk28mRXAlSHzy0sAPu4xHcn-BgrlssSozulcGH557ikXl141J595oNx30W-5eYvzpUH7ip7NpEbyTw5HHBYujOAptQvcZ5lRgEuquYGji2ZJP2ZNj5fFclOrCoJBk_lbecDB2SW1RsjzKVap6p0Wmu8EuDYqLlWs6Z2PvWA5u-/s600/IMG_6758.JPG) |
At the far end it starts to become overgrown. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfbSykJZVbuUaVJoAKssiylboNKayMG8ozKjHRmNrdXmgMqN7xj_piQDmSDd-3zDCIG-cDWXNDe2PtHUZlxKmv5iGhQgWDPgyj8xry3d77_W-wVLJ_JsIhzCGjmwdLQw74mgPySm0eN7ePHcHPO1wyzZ34ruXm84mr8y22XgG8Ty4LingBneaLkwhE-H2/s600/IMG_6766.JPG) |
Ending back at the parking lot in only .2 miles. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkjdscIBPruYyQGHLl3mow2lKV0t1SwO69M_AX4yTIEFx-Dh7-xGToCl1yBZuyrl47qWK1F2leHu_whWeXfCLdXph4cPVZQek-ufI1zwwv6_c7CeKKM3Oc9JJBeXctSGJ6sJ_bzSyKVpUtqoI7mrfOdbchiNcJDSY1GtRE-MS5FnfelhhI2KWcGSQ0AJN/s600/IMG_6769.JPG) |
Since I knew the Sterling Farm parcel would just be a short road walk away, we headed there, just before the bend up ahead on the right. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB1fosqLtTCHvjVBBJ0rezWfvNSU5Gn9YBOu3hMD0hzzGUMidiFe4PW24_SEfSPlHrqMiqHv3_VXEVzTx9rkgb_SBQsJVWijyRrE9ttrCzWXIuZS5hvWfc5ZEE7Vpr352Nh1WTWtIQRwo_OzcJ4nB7vj5LivSjmNFvT1ehCIrAvUmUKQdCWozpDc6OCci/s600/IMG_6772.JPG) |
That started out very muddy and swampy. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW28Twuo3xB3Ly5vptwfCkW-X3WmmKVAswt3NQBTrrZAgNKtnW0Zyq3TA416F310SfwfHLlZAO7VKJH3aRvnUeNVOXPegzIvfCsYUMvEEt99U-E_O72dZVgwUO3hZMgkGBc16O-GhE5NExKMQiN1wE4YGQpbHyDLxvLRQLAH3ZNN-LhhM6xn_c1hpC5aTL/s600/IMG_6776.JPG) |
This trail was also very overgrown. I would imagine it would be impassible come summer. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitszCi-Bf0gX-dYDoKtmQwM1qpjNLmgLlRbI-_zUz1nhjbpKwMqgT70S4-GLXwpYADdz3_vnzyny91KHWla_yADSr3aZ3WbZBoEA0qll4xJp4Yj0izYemDpYeCb0E5SlXyHG9adZE5mhGlRmUWWpJ7ihS02foxPeX_jmfysrwJDsA75hJyT34Rk9hAsryg/s600/IMG_6785.JPG) |
The overgrowth of mountain laurel was the most difficult part to get through. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQysHa-u0MXm6yLPk1yGyMcFfXLT1Xi4Jy4kOMq_QNU9X1DJmV92re4ez3blFSyZBy0sj7txuTRvkXcltjiO6038oUImUgZD8byR5LBpT6W-_CQcVbpKmZE5oFNUDX0r6aSMtxoDU99WUaEXIbGQ6lPnfheolQJCa0ERbxVzI6KdhjWIQ-liRwNLzGIh5m/s600/IMG_6793.JPG) |
At the top of a very steep climb, the yellow trail connecting over to Turtle Pond. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwGW9J2CtLasxbE6pmFzMoR-EQCKM7mlixPh6TVSmvUj0moU4vSSgLksyqJP7hEbRU5-iZorGWpP8SWbe9BmAggjuIHUUqQpCmxpGjH8SiUmxpdRYtS221nuB6OYd6hSuKLd523wd5_9I0_BN4CL-f4j7vs9H_uONGYEgTIPjlV2MlnjgwMI-EFII0TdT/s600/IMG_6795.JPG) |
This trail was much clearer. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CG8G_BNBGjvUJjWyGLa9Tst-38Zh77wGF7XPOFZxZpqOrgRV2Pw0P8NbSH6BbruA2Mxudbhj0Tmk8UUH18FuUkIS7dCkUy4MYqp4ppDNxtVQFCHGBXUjEMhOIQR0GBub8q_FdMPXXVnQL9iVr5ODPlH9OaTQc-e5oAlBUUgASGiWeynu2uYgJExMUZuh/s600/IMG_6798.JPG) |
I followed it until it started to descend steeply. Having already climbed up very steeply three times that day, I decided I did not have another one in me and if I went down I would have to come back up. So I retraced back to red. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ5JoXW7hUROnQdCexikSk9JgbuK6Pd0ghxMWlpHqN-4CLCt6w2dVPsjpdHKEBtCaXLG7KDMsDQXltBwXdgfm6vEee0Nm-ifhcLmQNvaBuWiLfrtJmjGXwdn03h5M-0YVD9o9Ip1tu1LO9m6PlqA4Ib8rTgowxgDyIwfDLVmfWNH3Oo6uQOExmb9FOVzQ/s600/IMG_6808.JPG) |
I then saw the start of a blue trail and followed that for a bit. But when it headed in a direction opposite of where I wanted to go, I retraced to red. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxU7Gg5PUnHKYeZvQrs_4TpyxFXoTfkHc8xnOaBbZTnYEyAHgQuM223ukGpdilkzoqWfwfCso38yEQxD0rOPFS_5sXHDQxaWUfBDkaLelWjGHdrtptZB59xvIerNwoxaYNH7nBbA-u_R-5uB3GrJJOVwEcRlfKtT8u23zkYGDkgV1RApcXD9o-kCPvoyy/s600/IMG_6811.JPG) |
Red descends very steeply and is not nearly as overgrown on this side. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoYxUozR9TEpxTlrhuBtfXJUd0emckls7sbsCGarnc312FVbvs4_Vk3BjyTlcOF5YoesrwzQrYtmLPgkyXEWyjyeRVuPjMlD5wLhilitAnwKN1YY33zJkDiKNOTcs6EpZ-vrNJoldh7zeWrEhhbQZ5oXrhyphenhyphenkXBswm6xdyPVMESXnp9nnTD-q9mrKY4eZu/s600/IMG_6821.JPG) |
Coming back out on the road with a random blue marker. No other blue markers in sight so I don't think the blue trail I was on loops back here. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuxU0f1PFZcnPEE4ufLMilsg6E6pnFQ6Vr181aTV_Wu7CzKSFj9PWGTBZLjMWh28D6MmCW-V_tHcfZurkbVMN5Zs0RVp0ktyqScqNP8svc8yhgUhTxosXlkX1OSNCS1cMC1BgiYMUL_NbIzia3PkeQZN6cU_YGwROP1n52Lw3BvMXqGmZg6JGqsmf23h3/s600/IMG_6823.JPG) |
Turning left on the road for a short road walk back. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxQc62X6P7NlXUd3MmVtcHhuU8s8VnQpo_SMXsuPXOJCkIBzcY7xu2YH3pP8MXLg8MUuHTsjL6Wo9ya3Sb8M0wzRJfrdw2aUSlJUpZClXgf8kopO20Jbf67h_wBQ7TrjfMonnSl-7bPm0rLqamaVeOoRFvg9pLqCGyr8R1K0oaNfpCr3zgzR05rITZZdy/s600/IMG_6833.JPG) |
I was surprised to see the small parking lot full of cars when I returned. A man approached me and asked where I had been hiking because they were disappointed to find Tom's Path to be so short. When I explained to him where I had been, he said they had done the exact same things - got nowhere at Turtle Pond because of the flooding, and bailed on the Sterling Farm trails because they were afraid of ticks with the overgrowth. |
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