Note: Click within the area bordered by a nearby trail (in pink) to jump directly to it.

From the Adams Mill Restaurant, follow the sidewalk down Adams Street to the south and across the Vehicular Bridge over the Hockanum River and immediately turn left and follow the trail, on the south side, close to the river, on lawn and woodland next to the now vacant DeCormier Motors property. Be sure to admire the very large Sycamore tree on the river bank, then follow the very curving waterway upstream, noting that it has split into two distinct channels below the old Sandstone Dam that burst in the Great Hurricane of 1938. Follow the path further upstream around to the left and then to the right, on the river bank, where the remains of the major hydroelectric dam and ruins of the brick power plant are readily visible, as is another unique Sycamore tree leaning very precariously over the river. Scattered in the river and buried in the river bank are many of the huge blocks of sandstone from the old dam.

Proceeding further upstream, stay close to the river, then over a very short footbridge the trail makes a sharp right turn inland, at two orange blazes, through a beautiful forest of trees all started after the loss of the dam in 1938. There is a prominent row of big Black Birch trees along the river here. The trail curves upstream and very soon becomes a little hazardous as it climbs a sandstone ledge up a ramp and steps for greater views of the river. Much recent trail reconstruction work is visible here with lots of new edge boards and U-posts holding the trail edges in place where many trees have fallen into the river from previous winter floods. PLEASE NOTE: This reconstruction effort is ongoing, and during the winter this area can be hazardous. We do NOT recommend traversing this construction area particularly during winter months. We anticipate stabilizing the area during the spring/summer of 2014, after which we'll remove this precautionary warning. Then the trail comes out onto a nice flat grassy slope onto the Eighth Utilities District property, where a new footbridge is planned to cross the river to connect the two sides of the Adams Mill trail system. The Railroad Trestle, high above ahead, is where the current trail ends.

The return course, now downstream, follows the same route close to the river, and then where it flattens out, off the sandstone ledge, the interesting alternate path is flat and wide, to the left along the Sewer Right of Way, curving through beautiful mature forest and meadow and out to the rear of DeCormier Motors and back out to Adams Street and north to the Adams Mill Restaurant starting point.

The hungry hiker will invariably stop in for a delighful lunch and ask to say hello to Tony Scarpace, the owner, who has graciously allowed us to park, hike and maintain our trail there. There are various historic framed prints hanging in the restaurant.

Canoe/Kayak:
Details on the boat launch icon can be found on the Town of Manchester web site's Canoe & Kayak Access Guide pages, item #3.

Historical Information:
In the 19th century, before back-hoes and Caterpillar tractors, numerous dikes and dams were built along the Hockanum River to harness water power for mill machinery. This hike shows remains of dams, ponds and sluiceways from long ago. Except for the Union Pond Dam, all of the dams along the Hockanum were destroyed in a devastating flood of 1869.

In 1863, Peter C. Adams had purchased a paper mill, outbuildings, 38 acres of land and Hockanum River water privileges. He purchased additional land, houses and barns between 1869 and 1876. The present Adams Mill Restaurant building was constructed in 1880 (see the marble inscription over the front door). The Adams Mill flourished until Peter Adams' death in 1896.

Financial decline and failure closed most mills by the 1880s and 1890s, leaving a few mill buildings and many ruins. The old Hilliard Mills and the Adams Mill are among the best preserved along the Hockanum River. (See also the Oakland Mills along the Union Pond hiking trail.)

Behind the Adams Mill Restaurant can be seen ruins of the extensive system of dikes and two dams which were destroyed in the 1938 hurricane.

The former Adams Mill became the Standard Washer and Mat, which was purchased in 1982 by Brad Morton and Tony Scarpace, who painstakingly renovated it to the present Adams Mill Restaurant. The HRLPC is proud to witness the present restoration of this historic mill to a viable modern-day use. For information on the restaurant, click: Adams Mill Restaurant.

Additional Historical Items:
Along the Adams Mill trail there are numerous historic structures which the observant hiker may see. For example, at the upper end of the trail are a sandstone headwall, several old earthen dikes, and the remains of 2 sandstone dams.

And of course the existing restaurant, which dates from 1880. The original keystone with the date on it is on the east end of the restaurant in an archway (the keystone with date over the front door is a replica). The smaller brick building on the north side, to the left of the trail entrance, is historic as well.

Of more recent note, in October, 2011, severe erosion washed out portions of the Trail, necessitating closure of that portion of the trail. Beginning in the summer of 2013 and extending into early 2014, reconstruction efforts were done. An article in the Hartford Courant in February, 2014, by Peter Marteka documented the rebuild's progress. The article can be accessed by clicking Peter Marteka article.

Also, a slideshow of the progress up to about that point can be found in the "Slide-Shows" link off the HRWA Home page. The slideshow can be directly accessed by clicking Adams Mill Rebuild.

Following are images, maps and drawings of the Adams Mill complex. Click on each image to bring up a larger version of it.