Tree of Life Trail

Blue trails are mowed; red section is pavement.

This short, wide, easy 1-mile hospital trail must be nice for people to walk after visiting patients. Or perhaps convalescing people can walk it as well? It is a pleasant stroll — an easy, gentle path through young forest, with just one slight hill. I imagine this is a great place to go birding.

A short stretch of the trail is paved — the north side of the loop that runs parallel to the hospital road. Beyond this, the path is a well-tended mown trail, with some gravel. A few benches have been set up along the way. Because the area is quite open, the trail can be flooded with sun, which is both good and bad. Wear a hat in the summer!

I included a photo of unripe raspberries alongside the trail because they were photogenic, but the amount of ripe raspberries in mid-July was impressive! If you like raspberry jam, I recommend bringing extra Tupperware with you.

The trails connect with the multuse Whistle Stop Trail.

Directions: Turn into the hospital at the intersection of Routes 133 and 2. I think the easiest place to catch the trail is to continue along the road that circles the hospital campus to the back parking lot, about halfway around the loop. You’ll see the paved trail and a sign, and the parking is easy here.