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Placed: 1-1-02
Placed by: WWW (Formerly known as C. Straub and his dog Molly)
Location: Chaplin, CT Windham County
Rated: Moderate

9/25/10 - Box is confirmed in place and in good condition by WWW. Clues have been modified due to new blazing in this area.

This trip down marked trails takes you to a lesser known lake in the Goodwin Forest.

Total round trip will be about 1 hour. Most people think of the Goodwin Forest as being in Hampton. This letterbox and most of the route is just over the town line and is in Chaplin. A nice wildlife walk and good bird watching at the pond.

Going from North Windham head east on route 6. Take a left onto Potter Road. This is the entrance to Goodwin State Forest in Hampton CT. There you will see a wooden sign stating this and a sign which states Pine Acres Lake. There is also a boat ramp sign. Follow this road a short distance to 11th section Rd which is a right hand turn. Travel down 11th section Rd 1.3 miles where the road turns sharply and there is a sign that says Esterbrook Rd. Bear left here onto unmarked road which is actually Nutmeg Lane. Travel 3 tenths of a mile. You will see several paths that cross the road here and a blue over white marked trail on the left and right of the road. There is also room to park a few cars here on the right side of the road. Park here. The rest is by foot.

To the letterbox it is about a 20 minute walk. Cross the road and take the blue over white blazed trail. Continue to follow the blue over white blazed trees until you come to a large intersection where the blue over white blazes end. At this intersection take the blue blazed trail (Natchaug Trail) to the right which will take you to the lake and a man made earthen dam. Looking over the lake you get a great view. Walk across the earthen dam and continue 57 steps up a small hill to a Y intersection with a small unmarked trail. Stop here and take a reading of 140 degrees to a semi-large rock. Look behind the rock to find the box.

You can either backtrack to get back to you car or take a scenic route which will complete your circle around the lake. To take the scenic route, continue on the blue trail. Follow the blue blazed trail until the trail comes to a T. Take a right here following the blue trail down a path the width of a road. You will shortly come to an intersection with a metal gate. Go right off the blue trail and follow that old road back to your car.

This would be a great trip to coincide with the Forgotten Woodpile walk. Both start at the same parking point.

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