Full Trail Guide – Hancock Brook Trail

The ‘Hancock Brook Trail‘ is a 2.8-mile (4.5 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail Waterville Section of the City of Waterburyin New Haven County close to the borders of Thomaston and Plymouth, Litchfield County, Connecticut. It is contained overwhelmingly in a section of the Mattatuck State Forest bounded by Hancock Brook on the east, Thomaston Avenue on the west and Spruce Brook Road / Route 262 to the north. This is also the trail that Shona and I got engaged on and we set the Fastest Known Time on this route that day too !

This ‘Baby Appalachian Trail’ has a wonderful stream path and superb views from Lions Peak and all in under 3 miles.

History

The trail is named for Hancock Brook which the trail follows on both the east and west sections of the loop .

The Sheffield Street over Hancock Brook (State Bridge No. 5038) is now a condemned ruins blocked from any traffic by concrete barriers. A sign is posted warning that no vehicular nor pedestrian traffic may cross it (it is extremely dangerous). 

The Sheffield Street Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a fifty-six foot ‘iron bridge (a lenticular pony truss) which was built in 1884 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company.

The Trail

The trail is a loop and is shaped like a long finger or cigar. Half is along a path that follows a fast flowing stream with man made walls and the other half returns along the high ridge with views of the surrounding areas.

Notable features include a 660-foot summit (Lion Head 41.6038°N 73.0509°W) and several overlook views. The trail is maintained largely through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

Beautiful Streams and Wonderful Views

Shona and I found it easy to park and set off doing this in an anti-clockwise direction which we would recommend as it gives anyone not willing to do the steep ascent half way round the chance to turn round and simply return on the path you came by. We think doing it anti-clockwise also gives you a more favourable uphill segment and an easier more favourable down segment at the end than the other way round.

Lions Peak

The trail along the river is beautiful and instantly reminded of the CT part of the Appalachian Trail. After a switchback trail after 1.3 miles and a brisk and hard climb you quickly reach Lions Peak with superb views of the surrounding area.

As you walk back along the ridge on the return part there are a few points where you get viewpoints along the way back too.

Glistening Mica

Just before the car park if you look carefully you will see glistening mica scattered amongst the gravel stone path.

Other Nearby Trails

We also visited the Whitestone Cliffs Trail on the same day which is only 5 mins drive from the parking area.

Parking Info