Chuck & Molly's
In Search of
Mokele-Mbembe

Placed: 6-15-03
Placed By: Chuck and Molly
Location: East Hampton CT, Middlesex County
Rated: Moderate if road is closed

Easy if road is open

From Route 66 coming from Marlborough and points east turn left onto route 151 in Cobalt. From Portland and points west, take a right. After about 2.5 miles, bear right onto Hurd Park Road and follow the brown sign to Hurd State Park. Continue 0.6 mile to the main entrance of Hurd State Park on your right. If the gate is closed, parking is available at the entrance. If the gate is open, continue in by car.

The gate was closed the day we planted the box and we did walk in, so distances are estimated. Continue down the paved road. You will pass a road coming in from the right and see a sign stating that the picnic area, river and Carlson Pond are straight ahead. Continue straight. Further along, pass a yellow gate on the left and keep going straight. I estimate that the walk down the road is about 1 ¼ mile. What you are looking for is a red blazed trail that goes off the left side of the paved road. Take this red trail which you will see entering the woods at 300 degrees. Within seconds, you are at a 5 way intersection. Bear left at 210 degrees and go gently uphill, on a faded yellow trail. The trail is poorly blazed but you should have no trouble staying on it. Another trail will join onto your trail at an intersection that resembles an upside down Y. Keep going straight. You will come to a sign that tells the direction to White Mountain, River Vista, and Split Rock. Be careful here of very steep and high cliffs. Take the trail that goes forward and then left. Go down the trail left, 21 steps to the left. Stop, take a reading of 40 degrees and go 11 steps to 4 trees growing from 1. Take a reading of 90 degrees and go 17 steps to 2 trees growing against a rock. Go to the east side of the rock and move a much smaller flat rock leaning against the big rock to reveal the hiding place of Mokele-Mbembe. While there, be sure not to miss the view from the vista and take in the view.

While on this trail, you can do the "Unknown Artist" and continue on to "White Elephant". I have been unable to find "Unknown Artist" on two occasions and am not sure if it is still there. "White Elephant" is further up the trail and is an excellent carving. If you only came for the Mokele-Mbembe stamp, it is easiest to go back down the trail the way you came.

Also available in this park are "Blue Griffin" and "Purple Serpentine Dragon". Excellent stamps.

Before you set out, please read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.