These caches were placed by LGVHB – Last Green Valley Hiker Brothers, consisting of CacheDweeb & Kochmedic. We have hiked the Orange Trails for a few years now and really enjoy the variety of terrain and wild life sights along the trail and river. By placing these caches here we hope to bring our fellow geocachers to experience this wonderful area.This cache is not located on the trail but along side of road at the trail head. Terrain varies throughout the trail system and overall rated as moderate difficulty. Biking is possible but greatly increases the difficulty. I will include information about the orange trail and area incase you choose to hit the trails.
Hiking Trails
There are three main trail systems at West Thompson Lake. These are signified on the map by the three different colored trail markers.
The trail blazed with yellow markers is The Shoreline Trail, 4-mile loop around the lake that takes you through varying habitats from open fields to forested wetlands. The Shoreline Trail has one “side trail”, The Woodland Walk Trail. The Woodland Walk is a short 0.4-mile walk near the West Thompson Lake Campground and is designated by yellow markers with black triangles.
The trail blazed with blue markers is The Lost Trail; this is a Figure-8 trail which connects the campground with the Shoreline Trail. It begins at the north end of the campground loop. The Lost Trail is a short 1.2-mile walk.
The trail blazed with orange markers begins as the Ramsdell Woods Trail; this is a 2.2-mile trail that takes you from the Dam north to the Ramsdell Farm. The trail continues on to the northern part of West Thompson Lake where it comes to a junction. Crossing Old Blain Road the trail becomes the Ravenelle Ponds Loop. Crossing Blain Bridge you will pick up the Shoreline Trail. The Ravenelle Ponds Loop is a 1.2-mile loop which travels through serene old pine stands and agricultural fields past the three peaceful ponds and back again to Old Blain Road. If you continue north from the top of The Ravenelle Ponds Loop you will find the Quinebaug River Trail which travels another 4.5 miles north to Fabyan Road. There is also a 1.5 mile section of the Quinebaug River Trail located on the east side of the Quinebaug River which links Old Blain Road to Red Bridge Road.
UPDATE: Currently the bridge on Old Blain Road has been removed so the only way to complete a loop around West Thompson Lake is to begin on the Shoreline Trail and when you get to Old Blain Road take the Quinebaug River Trail north to Red Bridge Road were you can cross the river. Once you have crossed the river, there is another section of the Quinebaug River Trail on the opposite side which will take you back to Old Blain Road and the Shoreline Trail.
Quinebaug River Water Trail
The Thompson section of the Quinebaug River Water Trail is located within the project boundary of West Thompson Lake. This stretch of the trail is about five miles long with moving water (but no rapids), flat water, extensive wildlife habitat, and no portages. It is an excellent three-hour outing for paddlers who are comfortable with moving water.
The banks range from steep and forested to flat agricultural fields. During the first three miles of the trip you will feel isolated except for two bridge crossings. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Thompson Trails Committee work collectively to maintain the entire length of the water tail and the put-in at Fabyan Dam and the take-out at the West Thompson Lake Boat Ramp.
Hunting and Fishing
Hunting is allowed at West Thompson Lake and is governed by the state of Connecticut laws and regulations. In the fall, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection stock pheasants in the fields on the west side of the lake as well as the corn fields along the Quinebaug River, which makes West Thompson Lake a popular destination for upland bird hunters. Deer hunting is also popular, which begins in mid-September and runs through December 31. We encourage visitors to wear fluorescent orange during this time of the year.
Fishing is permitted at West Thompson Lake and in the Quinebaug River. The Quinebaug River is stocked with rainbow, brook, and brown trout by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Common warm water fish species in the lake include largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, perch, carp, and sunfish. An inland fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older fishing at West Thompson Lake or the Quinebaug River.