Ostby Memorial Forest

Frequently on these walks I run across interesting little side walks. Today is a case in point. I was walking Old Route 6 East in Hampton and Brooklyn and came across the Ostby Memorial Forest which is owned by the Eastern Connecticut Forest Landowners Assoc./Wolf Den Land Trust. At the road there is a little post box with a log and maps inside. The trail is about 1 mile loop which since it goes through some wetlands and rugged short hills I will rate it as a 3. The trail is clearly marked by orange spray paint blazes on the trees. Just a reminder about blazes, one mark means the trail more or less goes straight ahead, two marks means look for a change (corner or two paths with one being the recommended path, etc.). The Map indicates that there are old foundations, wells and an interesting stone bridge. All of these I found. The map also marks a potential sawmill site, but I am not sure of that (and neither was the map maker). The map has a nice story about the property's transfer to the trust in 1999. The path goes out to Sarah Pearl Road and you must be careful to look for the entrance back into the forest. Again this would be a very pleasant and short walk on a hot sunny summer day. If you take this walk or its companion walk near the Golden Lamb think about a small donation to the trust. Their address is on the map.

Old Route 6 can be found next to the Post Office in Hampton which is on Route 97.