Five Ponds Trails and Orienteering Course

From the trailhead at the intersection of Routes 61 and 63, you will find an intricate network of pristine wooded trails that wrap around shallow ponds and showcase glacial formations. Many of the trails connect to form walkable loops, such as the Heron Pond (HP), Teal Pond (T), and Fawn Pond (F) Loops. Feel free to design your own routes through this parcel…every section is gorgeous! As a suggestion for a loop that is about 2 miles long and includes Memorial Rock and the Plunge Pool Overlook, take the Beaver Pond (B) Trail east, turn right and loop around Teal Pond (T), go north on the Mattatuck (M) Trail, and finally turn left onto the Heron Pond (HP) Trail to meet back up with the Beaver Pond Trail. Make sure you have a detailed map of this area before going. 

The permanent Five Ponds Orienteering Course is also located in this section of White Memorial. The course contains 15 different terrain features, each marked by two red and white rectangles attached to opposite sides of a tree. These “trim” control markers verify that you have found the particular feature you intended to navigate to. Click here to be redirected to Western CT Orienteering Club’s website, where you can print a map. Hard copies are also available in our Museum Gift Shop. The course does not stay on a maintained trail, so wear pants, good trekking shoes, and bring insect/tick spray.