Sweetheart Mountain

Update 10/3/15: We planned to repeat this yesterday, but were disappointed to see "no trespassing" signs that kept us from taking the path to the view of Nepaug Reservoir. There are new blazes, so the official trails are well-marked.  There is view of Collinsville on the red-blazed path, which is not shown on the runkeeper map below. Without the detour to the Nepaug overlook, this was a very short hike.


I tried to restrain myself from remarking that this is a sweetheart of a hike but I couldn't, because this hike is aptly named. It really is a sweetheart of a hike.

The trail begins with a nice steady climb. Not too steep or difficult, but enough to get your heart pounding. Soon we were enjoying the sight of mountain laurel, which was in full bloom and in abundance.

This used to be the site of Canton Ski Club, which closed in the 70s, and the rusted machinery is still there.

We left the trail to find the lookout. Fortunately, members Agnes and Emma knew the way, as this trail is not blazed. (You can follow our path using the Runkeeper app.)  This short trail brings you to a view of Nepaug Reservoir. Naturally, we chose this spot for our devotional. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 . . . let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”

There’s a big difference between my style of hiking and backpacking. Something happens to me after about five miles. It’s not that I feel like I can’t go further, I just don’t want to. I’ve had my fill and I’m ready to go home. I want to take a shower, don clean clothes, sit in a comfy chair, and have a cup of tea. I only scratch the surface of the hiking world.

Backpackers and thru-hikers, on the other hand, have a lot of miles between them and the comforts of home.  They put up with extended periods of cold. Or heat and humidity. They go without showers. They eat trail food. They sleep on the ground. They go without comfort and convenience to follow their passion.

In Matthew 16:24 Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Walking with Jesus step by step - running the race and fixing our eyes on Him - takes us out of our comfort zone. In the physical world, a short hike is a wonderful thing. But in the spiritual realm, let's have the passion of a thru-hiker, give up our comfort zones and say, “Yes, Lord yes, to your will and to your way.

This is the perfect jaunt for a busy day, as we reached the lookout in 30 minutes. The parking area can be a little tricky to find. Go west on Bridge Street until it dead ends into Dunne Avenue. Turn right onto Dunne and then turn left:

https://runkeeper.com/user/SusanGayle/route/4269977

Address:  84-98 Dunne Ave, Collinsville
Runkeeper Route: https://runkeeper.com/user/SusanGayle/route/4269977

Trail map: Visit http://www.cantonlandtrust.org/trailsSweetheartMountain.html

Length: 1.68 miles

Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Calories burned: 357

Difficulty level: moderate