The Cross Town Trail is described in 4 sections, from north to south:
Follow the old Copperas Road leading from the south end to connect to the Norwich Gile Mountain trails and beyond.
Section 1: Old City Falls to Pennock Road
Start at the crossroads at the highest point on Old City Falls Road. Follow (east) down the gated Churchill Tree Farm access road, straight through the landing to the road on the opposite side. Then watch for the flags where the trail leaves the road to the right. The yellow flags will lead you to the trail through the PWMA where there are old foundations and stone walls where it supported several farms. The southern portion follows the VAST route. At Pennock Road, go right about 0.25 miles to a clearing on the left. The trail continues south near the old foundation on the edge of the clearing. Old City Falls Road to Pennock Road is 2.3 miles. Please, no wheeled vehicles on this section.
Going north on the VAST section watch for 2 right turns where the trail branches off to the right.
Cross Rivendell Trail connection: You can continue north on the Cross Rivendell Trail (CRT) or connect coming south from the CRT Trail by following the Moody Swamp Road just over 2 miles. Going north on the Cross Town Trail follow Moody Swamp Road. Watch for the small CRT signs on the right once you find you're following the Old City Brook on the right. Here you can take the CRT either east or west. Coming from either direction on the CRT, follow Moody Swamp Road east to the end on Old City Falls Road and beginning of the Cross Town Trail.
Section 2: North from Alger Brook to Pennock Road
Park at high point on Pennock Road and walk down the hill to the trailhead which starts next to an old foundation on the right. To go north start at the height of Alger Brook road, travel along the ridge then down the hillside to PWMA. Good views, ancient grave sites, old orchards, stone walls, and farmsteads from the early 1800s. 2.3 miles.
Morrill Link: The 2.2-mile Morrill Link leads west to Strafford Village from the main Cross Town Trail in this section. The trailhead is at the Justin Morrill Homestead. If you park at the homestead, go up the driveway, then left across the stone bridge and through the fence and right up the brook following the yellow flags. You will get to the Cross Town trail in just over 2 miles.
Section 3: Alger Brook to Route 132
From Alger Brook south there's a little climbing to top of Whitcomb Hill about 1 mile in. Views from Whitcomb Hill are the best on the trail and recent clearing has opened vistas to the west and the Green Mountain chain. From here the Cross Town Trail goes west and south to Route 132, 2 miles. Alternately down to Furnace Flats access point and parking. Summit of Whitcomb Hill to Route 132 is 2 miles, Alger Brook to Rt 132 at Furnace Flats is 3 miles. Views from Whitcomb Hill are the best on the trail and recent clearing has opened vistas to the west and the Green Mountain chain.
Section 4: Route 132 to Mine Road to Sharon Line
Trail starts on the Mine Road at a sign 1 mile from South Strafford village. From the Mine Road it runs south, then climbs to the ridge line and continues along the ridge west of the Elisabeth mining cuts and drops onto Copperas Road at the Sharon town line. There is parking at a sign on Mine Road. This can be a loop just by returning down Copperas Road to Mine Road parking. 2 miles from Mine Road to Sharon town line. Note: Trail is reopened from Route 132 to Mine Road. The bridge is back in place and with a new solid railing, it feels more secure than the previous version.
The Strafford Trail System consists of 26 miles of trails, including the Cross Town Trail. Most of the trails are made possible by private landowners who host the sections of the trail passing over their property. Landowners have agreed to allow human powered traffic on their trails which includes foot, snowshoe, skis, and bicycle though the trails are not wheel friendly or conducive to anything but foot traffic. No motor vehicles please unless specifically permitted as in the few sections that follow VAST trails.
The trail system is a resource of the Town of Strafford and is managed by the Strafford Conservation Commission.
Please respect these properties. The generosity of the individual land owners makes this resource available.
Visit Strafford Trail System online for more information or contact:
Strafford Conservation Commission
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