Barn Island Loop

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

A fairly easy run with slight elevation changes through saltwater marsh and coastal woodlands. The marsh attracts a variety of birds and insects. The autumn months provide an array of colors from the foliage.

There is plenty of parking but no facilities nearby.

The footing is generally very even, but it does get muddy in the low sections.

There are basically two types of terrain, a deciduous forest and the marsh. This run starts at the edge of field with native cedar and grasses on a doubletrack trail. The path then descends into a hardwood forest. The descent continues into the marsh and alternates between forest and marsh. It can be wet and muddy even if it has not rained for some time.

It is very scenic with views on to Fisher's Island Sound. There are abundant birds, particularly migratory species. The trail then turns right (north) continuing on a doubletrack course. The trails then turns off to the the left (north again) onto a singletrack path as it follows the edge of the marsh along the forest.

The trail meets up with a doubletrack again, and then turns east onto a single-tack path. The widest turn from the northeast leads off-trail for about a third of a mile through a poorly-maintained trail that occasionally vanishes altogether. Eventually it meets up again with a fire road for the loop back to the parking lot.

A variety of flora, both native and invasive species. There are many, many birds.