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. Terrain varies throughout the trail and overall rated as moderate difficulty. Biking is possible but greatly increases the difficulty.
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.
Natural Resources
West Thompson Lake is rich with natural resources and a great diversity of habitats, landscapes, plant life, and wildlife. Park Rangers manage the 1,857 acres based on a multiple-use approach focusing on water resources, forest health, wildlife, and recreational use which assures a diversity of resources for future generations to enjoy.
Forest covers approximately 1,125 acres of the project. Forest management practices include timber harvests and thinning which improve timber quality, promote regeneration, enhance wildlife habitat, and provide additional recreational opportunities. The dominant tree species at West Thompson Lake are eastern white pine, oak, and shagbark hickory. Other common species are birch and maple with smaller undergrowth species including American hornbeam, sassafras, witch hazel, black cherry, and winterberry. It is very common to see low bush blueberries growing in the midst of white pine stands while you are hiking along the trails.
The Quinebaug River crosses the Massachusetts border and flows for six miles before entering the 200 acre West Thompson Lake. Wetlands, streams, river banks, beaver ponds, and vernal pools are plentiful and provide breeding habitat for many invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, fish, waterfowl, and other bird species. 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.
Approximately 200 acres of land are leased to local farmers for agricultural use. Many grow feed corn for livestock while others grow vegetables. The farmers leave a portion of their crop standing for fall and winter food sources for various wildlife species including deer, turkey, geese, waterfowl, and raccoons.
An important habitat at West Thompson Lake is the 80 acres of open grassland immediately surrounding the lake. Grasslands are a vital but diminishing natural resource throughout the United States. Numerous wildlife species, particularly birds, are dependent on these areas for food, cover, and breeding. Wildlife that can be found in these grasslands include bobolink, eastern meadowlark, black racer, horned lark, northern leopard frog, small rodents, turkey, pheasants, wood turtles, and numerous insects. At West Thompson Lake, we actively manage grasslands for breeding populations of ground nesting birds such as the bobolink and eastern meadowlark, which are species of special concern in Connecticut.
Due to the vast diversity of habitats at West Thompson Lake, it is not uncommon to see an array of wildlife while hiking the trails. Start off at the flagpole on top of the dam and see the ravens flying through the field, then hop on the Ramsdell Woods Trail and peer out of the wildlife viewing platform to see the great blue herons feeding their young in their tree top nests in the beaver pond. Hike around the back side of the pond and see fish jumping while mallards dabble and beavers slap their tails on the surface of the water. Continue on to Old Ravenelle Road and you might catch a glimpse of a deer or a raccoon feeding in the planted corn field at the historic Ramsdell Farm site. A fox may even dart across your path into the rocky ledges along the old road. Hike up to the north end of the lake and switch paths onto the Shoreline Trail which provides amazing views of the lake. Keep your eyes open for bald eagles, both mature and immature, who are frequent visitors. Hiking through the grasslands along the west side of the lake you will almost certainly spot bobolinks, kingbirds, red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, bluebirds, and swallows. Experience this natural splendor in less than a four mile hike.
Historical and Cultural Resources
Prior to the English colonization of New England, the valley of Quinebaug River was the home to the Nipmuc people. There were two small sub-tribes of the Nipmucs that inhabited the area now known as West Thompson. West of the Quinebaug River were the Wabbaquasett and east of the river were the Quinebaug. These people raised corn, beans, and squash; fished from the fiver for salmon and shad during the spring; and hunted deer and other game from the surrounding woodlands.
During the colonization period, Thompson was the crossroads for the highways connecting Hartford, Worcester, Springfield and Providence. Taverns and stores sprang up to take advantage of the travelers. Several mills were built to utilize the water power from the Quinebaug River. Agriculture and dairy farming were another important industry in the area. Much of the land adjacent to the lake and river is still used for this purpose today.
The Ramsdell Farm was located on the west side of West Thompson Lake. After the devastating floods of 1955, the U.S. Government planned flood control projects to prevent future disasters. The Entire town of West Thompson was needed in order to construct a dam and flood plain on the Quinebaug River. Land was acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through eminent domain. Alice Ramsdell refused to sell her farm to the government and lived on the land until her death in 1995. You can still visit the historical Ramsdell farm site off of the Old Ravenelle Road trail and view the foundations, stone walls, fruit trees, and even the original rail road ties where Alice’s father Frank kept his personal railroad engine and boxcar.