Hi Nick, Long before I was a birder I was a hiker, and over the course of many years I probably traveled just about every inch of trails on the Mt Riga Plateau. The top of Gridley Mt is for practical purposes not accessible, but when I was hiking there was a relatively short trail from Mt Washington Rd (dirt) to the top of Bald Peak. I don't know if it's private or public, but at least back then it was open. There is a relatively short route to the top of Bear Mt, although it does involve a steep climb, going south on the Appalachian Trail. If you go up Mt Washington Rd to just short of the Mass border (fairly long ride on a dirt road) There is a turn-off and parking area to the right. It is for the AMC's Northwest Camp. If you go to the cabin, then bear left (north) until you hit a brook there is a trail that goes west until it hits the Appalachian Trail. If you go right (south) on the trail it will take you directly to the top of Bear, but be forewarned, it is a VERY steep and rough trail. (Nothing a young guy like you can't handle, though). The actual distance that way is probably only a couple of miles. Link below is to a Google Map of the area. Look for Mt Washington Rd, and if you blow it up enough it will show Northwest Camp and the trail system between there and the top of Bear. You get to Mt Washington Rd via Mt Riga Rd out of Salisbury. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bear+Mountain/@42.0500384,-73.4601639,16z/ data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e77e07f5331acd:0x35556aefd7ecb93d!8m2!3d42.0448138!4d-73 .4548423?hl=en If for some reason this link doesn't work, just Google Bear Mountain, Ct. "Message: 2 Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2016 19:21:23 -0400 From: Nick Bonomo <nbonomo@gmail.com> To: CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Subject: [CT Birds] RFI: Mount Riga area Message-ID: <CABgXtNdJZMtEUZFQgif=bAY2nOOcFv=ZkU0graBFm=09Sjb38w@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Hi all, Is anyone aware of a lookout that faces north/northwest among the peaks in the Salisbury/Mt Riga area? Ideally I'm looking for a place that is a short hike and located in CT. Bald Peak or Gridley Mountain look like they would do, but it appears that both are on private land? Is this true? Bear Mtn would do, and is public, but is a hike. Thanks, Nick Nick Bonomo Wallingford, CT www.shorebirder.com " Don Morgan Coventry, Ct

We were hiking there recently and (if I decipher the scribbles on my AT map correctly) you drive 5.3 miles after the road changes to a dirt road. I think it's all Mt. Washington Road and it just turns to a dirt road but it might begin as Mt. Riga Road. You come to a little pull off on your right after 5.3 miles. From that little lot there is an easy trail up to Bear Mountain. I think I even remember a sign "Bear Mt. Parking." It's a wonderful hike in nesting season. Good luck! Kathy Van Der Aue Southport, Connecticut Visit my Blog at http://naturaliststable.wordpress.com On Sun, Oct 30, 2016 at 3:28 PM, Don Morgan via CTBirds < ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > Hi Nick, > Long before I was a birder I was a hiker, and over the course of many > years I probably traveled just about every inch of trails on the Mt Riga > Plateau. The top of Gridley Mt is for practical purposes not accessible, > but when > I was hiking there was a relatively short trail from Mt Washington Rd > (dirt) to the top of Bald Peak. I don't know if it's private or public, > but at > least back then it was open. > There is a relatively short route to the top of Bear Mt, although it does > involve a steep climb, going south on the Appalachian Trail. If you go up > Mt Washington Rd to just short of the Mass border (fairly long ride on a > dirt road) There is a turn-off and parking area to the right. It is for the > AMC's Northwest Camp. If you go to the cabin, then bear left (north) until > you > hit a brook there is a trail that goes west until it hits the Appalachian > Trail. If you go right (south) on the trail it will take you directly to > the top of Bear, but be forewarned, it is a VERY steep and rough trail. > (Nothing a young guy like you can't handle, though). The actual distance > that > way is probably only a couple of miles. > Link below is to a Google Map of the area. Look for Mt Washington Rd, and > if you blow it up enough it will show Northwest Camp and the trail system > between there and the top of Bear. You get to Mt Washington Rd via Mt Riga > Rd out of Salisbury. > > https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bear+Mountain/@42.0500384, > -73.4601639,16z/ > data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e77e07f5331acd:0x35556aefd7ecb93d!8m2! > 3d42.0448138!4d-73 > .4548423?hl=en > <https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bear+Mountain/@42.0500384,-73.4601639,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e77e07f5331acd:0x35556aefd7ecb93d!8m2!3d42.0448138!4d-73.4548423?hl=en> > > If for some reason this link doesn't work, just Google Bear Mountain, Ct. > > "Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2016 19:21:23 -0400 > From: Nick Bonomo <nbonomo@gmail.com> > To: CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> > Subject: [CT Birds] RFI: Mount Riga area > Message-ID: > <CABgXtNdJZMtEUZFQgif=bAY2nOOcFv=ZkU0graBFm=09Sjb38w@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hi all, > > Is anyone aware of a lookout that faces north/northwest among the > peaks in the Salisbury/Mt Riga area? Ideally I'm looking for a place > that is a short hike and located in CT. Bald Peak or Gridley Mountain > look like they would do, but it appears that both are on private land? > Is this true? Bear Mtn would do, and is public, but is a hike. > > Thanks, > Nick > > Nick Bonomo > Wallingford, CT > www.shorebirder.com > " > > > Don Morgan > Coventry, Ct > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mai > lman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org >