QUICK SUMMARY INFO
Parking – Mt Tobe Rd, Plymouth, CT 06782 Here
Distance and Elevation – 1.7 miles – 315 ft
Difficulty – Moderate terrain , steep ascents – difficult in winter.
Garmin GPX and full details here
Date Visited – A Snowy Sunny day in March 2019
The ‘Whitestone Cliffs Trail’ is a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail in the Waterbury area in Thomaston and Plymouth, Litchfield County, Connecticut. It is contained almost entirely in a section of the Mattatuck State Forest. The mainline (official “Blue” “non-dot”) trail is a loop trail with one connector trail (Blue-Blazed with yellow dot) to the Jericho Blue-Blazed Trail. There is a linking trail called the Whitestone-Jericho Connector Trail joins this trail with the Jericho Trail and I also happen to hold the Fastest Known Time on this Trail too!
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.
Full Guide – Whitestone Cliffs Trail
The Whitestone Cliffs Trail is a loop trail with spurs at the loop’s bottom leading to Connecticut Route 262 in both the east and west directions. The eastern spur terminates at the trail’s parking lot. The western spurs is the Jericho Connector trail which leaves Mattatuck State Forest, travels alongside the Naugatuck River before crossing it using Connecticut Route 262 and before heading under Route 8.
Notable features include a 750 foot summit and several overlook views. The trail goes near, but does not summit Mount Tobe.[2] The trail is maintained largely through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.
History of the Trail
The trail is named for high stone cliffs which appear white when viewed from the Naugatuck River and Connecticut Route 8
In the early 1840s the Naugatuck Railroad laid track parallel to the Naugatuck River near the Whitestone Cliffs western border. This line connected Winsted Connecticut to New Haven Connecticut with several stops in between including Thomaston and Waterbury Connecticut.[ The company built a spur rail line to their quarrying operation on the western edge of the white cliffs to produce stone material for railroad bridge abutments.
The pavilion near the trail head and parking lot was erected for an archery group which conducted target practice in this area of Mattatuck State Forest in the latter half of the twentieth century. There were once archery range markers in the woods close to the pavilion
A perfect Little Loop Trail
Shona and I loved this trail. If you walk or run it clockwise you’ll be rewarded with a superb peak viewpoint in the first half mile. Be careful in the Winter or when wet as some of this climb could be tricky.
As well as some nice peaks there are also some low lying areas that look boggy and may have a lot of biting insects in the summer.
The trail itself meanders up and down through some lovely gullies of rock, with beautiful streams running through. Provided you come when the weather is favourable we think this is accessible to all of the family in the right footwear.
Another Gem Nearby
We visited this trail and another on the same day. The 2.8 mile Hancock Brook Trail is only a 5 min drive from this one and was also well worth a visit as it differs so much from Whitestone Cliffs Trail. There is alas a Blue Yellow blazed trail inbetween them to link them if you are feeling adventurous !
Verdict
We are really big fans of the little Blue Blaze Trails with lots to see. The short distance and that fact that its a loop makes this one of the most rewarding trails for all abilities. The views are stunning and the rock formations round the trail route are stunning.
SUMMARY INFO
Parking – Mt Tobe Rd, Plymouth, CT 06782 Here
Distance and Elevation – 1.7 miles – 315 ft
Difficulty – Moderate terrain , steep ascents – difficult in winter.
Garmin GPX and full details here
Date Visited – A Snowy Sunny day in March 2019
