Here in the Upper Valley we enjoy the outdoors. There are many walkers among us, who ply loops around the downtown area and along the dirt roads in our hills. There are young families who enjoy recreation at Huntley Meadows. There are those who enjoy hiking, mountain biking and winter travel on Norwich’s extensive trail network. All these activities maintain fitness and a good outlook on life.
The Norwich Recreation Department organized a Around Norwich Trails Series It featured the following outings, starting at 0800 for runners and bikers and at 1000 for hikers and walkers:
- Saturday May 1st @ Parcel 5
- Saturday June 5th @ Ballard
- Saturday July 10th @ Parcel 5 (tour to Brookmead)
- Saturday August 7th @ Ballard (tour to Parcel 5)
Discover Norwich Trails in 2020 was a program of guided Discovery Hikes to introduce the people of the Upper Valley, and especially Norwich, to our trails network.
Those wishing to do a self-guided hike may still do so. To learn how to receive a Norwich Trails Committee logo sticker, email norwichtrailsignup@gmail.com. Put “Self-guided” in header of your email and we’ll inform you of where to pick up your sticker.
2020 Discovery Hikes
| Hike | Dates for guided hikes | Mileage | Uphill (ft) | Map |
| Hazen Trail | May 30 | 3.2 | 260 | 10 |
| Parcel 5 | June 27 | 3.1 | 380 | 5 |
| Lower Ballard Trail | July 25 | 3.1 | 200 | 4 |
| Upper Ballard Trail | August 29 | 2.0 | 300 | 4 |
| Cossingham Loop | September 26 | 4.1 | 580 | 9 |
| Brookmead | October 31 | 2.5 | 320 | 7 |
Completed Discovery Hikes
Loop hike in the Brookmead Trail network
Hike to the Happy Hill Shelter on the Appalachian Trail
Hike the Upper Ballard Trail into the Norwich “Grand Canyon”
Hike to (almost) find Norwich’s missing bridge on the Ballard Trail
