Follow the clues and find a treasure!

The Park is partnering with CT Sea Grant to create the Thames River Quest, a free, three-part, treasure hunt-style educational hike for all ages as a new, unique offering for Connecticut Trails Day on Saturday, June 2.

The hike will take participants to Fort Trumbull State Park and the downtown Waterfront Park in New London, as well as to Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park in Groton. At each site, participants will follow a series of clues to learn about the history and ecology of the area and the river while solving a word puzzle that leads to a treasure box. Each hike is a separate experience, but can be linked with rides on the park’s water taxi that will be offered for free to Thames River Quest participants from 10 a.m. to noon on that day. A rain date of June 3 is planned.

“Connecticut Sea Grant is very excited to be working with the Thames River Heritage Park to provide a fun, healthy activity that we hope will enhance appreciation of the richness of the coastal and historic resources of the Thames River,” said Judy Benson, communications coordinator for Sea Grant.

Connecticut Trails Day, an annual event sponsored by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, consists of more than 200 hikes, paddles, educational walks and other outdoor activities organized by land trusts, individual volunteers, conservation organizations and other groups. Part of the National Trails Day celebration each year on the first weekend in June, the Connecticut event is the largest in the country, according to the Forest & Park Association.

In addition to Connecticut Sea Grant and the Thames River Heritage Park, the Thames River Quest is also being sponsored by The Day Publishing Co., the City of New London and the City of Groton.

Registration and more information about the hike will be available in May on our website. Registration information will also be available through the Connecticut Trails Day website.