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Proposed Hiking Trails by Author & Advisory Board
In this study, three of the four proposed trails by the author
(The MAG Trail, Andy's Trail and The Connecticut River Heritage
Trail) are created to provide vital links between major hiking
trails. The final trail proposal, The Thoreau Trail, can be considered
a destination point and comes highly recommended by Maine's Advisory
Board. Together, these proposed trails add 660 miles of hiking
trail to New England's trail network.
The natural flow of New England's hiking trails is north to
south. New England trails run parallel to the mountain ranges
which are oriented in a north-south direction. To take advantage
of the ease in which a hiker can travel in a north-south direction
two additional trails, The Connecticut River Heritage Trail and
Andy's Trail, are proposed by this study.
The Connecticut River Heritage Trail
In 1998, the Connecticut River was designated an American Heritage
River providing towns along the river's edge in Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire opportunities to celebrate
our nation's heritage. The proposed Connecticut River Heritage
Trail would parallel the Connecticut River, beginning at its
mouth in southern Connecticut and ending in the northern portion
of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The trail would be approximately
340 miles long. The Connecticut River Heritage Trail is an important
addition to the Connecticut River Valley and can be considered
a tourist destination.
Andy's Trail
Andy's Trail is approximately 80 miles and connects the Connecticut
River Heritage Trail to the Border Mountain Trail. It crosses
the northern most portion of New Hampshire until it reaches the
trailhead of the Border Mountain Trail in Maine. Andy's Trail
connects two major trails forming one continuous trail from the
Long Island Sound to the hinterlands of Maine and Canada. This
one trail would be approximately 565 miles.
The MAG Trail
The MAG Trail is located in the southwest corner of Massachusetts
and is approximately 40 miles long. The MAG Trail connects the
Appalachian Trail to the Metacomet-Monadnock (M&M) Trail
creating a link between the Appalachian Trail and the Connecticut
River Valley. Not only does the MAG Trail add a link between
two major trails but it also acts as a segment in a greater hiking
loop.
The Verma and Berkshire Loops
The Verma (Vermont, Massachusetts) Loop and Berkshire Loop are
two hiking loops proposed by this study. The hiking loops are
created when hiking trails are connected creating a closed circulation
pattern on the landscape. The Berkshire Loop is a 170-mile loop
that meanders through western Massachusetts. The Verma Loop is
a 270-mile loop that crosses over some of Vermont's and northern
Massachusetts' most majestic scenery. The Verma Loop and Berkshire
Loop could be considered major hiking destinations for appreciative
nature lovers. By creating hiking loops New England can boast
a new type of tourist attraction.
The Thoreau Trail
The Thoreau Trail is a proposed hiking loop that circles Maine's
spectacular North Country. It is approximately 200 miles long
and travels through Baxter State Park and around several lakes.
The trail, named after the famous writer and naturalist Henry
David Thoreau, is a proposed trail by the author and Maine's
Advisory Board.
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