Google Map of Talcott Ravine
Town of Vernon Trail Map (includes Talcott Ravine Trail), updated April 2011
In December 2010, John G. Talcott Jr. donated a 20 acre parcel in the Talcottville Gorge area to the Northern Connecticut Land Trust land trust. The trust paid $5,000 to help cover closing costs and other expenses with financial help from local organizations, including the Friends of Valley Falls, Vernon Citizens for Responsible Development, and Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park. The Town of Vernon also contributed $5,000 for the purchase with money from the open space fund. This collaborative effort of various groups as well as the commitment from the Town of Vernon make this acquisition very special indeed. Although privately owned, for years, residents have been using this scenic and wooded area, containing a portion of the Tankerhoosen River for passive recreation such as fishing, hiking and bird watching. The waterfalls provide some evidence for the past history of the area, particularly mills owned by Peter Dobson in the early 1800s. Now the property is owned by the Northern Connecticut Land Trust and will continue to provide passive recreation pursuits for the public. Stewardship of the property will be the responsibility of the Trust with a stewardship team formed to specifically address the monitoring and stewardship of the Talcott Ravine, a joint effort with interested individuals in Town including the Vernon Citizens for Responsible Development. The Talcottville area and Ravine are true historical gems. While constructing a cotton mill near the gorge in the early 1820s, the prominent manufacturer Peter Dobson observed evidence of glaciers and boulders and rocks that appeared to have been scraped and ground down by a force. Come visit the property, walk the Ravine and connect to the Rail Trail for an historical and interesting hike.
A Mid-December, 2011 work party was held at Talcott Ravine. Thank you to all who attended and cleared downed trees to make the trail safe after the storm of the century. If you are interested in volunteering for a work party at Talcott Ravine or any of the NCLT properties, please contact nctlt@sbcglobal.net.