Risley Pond Trail

This hike occurred on August 9 & 14, 2013

Trail head: 
365 Lake St., Vernon, CT - Parking: Risley Pond trail has a parking lot with room for over half a dozen cars. 

Length/Distance: According the CT Walk book and the town of Manchester, this lollipop loop trail should be 2.6 miles. According to my GPS tracking program, our route was 3.0 miles. 

Summary: 
The first time we stopped by there, we didn't have time to complete the hike but got some nice pictures of the vegetation growing along the beginning of the trail. There was some Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis).

As well as not yet ripe Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus). 

We also found Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara). It is related, though not closely, to Deadly Nightshade and can be moderately toxic. 

There was also a Great Burdock (Arctium lappa). 

The second time we visited the park, we hiked the trail. About half of it was in the dark. We did get some beautiful pictures of the lake at night.