Ashford – Forest Trails, River Landscapes and History

For a stay in Ashford, you can choose to focus on forest trails, river landscapes, or historic sites. If you’re looking for a hotel in Ashford, it helps to first consider whether you’d rather focus on a longer route, a single loop trail, or the town’s history. The destinations differ in their stated distances and character.

Forest Trails and River Landscapes

The Natchaug Trail passes through forest and aquatic habitats. Along the route, hikers can observe turtles, beavers, and various birds, among other wildlife. The 18.7-mile trail ends in Ashford, making it a different kind of route option from the shorter individual trails in local nature areas. Trail conditions and parking availability can change; check both if you’re planning to hike the trail.

At Church Farm, the Ledges Trail passes through mixed stands of deciduous and coniferous trees. There is also a viewpoint on rocky ledges with a winter view over the Mount Hope River valley. The winter scenery and the description of the tree species offer different points of reference for planning: here, both the forest trail and a particular landscape view are highlights.

At Josias Byles Sanctuary, the 0.9-mile Yellow Trail forms a loop through the forest along Byles Brook. It leads to a viewpoint overlooking beaver dams and then returns to the starting point. Tinkerville Brook, by contrast, has four hiking trails with a combined length of three miles. These details describe different options: the Yellow Trail is defined by the length and course of a single loop, while the Tinkerville Brook figure refers to the combined length of several trails.

Local History in Buildings and Landscapes

Historic traces are also part of the landscape at Tinkerville Brook: the site includes a former mill site and a substantial stone bridge abutment. At Josias Byles Sanctuary, the recorded history goes back to the original 200-acre Byles Farm, which Josias Byles purchased in 1718. The former mill site and bridge abutment point to earlier uses of the land; the farm’s history is associated with a person, a specific acreage, and a specific year.

Two buildings from different periods at Church Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the house, built in the 18th century, and the barn, built later in 1895. The gap in time makes each building interesting in its own right if you’re interested in the development of historic architecture.

The grounds of June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation were the historic country estate of Revolutionary War hero Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton. Horizon Wings has a different connection to nature: it is an Ashford-based wildlife rehabilitation center specializing in birds of prey. The center uses birds of prey that cannot be released back into the wild in educational programs, under a special permit.

Access and Directions

Ashford has an exit off Interstate 84 at Exit 72. In Ashford Memorial Park, the trails begin at the second gate near the picnic pavilion, where the park road ends. These landmarks can help you include the park’s trails in your plans.

There are two public access points to Bigelow Brook in Ashford. Behind the Ashford Fire Station is a well-used access point to the Mount Hope River. A gravel access road leads from the parking area to the river, where tree roots serve as steps down to the water. Thus, the local landscape includes both several public access points to Bigelow Brook and a more precisely described access point to the Mount Hope River.

In the wider region, Westford Hill Distillers offers guided tours with tastings of its products by appointment. If you’re interested, arrange your visit in advance.

Discover more destinations: Woodstock, Putnam, Chaplin, Killingly, Pomfret, Brooklyn, Plainfield.

Back to the regional travel overview: Windham.