Newtown Hikers Announce Fall Schedule

Newtown Hikers has finished planning its weekly hiking events for the fall season, which will begin on Saturday, September 11. The group hosts hikes each Saturday morning around the region.

Anyone interested in joining a hike should meet in the lower parking lot of Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, by 9 am.

Newtown Hikers is an open group welcoming anyone interested in hiking and the outdoors.

There is no membership fee.

Hikers participate at their own risk and must sign a release for the Newtown Parks & Recreation Department before they can participate.

Hikes are moderate and last three to five hours, plus driving time, unless otherwise stated.

Children are welcome accompanied by adults.

Bring lunch and beverages.

Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended; dress for the weather.

Dates and locations for the fall are as follows, with the names of each week’s hike leader and phone in parentheses.

Hikers should check with the listed leader of each hike for hike details, weather cancellations and/or schedule changes. Also, if you want to meet the group at a different point, contact the hike leader (listed in parentheses for each hike):

*Sept 11, Aspetuck Valley Trail, Newtown to Redding, moderate hike (Louann Chevalier, 203-426-2072);

*Sept 18, Cheshire Rail Trail, hike or bike or roller blade (Sawsan Ali, 203-426-8911);

*Sept 25, Steep Rock, Washington (Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025);

*Oct 2, Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve, Litchfield (Minnie Ingardia, 203-801-8343);

*Oct 9, Walkway Over The Hudson River & Franny Reese Preserve, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., moderate hike, six miles, shorter options for those not wanting to do complete hike (Jim Steck, 845-621-5559);

*Oct 16, Tarrywile Park, Danbury, Orange Trail, moderate hike (Sally Cox, 203-426-9903 or 203-830-9032);

*Oct 23, Bronx Zoo, N.Y. (Jo Sembler, 203-228-1521 or 203-267-5567; special notes: entrance fee $16, $14 seniors $14, separate exhibits $5 or $27 adult, $23 senior for combined admission);

*Oct 30, Devil’s Den, Redding, six-mile loop (Carol Fullman, 203-270-1747);

*Nov 6, Bee Brook, Washington (Robin Johnson, 203-263-4964);

*Nov 13, Pequonnock River Valley Park, Trumbull (Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025);

*Nov 20, Bear Mt, Danbury, easy to moderate (Louann Chevalier, 203-426-2072);

*Nov 27, no scheduled hike — just show up to hike unplanned route;

*Dec 4,                Lovers Leap State Park, New Milford, easy (Joe & Kandace Yuen, 203-26-8328);

*Dec 11, Richter Park, Danbury (Eloise Muller, 203-740-8957), **short hike followed by potluck luncheon and winter scheduling at Susan Gabriele’s (call Susan for food coordination, 203-775-8236).

For further information contact Ester Nichols, 203-788-1398 or pilgrim555@charter.net, or Newtown Parks & Recreation Department at 203-270-4340.

To receive the hiking schedules all year, send an email request to Ms Nichols or send $3 with name and mailing address to Ms Nichols, 14 Pilgrim Lane, Sandy Hook CT 06482.