The Nehantic Trail is a 12 mile CFPA Blue Blaze trail that runs from Green Fall Pond Recreation Area in Voluntown to Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold. Highlights include the view from Mt Misery and woodland trail through the low lying Pachaug State Forest. This is one of the best trails in the area with beautiful varied woodland for the entire 12 miles.

In Depth Trail Guide

The 12 Mile Nehantic Trail is situated in the South Eastern corner of Connecticut and links up with the Narragansett, Quinebaug and Pachaug Trails. A lot of this trail is relatively flat making it an easier trail for people of all abilities but it does cross streams and wetland areas so bring bug spray and expect to get wet feet all year round if you aren’t super careful crossing streams.

History and Folklore

The trail is named after the Niantic People who were one of several Algonquian speaking people on the southern shore of New England. The name Voluntown is though to come from the Narrangansett War of 1700 after which many volunteers settled in the area. The wet and inhospitable areas are the reason for names like Mount Misery and Hell Hollow.

Green Falls Pond Recreation Area

Green Falls Pond has a lake that has a 2 mile loop trail round it and is popular with campers. This is also where the trail meets up with the Narrangansett Trail.

Hopeville Pond State Park

Hopeville Pond State Park is an 554 acre site with plenty of camping facilities .The Mohegan people originally created stone weirs here to harvest fish from the Pachaug River.The park was heavily worked on in the 1930s by the CCC and turned into a state park.

Pachaug State Forest

Pachaug State Forest has over 30,000 acres and is located in the South East Corner of Connecticut and was the first State Forest in CT.

Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail

There is also another super small CFPA Blue Blaze Trail hidden in the Mt Misery Campgrounds on the trail called the Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail.

Mount Misery

Mount Misery is a scenic view point on the trail with great views of the surrounding forest. Shortly after the summit the path to the west is currently having some logging work so take care as some short sections can be closed and many of the trees with blazes have been removed. We suggest if you are travelling through this area to bring an electronic map to help you find the right direction through this area. This is where the trail meets up with the Pachaug Trail and a mile or two later the trail also meets up with the Quinebaug Trail towards the western terminus.

Abandoned Mill Sites

The trail passes various abandoned Mill Sites near the brooks and streams.

Parking Info

Hopeville Pond Parking

Green Fall Pond Parking