HACKETT TRAIL

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Trail Highlights
The John H. Hackett Hiking Trail is one of nine hiking trails that makes up Manchester’s section of the Hockanum Linear River Park. Small orange blazes on trees or rocks indicate the Hockanum River trails. Two blazes indicate that there’s a turn or intersection ahead. Three blazes indicate a side trail or alternate route. The side trail is marked with an orange blaze and white dot in the middle. There are three other towns with trails along the Hockanum River - Ellington, Vernon, and East Hartford.

There are views of the softball field, river, wild life, flood plain forest and fishing. The open space is a 20 acre tract of land. The ten acre field grew tobacco cultivated by the Hackett family for many years until about 1980. The other ten acre parcel is a very scenic mature flood plain woodland bordering the Hockanum River.

Parking and Accessibility
Take I-384 to I-84 to eastbound exit 62, right off the ramp onto Buckland St., right onto New State Rd., 1/2 mile take left into entrance to New State Road Softball Field. This trail is not wheelchair accessible.

Trail Head: New State Road Softball Field
Hours: dawn to dusk
Length: 3/4 mile/30 minutes
Surface: rough groundgrass
Difficulty: easy
Bike Lockers: No
Contact: Town of Manchester Customer Service Center, 41 Center St., Manchester, CT 06040, 860-647-5235. www.townofmanchester.org/leisure/hiking.cfm