Great Harbor Hike

The Paul Trail offers a quick hike to Rock Outcrops overlooking Guilford’s 150-acre Great Harbor Marsh with views of Long Island Sound in the distance.  In the months around the winter solstice this is a great place to watch the sun set over Long Island Sound.  

The Kiosk and main entrance is on Sachem Head Road just south of the Community Nursery School.  A short walk in from the Kiosk the trail splits.  To get to the overlook, turn right to cross an intermittent but muddy stream.  After crossing the stream, the trail jogs right and then left before going steeply up the hill to a great viewpoint.  Just after the viewpoint the trail divides again.  Staying left you will descend down to marsh level before ascending steeply one more time to a bench at a fine outlook.  From here the trail heads away from the water and goes on to the water tower.  Just before the water tower it turns right and follows an old road until you can see a house ahead. It then turns right off the old road rambles a bit through the woods before completing the loop near the first viewpoint.

Times

To the first viewpoint – 5 minutes
To the overview and bench – 12 minutes
To the water tower – 16 minutes
Full loop back to the kiosk – 27 minutes (0.92 miles)

Alternatively, one can keep straight in from the Kiosk for a trail skirting the marsh edge with many fine views from the marsh edge.   This section does not have the steep climbs but still provides plenty of interest going about .6 miles to an “island” in the marsh where it does a loop and returns. The complete circuit covers approximately 1.5 miles. During high tides or wet periods getting to the “island” with dry feet can be a challenge.

Blazing

Most of the trail has been recently re-blazed with white circular plastic discs.  This trail is decades old and you will also see the letter “P” painted in white as well as small black aluminum rectangles displaying a white “P”.

The entire Paul trail is within Cockaponset State Forest where bow hunting is allowed in season.  The trail is maintained by the Westwoods Trails Committee of the Guilford Land Conservation Trust.

Parking

Parking near the kiosk is possible for cars able to climb the curbing.  Others can park at the access road for the water tower as long as they don’t block access for maintenance vehicles.  Access to the trail can be found off to the right of the access road as the road turns to the left near the top of the hill.  Look for the white circle blaze on a tree.  You will be entering in the middle of the loop.  Take an immediate left and follow the old roadbed or go straight across the old road and follow the white blazes to the overlook.