"Bridge to Bridge" (B2B) Hike Route
4.8 miles, easy

Here is the route we use for our Trails Day "Bridge to Bridge" hike:  We start on the improved Rec Path for the first 1.4 mile (yellow), turn left onto Dominick Trail (orange) at Hope Lake on Nell's Rock Road, and then after another mile turn right onto the yellow-blazed southern half of the Rec Path and follow it into Huntington Center.  So it's yellow to orange to yellow. This route is hilited in orange on the most recent Shelton Lakes trail maps.

Start: At the reservoir on Shelton Ave (Pine Lake) near the High School. 
End: At Huntington Center (Teresa's tip -- stop at the Huntington Street Cafe or Vincent's Pizza and call for a ride).

Special note:  There are several locations where the path you need to follow is less obvious than some other path, so you should print out this description and the maps and bring them with you.  Pay close attention to the color-coded blazes (painted rectangles on trees or rocks) and note commonly missed turn-offs below in red.

Hike Description: Commonly confused spots are hilighted in red below. Distances were determined by measuring wheel and should be very accurate.

Part 1 (1.4 mile): Follow yellow blazes of Rec Path on trees and yellow pavement markings, cross Shelton Avenue and link up with Dominick Trail (orange).
Mile 0: Trailhead Parking is available at the pedestrian bridge over the dam on Pine Lake (formerly Shelton Reservoir) on Shelton Avenue (Rt. 108). The nearest cross street is Meadow Street.   Cross the bridge and follow the wide handicapped-accessible crushed stone path through the pines around the back of Hope Lake.
Mile 0.18 Access trail from Wheeler Street Senior Center and Police Station on right.
Mile 0.30 Cross Meadow Street. The path is now paved and goes up a long but gentle slope through the woods.
Mile 0.64 Pavement ends at intersection with school paths and is now crushed stone.  Middle School is to the left; High School rear parking lot and tennis courts are to your right. Rec Path continues straight ahead into the woods, still nice and wide.
Mile 0.78 Cross Constitution Boulevard North.  There is a sign kiosk and limited parking on the opposite side of the road.  (The crossing is located halfway between Darryl Ellis Drive and the Middle School exit drive and is marked by yellow arrows on the road.)  The next part of the Rec Path is blazed both yellow and white because it is both the Rec Path and Turkey Trot Trail. It is still crushed stone and about 8 feet wide.
Mile 0.91 Bear left with yellow blazes and crushed stone surface.  Turkey Trot Trail (white) goes both straight ahead up the hill, and to left with the Rec Path.
Mile 0.95 Sharp left onto north dam.  The remains of the old dam once held a sizeable reservoir, although you won't see any water near this part of the dam now.
Mile 1.13 Beginning of south dam; Silent Waters access trail comes in from the left off Constitution Blvd at Middle School.  Walk along top of dam and cross bridge.  Nice view of Silent Waters.  The dead trees and brush along the shore were caused when the city raised the water level, increasing the size of the reservoir. Continue to end of dam and take a sharp left off the dam and follow trail to cross walk at intersection of Const. Blvd and Shelton Ave.  (Some people skip the traffic signal and walk straight across Shelton Ave off of the dam).
Mile 1.25? Cross Shelton Ave at traffic signal and crosswalk towards white house.  After crossing, follow crushed stone path in front of house along Nells Rock Rd, cross driveway, and head into the woods. After this point it is a regular hiking trail - no crushed stone.
Watch for orange-blazed trail intersection.
Note: Mileages below are slightly off due to recently reroute of Rec Path at Silent Waters.  New route will be measured soon.
Part 2 (1.1 mile): Follow orange blazes on Dominick Trail along Hope Lake, across Oak Valley Road, to the "Four Corners" trail intersection.
Mile 1.37 Turn left onto Dominick Trail, blazed ORANGE.
Mile 1.45  Hope Lake Dam (this is the dam you can see when you're driving on Nell's Rock Road).  The trail then follows the shore closely the entire length of Hope Lake, opposite Nell's Rock Road.
Mile 1.80 Sharp left over foot bridge.  Pay attention and follow the orange blazes - it's easy to just keep going straight onto the white trail when you need to turn left.
Mile 1.88  Sharp right turning away from the Hope Lake. Again, it's easy to go straight, following the white blazes, when you should be turning with the orange blazes. At this trail junction there is a rocky "point" protruding into the reservoir.   Teresa's tip -- sit down and take a break here.  Take off your shoes and stick your feet in the water. This is the half-way point of your hike and it's fun watching the fish and birds.
Mile 1.95 Dominick Trail crosses Oak Valley Road. Pass through an old estate that burned to the ground.
Mile 2.19 Sharp descent - caution bikers!
Mile 2.22 Foot bridge over "J Pond", a tiny but productive vernal pool with salamanders and spotted turtles.
Mile 2.25 Illegal ATV activity has confused the trail - watch carefully for orange blazes.
Mile 2.42 "Four Corners" intersection of 3 trails (white, orange and yellow).
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Part 3 (2.4 miles): Follow yellow blazes of Rec Path again, to Huntington Center.
Mile 2.42 "Four Corners" intersection of 3 trails (white, orange and yellow).  Turn right onto the Rec Path (yellow), leaving Dominick Trail.  You will be following yellow blazes from now on. Stay on old woods road until you reach the powerlines
2.71 Turn left and follow the powerline corridor
2.77 Turn right into woods
3.18 Cross Wesley Drive.  There is a short side trail to a waterfall.
3.52 Cross sewer easement (grassy)
3.63 Cross Wesley Drive again.  Follow gravel road (emergency fire access). Focus on the blazes here! You will be turning off the road after 150 yards.
3.72 Turn left off the gravel road, behind a new house, staying close to stone wall on left, and enter woods. You can also choose the "executive route" and follow the gravel road directly to Lane Street, which goes to Huntington Center.
3.92 Veer right onto trail coming from Sycamore Drive.
4.00 Enter large Land Trust meadow.  Follow a mowed path across the meadow, staying to your left.  Below the entire length of the meadow is Means Brook and a series of dense wooded swamps created by beaver.  This is some of the best wildlife habitat in the City. You can hear the sound of traffic from Huntington Street in the distance.
4.19 Cross boardwalk over wooded swamp and enter second meadow.   There is a white house straight ahead.    Stay to the left.
4.28 Enter woods
4.34 Turn left onto Lane Street near the cemetery.  The rest of the trail is not blazed. Cross a pedestrian bridge over Means Brook (stop and take a look, there are often fish and ducks below).  Note: if you are trying to find this turn coming from the reverse direction, it is located about 100 feet past the cemetery drive and just before #31 Lane Street.
4.49 Turn right onto Huntington Street near the Fire Station. Food and drink is available at Huntington Street Cafe soon after turning onto Huntington Street, as well as Beechwood Supermarket, Portobello, Pagliaro's Lunch, Sassafrass, and other places. The Community Center, Library (Huntington Branch) and Post Office are across Huntington Street.
4.79  Rec Path officially ends at the pedestrian bridge over Means Brook near St. Lawrence Church, Webster Bank, and Huntington Hardware. Vincents Pizza and the Donut Inn are located in the shopping center across the bridge.