The Chatfield Trail is a 4.2 mile CFPA trail near Killingworth in CT. It starts at Chatfield Hollow State Park and heads south for 4 meandering miles eventually finishing at the southern end of Deer Lake Camp Boy Scouts Park by a gentle stream. Although the terrain is easy under foot a large amount of the trail features thrilling rock formations, boulders and caves formed from the gaps with the trail going through some of these gaps as well as the path following along the base of small rock cliffs, the most famous of which is known as Fat Mans Squeeze.
Full Guide
Although this trail is only 4 miles it is well worth the visit. It has some of the most stunning rock formations I’ve seen in the state on a pleasant easy to walk on trail. You also have the options to explore the trails at Chatfield Hollow to the north of the trail head. At the moment there is logging occurring that blocks about half of the section of Deer Lake Camp so until that is reopened I recommend staying in the northern half of the trail which still holds plenty of stunning scenery or using the alternate markings they have provided to bypass the logging area.
Bob Cornell from the fantastic Connecticut Hiking and Adventures FB Group also suggested that you can also incorporate the Blue/Orange and the old cart path to do a figure 8 of the northern part of the trail to lengthen it until the southern section is reopened, which should be sometime this spring. That Blue/Orange section is fantastic and less travelled.
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Chatfield Hollow State Park is known for its meandering paths and cool lakeside areas as well as Native American Indian Caves and woodland walks.
Look Out
About 1 mile in to the trail heading south you will reach a small lookout with a few glacial erratic boulders on it.
Rock Cave Shelters
There are various sections of the woodland trail that go past rocky cliffs looking up, shelter and overhang caves formed by boulders that overlap. The blue blazes often playfully lead you under and through these huge cracks in the rocky ledges. You have the option to walk round many of these if you are nervous.
Fat Mans Squeeze
The most famous of the cave features is the one known as ‘Fat Mans Squeeze’ found about half way along the trail. This crack in the rock is marked by a yellow trail, but you literally pass it when following the blue blazes. If you squeeze up and through the crack you find a wider area near the top that is the continuation of the yellow trail that accesses it.
Deer Lake Camp
Deer Lake Camp currently has heavy logging going on on its property that blocks the trail. There is an alternative path to take instead that is marked, but this means you will currently miss the fat mans squeeze part of the trail. This alternate uses Champlin Road and Champlin trail as a diversion. Alternatively you can simply do the northern section as an out and back which still has plenty of terrific rocky ledges and outcrops.
Path by the Stream
The last half mile of the trail follows a quiet stream that has a hidden picnic table within sight of the trail and stream. The trail finishes at the road, with a parking area nearby.
Summary
The Chatfield Trail is a 4.2 mile CFPA trail near Killingworth in CT. It starts at Chatfield Hollow State Park and heads south for 4 meandering miles eventually finishing at the southern end of Deer Lake Camp Boy Scouts Park by a gentle stream. Although the terrain is easy under foot a large amount of the trail features thrilling rock formations, boulders and caves formed from the gaps with the trail going through some of these gaps as well as the path following along the base of small rock cliffs, the most famous of which is known as Fat Mans Squeeze.
Parking Info
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Southern Trail head Parking
