With easy terrain and a mixture of mature forest and easy to cross brooks and streams this 7 mile trail is a superb gem. There are signs of old charcoal works and a mixture of Mountain Laurel paths, walks round rocky outcrops and easy stream crossings.

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.

History of the Cockaponset Trail

Originally built in 1934 as part of the Civilian Conservation Crops Project you can still see signs of the old charcoaling stations through the woods too.

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This trail also now makes up part of my bigger Old Leatherman Loop 365 mile Fastest Known Time.

Cockaponset State Forest is the second largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) of land. Most of the land is in Middlesex County though some parcels lie in New Haven County.

As Shona and I went along the trail we loved that the stream crossings were relatively easy, and that some of the paths even had elevated wooden walkways . The final and newest 2 miles of the Southern part of the trail are a little more challenging and as the path there is newer its a bit more like bushwhacking, but the blue blazes will keep you on track.

This trail was also used as part of the 365 mile Old Leatherman Loop Fastest Known Time that I set in 2019.

Summary

Parking – Southern Trail head parking – 318-382 Beaver Meadow Rd, Haddam, CT 06438

Northern trail Head Parking -276 Main St Chester, Deep River, CT

Distance – 7.1 Miles – Easy Terrain – Elevation Gain Total – 800 ft

GPX files and info from Garmin here