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.

Super Speedy Summary

This is a fantastic little 5 mile trail. You’ll come for the famous Comstock Covered Bridge but you’ll stay for the waterfall section, Pine and Hardwood forest and fishing and swimming spots. There are also some lovely areas with old farmstead stone walls and even a wrecked ‘farm car’ woven through the woods. Easy large parking area and the trail is ‘nearly’ a loop so its easy to get back the car after. Although steep in some sections there isn’t the usual ‘rock fest’ many CT trails have so provided the weather is favorable this trail is accessible for most walkers. Bring bug repellent ! I also have the Fastest Known Time on this trail!

Salmon River Trail Guide

The Salmon River Trail is part of the CFPA Blue Blaze Trails system in Connecticut in the USA. It is a varied 5 mile ‘lollypop’ shaped loop with easy parking at the start next to the Iconic Comstock Covered Bridge. The trail is between Colchester, East Hampton and East Haddam.

The trail passes through the Salmon River State Forest . One of the early and notable settlers in this area was John Carrier who was reputed to be the executioner of Charles the First and who fled England when the monarchy was restored. His family name still exists on the land records of the area. This gives this trail a very personal link with both the Regicides Trail in CT and the Monarchs Way in the UK.

The Old Comstock Covered Bridge

The Old Comstock Bridge was Built in 1840, it is one of only three historical covered bridges in the state. It is open to pedestrian traffic in a small park off Comstock Bridge Road. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 1, 1976.

 It underwent major restoration work in the 1930s by a Civilian Conservation Corps crew, which replaced some bridge materials with parts in part recycled from old buildings, and added the beautiful and elaborate gates at either end.

Up and into the woods

After a short meander along the river ( where you can see fishermen and people swimming in the summer) the trail splits away and begins a climb a few hundred feet through dense Pine woodland to get to the ‘upper’ circular part of the trail. The view from near the top and the top are spectacular in places.

Anticlockwise Loop

We recommend walking the loop at the top anti clockwise, so that you get the impact of the Waterfall closer to the end of your walk rather than early on. It’ll mean you’ll be able to spend more time at this highlight knowing it isn’t far to get back.

Farmstead Walls and ‘Trail Cars’

As well as viewpoints and sections near the streams and rivers the trail also passes through some old farmstead areas and you can still see the rocky walls in the woods. There is also an old abandoned wrecked ‘farm car’ in the middle of the woods. I’ve yet to figure out what the correct term for these car wrecks are, as a British person it always strikes me as hugely amusing to see a car seemingly dumped in the middle of a forest with no roads. Its like the car version of a ‘Ship in a Bottle’. How do they get there ? What has bashed them up so badly ? I suspect the mundane answer is they simply broke down where they lay and the woods grew up around them.

Day Pond Brook Spur Waterfall

As you work your way round you will eventually see a sign for a Blue Red Blaze trail to the Waterfall. This is only a 0.2 mile walk so a matter of a few mins to reach. The waterfall is lovely and well worth the diversion. But the ‘No See Ums’ in the area are aggressive so make sure you are armed with bug spray !

Looping Back

Eventually you’ll get back to the ‘split’ in the loop and you can start making your way back to the start. The great news is that its mainly downhill all the way back too !

Verdict

This is a fantastic little 5 mile trail. You’ll come for the famous Comstock Covered Bridge but you’ll stay for the waterfall section, Pine and Hardwood forest and fishing and swimming spots. There are also some lovely areas with old farmstead stone walls and even a wrecked ‘farm car’ woven through the woods. Easy large parking area and the trail is ‘nearly’ a loop so its easy to get back the car after. Although steep in some sections there isn’t the usual ‘rock fest’ many CT trails have so provided the weather is favorable this trail is accessible for most walkers. Bring bug repellent !

Parking

Park here right next to the bridge 14 Bridge St, Colchester, CT 06415

Distance and Elevation

The Trail is 5 miles , we did 6.5 miles to get back to the car and enjoy the waterfall area on the Day Pond Brook Spur. Elevation 650ft total.

Garmin Connect gpx files and details click here