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From I-95 (CT Turnpike): Take Groton Exit 88, turn right and go to the end. Left turn onto Route 1, go to the top of the hill and turn right onto Route 215. Take the first right, then the next right and go to the end. There is a small public State-owned parking lot at the park’s entrance.
General Description: Originally a 17th century farm, today this 200 acre park has been preserved as open space and is used for recreational opportunities which include bicycling, running, walking and picnicking. One of the farm's former owners had a passion for building stone walls which you can see during your travels on the Park trails. The Park is located next to Palmer Cove and borders the Long Island Sound. It is a landscape of rolling farm pastures, tidal salt marshes, and freshwater swamps and ponds which are now home to many rare and endangered birds and other wildlife. The Trails: The trail winds its way through the scenic, old shoreline farm. The terrain is relatively flat, and easy to ride. Along the way the trails pass numerous stone walls, as well as scenic views of Fishers Island Sound and the adjacent Palmer Cove. Look for bullfrogs in the ponds and deer tracks in the dirt. It is possible to connect to Bluff Point State Park & Coastal Reserve to access more trails there. PLEASE stay on the dirt roads. This is a fragile habitat which can be destroyed by biking in the wrong area. From the parking lot, look for the "bike route" sign, to the left of the Park sign board. Start here. The 0.8 mile Haley Farm Bike Trail, which is wheelchair accessible, is part of a 7 1/2 mile town-owned bikeway routed from Mystic to Groton on local roadways. Pass a small pond and nature trail to the left and travel alongside a massive stone wall that was built using a stone puller, which was drawn by oxen and could move a 3 ton boulder. This trail surface consists of stone dust and shortly enters the cool shade of the woods. Come to an intersection at a green gate in about a half mile. The right branch leads to the Mystic-Groton Bike Route along a three quarter mile utility corridor that culminates at Midway Oval. The left leads to Bluff Point State Park where you can add a 4 mile scenic loop trail along the Pequonnock River to your ride.
Historical Note: Connecticut's first governor, John Winthrop Jr., owned part of the farm in 1648. Over the years the land passed through various hands, including the Chester family in the 18th century, whose headstones are still on the property. When Caleb Haley owned and farmed the land in the late 18th to 19th centuries, he had a very unique hobby which can be seen throughout the park: the building of stone walls. The walls separated a number of pastures. Some remains of the farm's buildings are still visible near the entrance of the park.
For More Information: Haley Farm State Park Phone: (860) 444-7591
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