Hidden Valley Nature Center Series LbNA #56443
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Nov 15, 2010 |
| Location: | |
| City: | New Fairfield |
| County: | Fairfield |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Planted by: | mkr005  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Afabas (2) |
| Last found: | May 4, 2013 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFaa |
| Last edited: | Nov 15, 2010 |
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy - Moderate
APPROXIMATE LENGETH OF TIME: 20 Minutes
Hidden Valley Nature Center is 3.4 acres of wetlands and wooded hillside nestled between the town’s Meeting House Hill School and the High School on Gillotti Road in New Fairfield, CT. Approximately one mile of self guided trails wind around and through the valley of oak, maple and hickory trees. These, along with many varieties of bushes and low lying flora, provide habitat for deer, skunk, opossum, raccoon and gray squirrels. As many as 160 species of birds have been sighted in the valley and pond. The man made pond is home to turtles, a few species of fish, frogs and toads along with other aquatic animals. There is an observation deck that juts out into the pond for a better view of this unique ecosystem. There is also, a small museum, pavilion, story circle area along with rest spots along the trails. If you have the time to just sit back and enjoy, the sights and sounds are certainly unique. During the fall foliage season, Hidden Valley is a perfect photo-op for any camera enthusiast.
New Fairfield Parks and Recreation and the New Fairfield Land Trust jointly oversee the programs at Hidden Valley. Each year programs such as maple sugaring, herb walks, ecological discussions, bird watching, tree identification walks, haunted story time, etc. are offered at the Center. The New Fairfield Boy Scouts with the help of the New Fairfield Lions Club donate countless hours of labor to maintain this preserve for generations to come.
This is the HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER SERIES of Letterboxes:
TO LETTERBOX #1, The Skunk - Enter between the opening in the rock wall, by the Hidden Valley sign and walk up to the Information/Map sign board. Take notice of where you are…“you are here”, and then find the “story circle” area on the map. You will follow the white trail (trees are marked) just behind the sign board off the left corner. Walk down the hill, through the “story circle” area. Look to your right and find the down tree. Walk to the other side of it, the side closest to the pond. Underneath where the tree bottom meets the ground you will find the skunk. (Please re-hide well with the bark that is there.)
TO LETTERBOX #2, The Squirrel - Now, follow the trail toward the bridge/look-out dock. (This is a great place to get a better view of the pond along with the different birds, turtles, frogs, etc.) Now, exit the bridge - facing the woods with the pond behind you and turn to your left. Head up a slight slop to the large boulder that is in front of you and just below the sign board where you started. Now, turn to your left, you will see a tree with a green stripe and a sign that says “tulip” up high on it. Walk past this tree, then past another boulder on your left and come to a wooden marker in the ground on your left - marker #2. Across from this marker you will see wooden steps on your right. (By the way, you can take these steps up and to the right when you are exiting.) Now, turn toward your left and you will come to a large tree indicating the start of the red trail. Walk to the other side of the tree and stop in front of the wooden bridge. Now, look to your right for a large tree with a boulder at it’s base. Behind this boulder you will find the squirrel. (Please re-hide well with rocks and bark.)
NOTE: I have two other letterboxes hidden nearby, one at the New Fairfield Cemetery and one at the Mountain View Cemetery.
APPROXIMATE LENGETH OF TIME: 20 Minutes
Hidden Valley Nature Center is 3.4 acres of wetlands and wooded hillside nestled between the town’s Meeting House Hill School and the High School on Gillotti Road in New Fairfield, CT. Approximately one mile of self guided trails wind around and through the valley of oak, maple and hickory trees. These, along with many varieties of bushes and low lying flora, provide habitat for deer, skunk, opossum, raccoon and gray squirrels. As many as 160 species of birds have been sighted in the valley and pond. The man made pond is home to turtles, a few species of fish, frogs and toads along with other aquatic animals. There is an observation deck that juts out into the pond for a better view of this unique ecosystem. There is also, a small museum, pavilion, story circle area along with rest spots along the trails. If you have the time to just sit back and enjoy, the sights and sounds are certainly unique. During the fall foliage season, Hidden Valley is a perfect photo-op for any camera enthusiast.
New Fairfield Parks and Recreation and the New Fairfield Land Trust jointly oversee the programs at Hidden Valley. Each year programs such as maple sugaring, herb walks, ecological discussions, bird watching, tree identification walks, haunted story time, etc. are offered at the Center. The New Fairfield Boy Scouts with the help of the New Fairfield Lions Club donate countless hours of labor to maintain this preserve for generations to come.
This is the HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER SERIES of Letterboxes:
TO LETTERBOX #1, The Skunk - Enter between the opening in the rock wall, by the Hidden Valley sign and walk up to the Information/Map sign board. Take notice of where you are…“you are here”, and then find the “story circle” area on the map. You will follow the white trail (trees are marked) just behind the sign board off the left corner. Walk down the hill, through the “story circle” area. Look to your right and find the down tree. Walk to the other side of it, the side closest to the pond. Underneath where the tree bottom meets the ground you will find the skunk. (Please re-hide well with the bark that is there.)
TO LETTERBOX #2, The Squirrel - Now, follow the trail toward the bridge/look-out dock. (This is a great place to get a better view of the pond along with the different birds, turtles, frogs, etc.) Now, exit the bridge - facing the woods with the pond behind you and turn to your left. Head up a slight slop to the large boulder that is in front of you and just below the sign board where you started. Now, turn to your left, you will see a tree with a green stripe and a sign that says “tulip” up high on it. Walk past this tree, then past another boulder on your left and come to a wooden marker in the ground on your left - marker #2. Across from this marker you will see wooden steps on your right. (By the way, you can take these steps up and to the right when you are exiting.) Now, turn toward your left and you will come to a large tree indicating the start of the red trail. Walk to the other side of the tree and stop in front of the wooden bridge. Now, look to your right for a large tree with a boulder at it’s base. Behind this boulder you will find the squirrel. (Please re-hide well with rocks and bark.)
NOTE: I have two other letterboxes hidden nearby, one at the New Fairfield Cemetery and one at the Mountain View Cemetery.