A trail that's
a gift
from some friends
from down under.
Most trails in New England have been around for centuries and the exact origins and meaning of the names have frequently been lost to the mists of time. The Walkabout Trail is an exception.
Even though many paths have been running through this area for a long, long time, the Walkabout Trail was cleared and cut by Australian sailors in 1965. Their ship, the Perth, was docked in the city of Newport, a few hours away. The story goes that the sailors wanted to escape the bacchanalian debauchery that was Newport at the time so went out into the deep woods and carved out a nice trial.
Even though it's hard to imagine sailors actually wanting to avoid debauchery, the trail was named Walkabout, after the wandering predilections of the Australian aborigines,
The Walkabout Trail has three main paths, a choice of 2 mile, 6 mile, or 8 mile loops. Lots of ups and downs but no real steep climbs. Plenty of loose rock, exposed roots and mud to keep a hiker's attention but it can't be called a strenous or dangerous hike. Just a nice stroll through some beautiful woods.
The trail goes by Wilbur Pond and Bowdish Reservoir and has some interesting water views and If you look carefully you might notice ducks, kingfishers and geese. The forest is mostly pine, hemlock and Mountain Laural and deer, mink, raccoon, muskrats beavers and some cool snakes can occasionally be seen.
The trail gets a bit crowded in the summer and is a far more pleasant place to hike in the colder weather, especially after a nice snow. Because of the proximity of fresh water the bugs can be extremely aggressive in the spring and summer. Of course remember to wear bright orange during hunting season. It's not only the law but a good way to avoid having your head as a trophy for a myopic, plastered or trigger happy hunter. read more