CATS Trail of Week: McAuliffe Road Trail

The Champlain Valley is even more beautiful with the recent snowfall making our Trail of the Week suggestion the McAuliffe Road Trail in Essex. The trailhead is on Jersey Street just west of the Boquet River. From the parking area, ski or snowshoe uphill next to the road about 200 feet to the beginning of the trail. This easy three-mile round trip trail is on an old abandoned town road with lovely scenery as you go through woods and above the Boquet River. As an abandoned road, it’s wider than most trails and it isn’t plowed in the winter, making it perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Upcoming Events

Events coming up this month include animal tracking on the Poke-O-Moonshine Trail with backwoods guides and naturalists David Thomas-Train and Elizabeth Lee on January 23. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Observers Trail Parking Lot (lower trailhead on Rte 9). Bring food, a warm drink or water. Plan to be outside until 1:00 p.m. There is no charge for this wonderful hike.

And on January 30, artist and naturalist Sheri Amsel will lead a Snowshoe Hike with Tree Identification and Animal Tracking on the Beaver Flow Trail. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Black Kettle Farm, intersection of Cook and Leaning Roads in Essex before heading out to look for animal tracks and signs, beaver flows, and identify winter trees. Children are welcome if comfortable on snowshoes. Registration is $5. Click here for more information or to register for this event.

We are currently planning our Spring and Summer programs. Is there an event you’d like to see presented? Send us an email at info@champlainareatrails.com and let us know!

Chris Maron
CATS Executive Director

Improving Soil and Water Conservation (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
CATS Moves Bruce Klink Bench Dedication to Trailhead of Wildway Overlook Trail (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About Champlain Area Trails (CATS)

Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is a non-profit organization, begun in 2009, which creates and maintains hiking and cross-country ski trails in the Champlain Valley that link communities, connect people with nature, and promote economic vitality. In its short history, CATS has developed 35 miles of trails that when added to existing trails, gets it half-way toward the long-envisioned goal of a 30-mile trail loop between Westport and Essex. CATS will extend its trails to neighboring towns and eventually connect them to trails in the Adirondack Mountains, Vermont, and Quebec. Learn more on the CATS website.