The 400-acre Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve houses several trails full of roots, rocks, fallen trees, and other varied terrain.  As I ran today, it felt like more of an agility drill; I was forced to keep my feet fast and light.  I careened down hills, chugged up hills, whipped around corners, all the while trying to dodge little obstacles along the path.  I twisted my ankle several times and nearly fell on my face, and despite all this extra effort I was putting in, I don’t think my pace was particularly fast. But it was fun.  Trail running definitely provides a refreshing alternative to road running: I had to stay focused the whole time so I didn’t trip, I was surrounded by pretty scenery and a fresh woodsy scent, and I ran in total peace- no cars beeping at me, no people catcalling- in fact, I only encountered a squirrel the whole time I was out.

If you’re interested in trying out Oswegatchie Nature Preserve on your next run, visit: www.oswhills.org. You can download a trail map here. I’m not sure about the exact mileage, but I think if you ran the outermost loop (red to blue trails), it would be about 3 miles. Parking is available at Veterans Field in Niantic.

Snowshoeing at Bluff Point

Entrance to the main trail

We decided to take advantage of the first big snowfall of the winter by doing a little snowshoeing at Bluff Point in Groton. Snowshoeing is a lot of fun and great cross-training for runners.

Although it was nice walking along the main trail, we enjoyed exploring the smaller, less trodden trails in the middle of the park. Here, the snow was less packed down, and we saw a lot of animal tracks.

Today, I did a 10-miler in Waterford, and I had the opportunity to see a very plump raccoon and a young deer at the side of the road. It’s nice to catch sight of wildlife while out jogging, and I’ve found this route generally provides those opportunities.

Entrance to the Colchester Spur Air Line Trail

Today my friend and I jogged along the Colchester Spur, a stonedust and dirt trail that was formerly a railway.

Back in the 1800s, the Colchester Spur Railway connected with the Air Line Railroad, a project attempting to provide the shortest route from New York to Boston. Heavier freights that weren’t compatible with the viaducts along the line ultimately caused the Air Line Railroad’s decline. But in 1996, Connecticut’s DEP proposed to turn the old railway into a multipurpose trail for cyclists, hikers, joggers, equestrians, and cross-country skiers.

We ran about 2 miles up the path, but the entire length from the parking lot to the main Air Line Trail is about 3.4 miles. The course was flat, and there was plenty of room for two people to run side by side. It was quite a pleasant run, although I would definitely suggest wearing bug spray as it did get quite buggy as we passed by a swamp.

I will create a full description for the Colchester Spur on the Running Routes page after I run the whole length. If you live in the area, this is a great place to run because you can jog a range of distances in an out-and-back. The Air Line Trail itself measures over 20 miles. And although the Colchester Spur is flat, from what I’ve read and heard, and also from my experience running part of the Air Line Trail during the Salmon River 5.5 mile race, the Air Line Trail is hilly. So there is variation in difficulty level as well.

The Colchester Spur

Directions: From Route 2, take Exit 18 to Route 16 East. At the traffic light with Route 85, bear left and take the first right onto Lebanon Ave (Route 16 East). You will see a sign for the Air Line Trail Spur on your left before an antiques store. Follow the dirt road to a small parking area.

Cape Cod Rail Trail - photo by criana, www.flickr.com/photos/criana/

I spent the 4th of July at Cape Cod, specifically in Eastham, MA. It provided a great opportunity to try out the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a paved bike path that runs from South Dennis to Wellfleet. While I was there, I did two out-and-back runs, a 6-miler and 9-miler, trying out both directions.

If you find yourself on the Cape, I highly recommend seeking out the Rail Trail. It’s a flat course where you can escape from exhaust fumes and aggressive drivers and instead jog in peace amidst trees, lakes, and other exercisers.

Shantok Village of Uncas

For those of you looking for a nice woodsy circuit, the main trail at Shantok Village of Uncas (formerly Fort Shantok State Park) in Uncasville is a nice place to run. When the Mohegans purchased the land from the state, they constructed a nice gravel path that is perfect for walking and jogging.

I am working on getting a map so I can add the route to our Running Routes page with the exact mileage, but after running the loop I would guess it’s about three quarters of a mile long. With views of ponds and the accompanying waterfowl, Shantok is a pleasant area for an easy jog. There is plenty of free parking and there are restroom facilities on site.

Driving Directions: From I-395, take Exit 79A to Exit 1 on 2A. Take a left onto Route 32 and then a right onto Fort Shantok Road. The park is located on the left.