ACREAGE: 43     DATE ACQUIRED: 2019

The Hastings Trail, on the GLT's Wilcox Family Preserve, was created in 2024 to provide access to Holcomb Farm's western trail system - a significant trail system that was cut off from the farm when a Holcomb Farm bridge washed out due to flooding in 2021. This trail follows along the edge of the beautiful, Wild and Scenic-designated Western Branch of the Salmon Brook for about ½ mile until it reaches the intersection with the Holcomb Farm property, linking into an existing system of public trails throughout the western highlands, which is stewarded and maintained by the Friends of Holcomb Farm.

Most of Holcomb Farm (277 acres, including these trails) is permanently preserved open space, thanks to a conservation easement held by the Granby Land Trust (GLT). In 2022, working collaboratively with the Town of Granby and the Friends of Holcomb Farm, the GLT purchased this easement to guarantee that this land would remain open in perpetuity, as Tudor and Laura Holcomb intended, and to preserve this important part of Granby's history.

Just south of Holcomb Farm is the Wilcox Family Preserve, which the GLT purchased in 2019, to preserve another important piece of Granby's history: the Wilcox Farm, a 45-acre parcel that includes woodlands, fertile agricultural fields, and a two-story, center-chimney house, built by Sadoce Wilcox in 1787 and owned by his descendants until 2019. The GLT donated the house and barn to the Salmon Brook Historical Society, which undertook their ongoing stewardship, while the GLT stewards the remainder of the land.

Property Location

Simsbury Road, West Granby

Trailhead

From the Wilcox House and Barn (155 Simsbury Road), proceed south on Simsbury Road and cross the bridge over the Salmon Brook. After the bridge, parking is available in the GLT’s Holcomb Hill Preserve parking area. To access the GLT’s Hastings Trail and eventually the Holcomb Farm Western Trails, proceed carefully across the street onto the Wilcox Family Preserve, where you will see a trailhead sign and map. Please stay on the marked path on the right of the farm fields and proceed to an opening in the woods in the right corner of the field (you’ll see a bench honoring Steven Wilcox Hastings) where the trail will take you to the connection with Holcomb Farm’s Western Trails. As on all GLT properties, dogs must be leashed.

Total Miles of Trails

The Hastings Trail is approximately .33 miles long, and connects to the Holcomb Farm Western Trail System. To see a detailed map of the Holcomb Farm trails, go to the Holcomb Farm website at www.HolcombFarm.org.

Track Your Location Using Avenza Maps®

Be Adventurous Without Getting Lost

You can track your location and progress on both GLT trails and Holcomb Farm trails using Avenza Maps®, a free app to view maps, even while offline. The Granby Land Trust has several trail maps available for download, including this one, for use in the app.