We have a great day planned for National Trails Day, Saturday June 5.  You can go to the Events Page or just read below about the hike and event.  Then, please come on the hike and especially, please support CATS at our first fundraising event at Block House Farm (a.k.a. Steven Kellogg's house) in Essex.  This will be a great opportunity to find out more about CATS, talk with your fellow hikers and people who love the idea of trails to connect our communities, and listen to Elle Berger tell stories about countryside walking.

Celebrate CATS on National Trails Day - On Saturday, June 5th, Champlain Area Trails will participate in National Trails Day by hosting a morning hike and a late-afternoon celebration of the trail system it is developing that connects people with nature and will link Champlain Valley communities. 

“We are excited about participating in this day to honor hiking trails,” said Chris Maron, Executive Director.  “So we invite people to join us for a hike on the new Wildway Overlook Trail and to a wonderful event at Block House Farm in Essex featuring guest speaker Ellie Berger, author of Stepping Out:  A Tenderfoot’s Guide to the Principles, Practices, and Pleasures of Countryside Walking.” 

The Wildway Overlook Trail provides a relatively easy hike to a spectacular view of the Champlain Valley, Lake Champlain, and the “Split Rock Wildway” which is a wildlife corridor connecting habitat along Lake Champlain to the Adirondack Mountains.  The two-hour hike is free and open to the public.  It begins at 9:30 a.m. on Brookfield Road in Essex, about 1/4 mile south of Reynolds Road.

The afternoon’s celebratory event for Champlain Area Trails takes place from 4 – 6 p.m. at the historic and beautiful Block House Farm just north of Essex.  Guests will hear Ms. Berger’s stories about the joys of hiking through the countryside and the benefits of an interconnected trail network.  A reception follows her talk so people can converse, enjoy the view of Lake Champlain, look at the exhibits, trail maps, and photographs, and purchase limited edition prints that artist Steven Kellogg created for CATS.  Admission to this fundraising event is $15 per person.  To attend, send a check to CATS, PO Box 313, Westport, NY 12993, email [email protected], or call 962-4640.

“Celebrating the trails celebrates our communities and the people who live here,” said Maron.  “We’ve had so many enthusiastic people help create the trails, hike on them, and encourage friends to visit our communities, enjoy the beautiful landscape and use our businesses.  The trails really do promote economic vitality.”

Directions to the Wildway Overlook Trail:
From Wadhams:  Starting at the Dogwood Bakery, go north on Lewis Wadhams Road (CR-10) about 1.2 miles to slight right turn onto Walker Road (CR-55).  When Walker Road turns right, go straight onto Power Road about 0.5 miles to where it makes a “T” with Brookfield Road.  Turn right and go 1.6 miles to the trailhead.  If you go to Reynolds Road, you have gone too far.

From Lewis Exit 32 on the Northway (I-87):  Go east on CR-12 about 5 miles (CR-12 is Stowersville Rd. in Lewis and becomes Jersey St. in Essex) and follow it as it makes a sharp right turn (still Jersey St.).  Where CR-12 makes a sharp left and remains Jersey Street, continue straight onto Brookfield Road for about 0.7 miles to the trailhead, which is on your left, about 0.25 miles past Reynolds Rd.

From Essex:  Go west on NY-22 about 2.5 miles to a sharp left turn.  Continue straight onto Jersey Street (CR-12), cross the Boquet River, follow the road to the right as it goes about 2.5 miles to a stop sign.  Turn left onto Brookfield Road and go 0.7 miles to the Trailhead, about 0.25 miles past Reynolds Road.

From Westport:  Go to Wadhams and follow the directions above.

From Willsboro:  Go to Essex and follow the directions above.