Its a testament to just how spectacular a trail can be that despite it pouring with rain you leave it feeling you will want to go back again and again. Perhaps its the magic of the Appalachian Trail ( that it shares a mile with) or simply the constant sound of the streams and waterfalls around this trail and of course accidentally bagging a Fastest Known Time on it can also make you biased.
This guide will give you everything you need to enjoy this trail including parking, pictures, gpx files and videos as well as some background history and hints and tips.
Shona and I are taking 2019 to run/hike all of the 825 miles Blue Blazed Trails of Connecticut and this was the very first one we did of the year. The weather was miserable with heavy misty rain so we opted to hike it with wet weather gear on rather than try and run on the wet rocks.
We randomly chose to do this anti clockwise which it turned out was the right way to do it. It gives you a steady rocky climb and an easier descent down a more gentle slope on the way back to the car.
The 2.6 mile loop shares about a mile with the Appalachian Trail so you can see the white and blue blazes on the trees sharing company about half way round.
We got to cross heavy streams and follow a trail that spent a lot of time following streams and waterfalls down through the rocks.
With the low temperatures and rain we had to take care on the rocks and I even got some video of the water flowing underneath the ice on the rocks. The joy of this trail is that it isn’t that long and has loads of varied sections of woods, hills and streams. Its very typical of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut and some of the most peaceful and impressive trail I’ve seen in Connecticut.
We got the whole trail done in around 90 mins and got back to the car and decided to also get the Macedonia Brook Trail done in the afternoon that day despite the weather.
Little were we to know then that the Macedonia Trail would be such a stark contrast that afternoon and show us just how dangerous the CT trails can get in bad weather.
Useful Info – Summary
Distance – 2.6 miles
Elevation – approx 1000ft
Parking at the trail head is easy off the State Route 7 that runs next to the Housatonic River.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2058228624
