Mountain Laurel Walk at Red Hill Woods Preserve Set For June 7

BRANFORD, CT — On the Mountain Laurel Walk offered by the Branford Land Trust at Red Hill Woods Preserve, set for June 7 at 2 p.m., participants can expect to see displays of mountain laurel, the Connecticut state flower.

There will be two walk options. A 1.2-mile walk that includes some botanical tidbits along the way, and a 1.6-mile option where folks can stretch their legs and explore some of the unique features of this expansive preserve. Both walks will, at one point, be on a segment of the Branford Trail. There, walkers will remember the trail’s creator, Chet Blomquist, who will have turned 100 on June 14.

The event is free and open to the public. The total duration, including stops to look at and talk about plants, is 1.5-2 hours. All ages are welcome. No dogs, please.

Park at the very end of Red Hill Woods Road, off Leetes Island Road. Rain or shine unless the weather is dangerous, in which case the walk will be postponed to the following Sunday, June 14. Check the Branford Land Trust's website here or on its Facebook page.

As with all Land Trust walks, please wear appropriate clothes and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Expect terrain with rocky underfooting, some declines and inclines, and
one steep downhill slope. Some muddy spots are possible if there has been rain. Bring water. Walking sticks are advised if you’re unsure of your balance on slopes.

The Branford Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, established in 1967 to protect Branford’s open space and natural resources. Run by volunteers and supported by member families and businesses, the Land Trust maintains more than 30 miles of hiking trails, manages and protects over 1,000 acres in more than 130 parcels and holds conservation easements on another 400 acres in Branford.

For more information, visit branfordlandtrust.org.