As part of the CT Trails Day 2010 Celebration the New Hartford Land Trust (NHLT) and the Conservation Commission are sponsoring  a guided hike of the Jones Mountain Open Space Preserve.  This is a 158-acre property that was permanently preserved through the Town of New Hartford’s open space program in 2006 through a combination of a state grant, local taxpayer funds and the NHLT’s Campaign for Jones Mountain.
The hike will begin at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, Saturday June 5. Â Please meet at the Jones Mountain Trailhead on Steele Road. Â There is a small parking space about .8 of a mile on the left up Steele Road driving down from the intersection of Central Avenue and Route 219. Â The full hike is a 2.5 mile loop which will last about two hours; however, hikers are free to leave the hike on their own at any point along the trail.
The hike will include a walk along the old carriage roads lined with culvers built by Irish stonemasons long ago and hikers will be able to catch great views at the top. Hike leaders will talk about the Jones Family history and stewardship of the property and the family’s decision to permanently protect the land. They will also highlight work done since the purchase of the property.
To download a copy of the Jones Mountain Trail map on the NHLT website, please click here.
To pre-register or for more information: on the Jones Mountain property and other Land Trust properties, please visit the New Hartford Land Trust’s website. Â You may also email the NHLT at newhartfordlandtrust@yahoo.com or call 860-309-5724.
For more information on the CT Trails Day 2010 Celebration: on Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6, please see the downloadable copy of the CT Trails Day 2010 Celebration booklet available on the CT Forest and Park Association website.
The Jones Mountain trail on Easter Sunday, April 3 had an ethereal, early-Spring look. Photo: Maria Moore
