The Iron Trail is one of the CFPA Blue Blaze Trails and is 4.1 miles long. It runs through Housatonic State Forest and the Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve. The southern but starts at Canaan Mountain Road and meanders northwards towards the Beckley Furnace in Canaan.
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
This little 4.1 mile trail has a lot to offer, but it also has a lot of very wet and boggy deep rutted trail at its southern end that may not be worth the effort. The Northern half of this trail is superb with gorgeous views and dramatic cliffs and slopes. At the northern tip you will also find the impressive Beckley Furnace Monument and easy parking. This trail is well worth a visit but if you aren’t on a mission to walk every single mile of Connecticuts Blue Blaze system my advice is to park at the north car park and do a 2 mile out and back and give the southern half a miss, or do just the southern half if you want the trail to yourself. I also hold the Fastest Known Time for this trail at the moment too !
The Iron Trail is one of the CFPA Blue Blaze Trails and is 4.1 miles long. It runs through Housatonic State Forest and the Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve. The southern but starts at Canaan Mountain Road and meanders northwards towards the Beckley Furnace in Canaan. The trail is close to the Mohawk and Appalachian Trail.
The woods were used in the past to produce charcoal for all the furnaces in the area, and the area was mined for its Iron Ore rich rocks and smelted locally with an industry that ceased around 100 years ago.
Colliers Hut
About halfway along the trail you can see a pile of semi circular stones that probably mark the site of an old colliers hut. There are also signs of flattened areas where the wood was probably piled up to create the charcoal for the furnaces.
Rutted and Boggy
The southern half is a victim of its own history. I suspect the trail was used heavily by the industry and as a result the track is deeply worn to a few feet in places below the ground level. The track also runs through and past various marshy areas. As a result the southern half of this trail is a nightmare of mud and bog and it often feels like the path is the only place where the water is collecting. I definitely do not recommend doing the southern half after heavy rain.
Gorgeous Views and Dramatic Cliffs
Once past the first half this trail is superb . The northern end has dramatic drop offs and views and stunning scenery. As you begin descending towards the end of the trail the last mile comes close to a fast flowing stream with waterfalls and you can see evidence of abandoned iron ore as you get closer to the bridge.
As you cross the bridge you will find the car park with picnic tables and the remains of the blast furnace which now serves as a stunning monument to that industrial era.
Beckley Industrial Monument
This monument is the remains of the blast furnace that was sited here and working actively until 100 years ago. The monument is surrounded by ‘Salamanders’ which are abandoned iron slag piles that had to be removed from the furnace when they formed by accident.
Land of Nod Winery
A few mins easy walk up the road is the Land of Nod Winery which is well worth a visit. They serve some superb wines from their own vineyards and the family have been based there for 200 years rearing sheep and in more modern times running a very successful vineyard.
Verdict
This little 4.1 mile trail has a lot to offer, but it also has a lot of very wet and boggy deep rutted trail at its southern end that may not be worth the effort. The Northern half of this trail is superb with gorgeous views and dramatic cliffs and slopes. At the northern tip you will also find the impressive Beckley Furnace Monument and easy parking as well as the superb Land of Nod Winery. This trail is well worth a visit but if you aren’t on a mission to walk every single mile of Connecticuts Blue Blaze system my advice is to park at the north car park and do a 2 mile out and back and give the southern half a miss.
Parking Info – Park at Beckley Iron Furnace State Park Car Park .
Distance 4.1 miles Elevation 395 ft
Garmin gpx info here
