Showing posts with label CT Appalachian Trail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CT Appalachian Trail. Show all posts

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Appalachian Trail, CT - Kent to Cornwall Bridge via Caleb's Peak, St. Johns Ledges, River Walk


ABOUT THE PARK:
History of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut - CT AMC
CT 341 to CT 4 - cnyhiking.com (nice description and maps)

DIRECTIONS:
This is a shuttle hike so either 2 cars are needed or contact Backcountry Outfitters on CT 341 in Kent, CT in advance to arrange for a shuttle. They will shuttle your dog, too!
Parking A (Meet here and leave 1 car)
GPS Coordinates 41.807704,-73.391782

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Pull-out parking for about 4-5 cars along side of road just before the Appalachian Trail.
Parking B (Drive here in the second car)
GPS Coordinates 41.731029, -73.490691



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Pull-out parking for about 5-6 cars along CT 341 opposite start of hike at the stile.

TRAIL MAP:
Connecticut Appalachian Trail Guide (available in map boxes through hike but not very useful)
Appalachian Trail Kent to River Road - Connecticut Explorer's Guide (very useful topo map)

HIKE DISTANCE:  9.9 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Glacier Rock - Peakery.com
Fuller Mountain - Peakery.com
Caleb's Peak - Peakery.com

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1,445.4 to 1,455

THE HIKE:
From Parking B on CT 341 in Kent, cross the road and climb over the stile heading north on the Appalachian Trail.
After crossing a meadow, the trail heads uphill into the woods.
View to the east of the Connecticut countryside.
American Toad
Caleb's Peak
View east from Caleb's Peak.
Garter Snake
St. Johns Ledges
View from St. Johns Ledges
The VERY steep descent from St. Johns Ledges.  There are rock steps but you'll still need your hands in a few places. 
Still going down steeply...
If you prefer to hike north to south, consider that this would be quite a climb up going the other way although it's quite knee-jarring going down.
Near the bottom of the descent, rock climbers going up the smooth rock face - makes you appreciate those stone steps.
After the descent, a smooth stretch along River Road.  Although this stretch is open to traffic, it dead ends at parking so there is very little traffic.  No cars passed us.
Housatonic River from River Road.
The Appalachian Trail continues beyond the gated road at the parking area and becomes a footpath again.
The Appalachian Trail along the Housatonic after the River Road gate.
A female Common Merganser on a rock in the Housatonic.
Easy hiking along the Housatonic.
The trail goes through a small field loaded with milkweed and beautiful butterflies but they were very fast and elusive.  The only one I got a picture of was this one on the far right.
Farm fields to the left.
Coming full circle.
Entering the fields at Liner Farm.
The Appalachian Trail following along the edge of the field.  Surprisingly, not a single tick on any of us.
Remnants of a stone silo.

If you like fresh eggs, bring some cash and a cooler.  Directly across from the Parking A at the end of the hike, there were eggs for sale.  I don't eat eggs but I get them for the dogs and will only buy from individuals or directly from small farms, never from grocery stores.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From Parking B cross CT 341 and climb stile at AT sign; cross meadow
[  0.20]  Cross bridge over Macedonia Brook, enter woods and cross unmarked trail
[  0.70]  There is supposed to be a side trail to Numeral Rock - the trails I saw in this area went nowhere - either I missed it or it's overgrown
[  0.90]  View on the right
[  1.80]  Cross small creek
[  2.50]  Cross small creek
[  3.00]  Cross Choggan Brook
[  3.10]  Cross paved Skiff Mountain Road
[  3.25]  Overgrown overlook
[  3.40]  Cross small creek
[  3.90]  Caleb's Peak
[  4.10]  Rock steps descend
[  4.60]  Leave AT to the right downhill briefly to view at St. Johns Ledges; continue on AT and begin steep descent
[  4.95]  Keep straight when unmarked trail goes right (used by rock climbers)
[  5.00]  At parking area turn left on River Road and follow River Road (gravel)
[  5.80]  Keep straight on gravel River Road when another gravel road goes left
[  5.95]  Continue through parking area and gate towards kiosk; AT becomes footpath
[  7.30]  Cross log bridge over Stewart Hollow Brook; blue side trail goes to Stewart Hollow Shelter
[  7.40]  Other end of blue-blazed trail from Stewart Hollow Shelter comes in from the left
[  7.80]  Blue-blazed trail to left goes to Stony Brook campsites, keep right on log bridge over Stony Brook
[  7.90]  Other end of blue-blazed trail from Stony Brook campsites comes in from the left
[  8.95]  Go through small field with milkweed and lots of butterflies
[  9.05]  Trail veers left into Liner farm fields
[  9.35]  Trail leaves farm fields
[  9.40]  Cross log bridge
[  9.65]  Trail comes out on gravel road, turn right and follow gravel road
[  9.90]  Back at Parking A

Friday, August 12, 2011

Appalachian Trail from Hoyt Rd., NY to Kent, CT with Herrick Preserve and Bulls Bridge Side Trips



ABOUT THE PARK:
History of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut - CT AMC
Appalachian Trail Region NJ/NY - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Herrick Preserve - Naromi Land Trust
Bulls Bridge Recreation Area - Litchfield Hills Connecticut Visitor's Bureau

Click for Kent, Connecticut Forecast

DIRECTIONS:
One Car Shuttle Hike
Park Car Here:
GPS Coordinates 41.731029, -73.490691

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CT 341 Roadside Parking at AT Crossing
Contact Backcountry Outfitters in advance to arrange for a shuttle to Hoyt Road from CT 341. (They will shuttle your dog, too!) Park car at CT 341 and walk .6 mile east on CT 341 to Backcountry Outfitters (on the right just before intersection with Route 7) for shuttle.   When I did the hike, the cost of the shuttle was $25 - less costly than gas and tolls to break up this section of the AT into two out-and-back trips.
OR for a two-car shuttle - 
Park Car 2 here:
GPS Coordinates 41.640959, -73.520118
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Hoyt Road Parking at NY/CT State Line

TRAIL MAP:
Connecticut Appalachian Trail Guide (available in map boxes through hike but not very useful)
Appalachian Trail Kent to Rt. 55 - Connecticut Explorer's Guide (very useful topo map)
Herrick Preserve - Naomi Land Trust (detail of first part of AT and side trail to views in Herrick Preserve)
Bulls Bridge Scenic Area Map

HIKE DISTANCE:
AT with all side trips:  15.5 miles
AT only with no side trips: 11.5 miles
Herrick Preserve:  2.35  miles
Bulls Bridge Scenic Area: 1 mile
From Ct 341 parking to Backcountry Outfitters: .6 mile

PEAK BAGGING:
Tenmile Hill, CT
Schaghticoke Mountain, NY
Mount Algo, CT

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1,434 to 1,445.4

THE HIKE:
For written description, see my NY/NJ Trail Conference writeup.
Starting out on the AT from Hoyt Road
Beginning of the Herrick Trail off of the AT
Blue side trail blazes become Herrick Preserve markers
Housatonic Overlook off of Herrick Trail side trail
Amy's Lookout off of Herrick Trail side trail - a wonderful breezy and mossy break spot
Tenmile River
Ned Anderson Memorial Bridge Over Tenmile River
Housatonic Whitewater
View from Overlook Deck at Bulls Bridge Scenic Area
Bulls Bridge
Canal Headgates at Bulls Bridge Scenic Area
Bulls Bridge Dam
The AT follows along Schaghticoke Road for a short distance.
View of Tenmile Hill from Schaghticoke Mountain
View West from Schaghticoke Mountain
Hiking back into Connecticut from Schaghticoke Mountain summit in New York.
New England Countryside View

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Walk east along CT 341
[  0.60]  Arrive at Backcountry Outfitters; shuttle to Hoyt Road, hike north on white-blazed AT
[  1.00]  Side trail on left to Route 55 parking lot at information board
[  1.05]  Connecticut Appalachian Trail sign
[  1.25]  Cross Route 55 (caution - very fast traffic)
[  1.80]  Trail forks left - easy to miss
[  2.50]  Partial view from short side trail to left
[  2.70]  Right on blue Herrick Trail; blue blazes change to preserve markers
[  3.05]  Turn left on side trail at Housatonic Overlook sign
[  3.15]  View straight ahead at rock outcrop; retrace
[  3.20]  Continue left on Herrick Trail
[  3.80]  Turn left on side trail at Amy's Lookout sign
[  3.95]  Amy's Lookout; retrace
[  4.05]  At intersection turn right on Herrick Trail
[  4.70]  Left at fork when Housatonic Overlook side trail goes right
[  5.05]  Right on white-blazed Appalachian Trail when Herrick Trail ends
[  5.35]  Trail turns sharply to the right where branches cover trail straight ahead
[  5.75]  Cross woods road
[  5.85]  Trail turns right at Tenmile River
[  6.10]  Cross Tenmile River on the Ned Anderson Memorial Bridge (steps may be difficult for dogs)
[  6.20]  Trail crosses power cut
[  6.70]  Bear right at fork on wide gravel road
[  6.85]  AT leaves gravel road to the left into woods; stay on gravel road for scenic side trail along the Housatonic to Bulls Bridge
[  7.10]  Right on paved road, either of two side trail to right goes short distance to overlook deck; retrace and continue right on paved road to Bulls Bridge
[  7.25]  Bulls Bridge straight ahead, turn left on trail between parking lot and bridge to trails along the river to the dam; retrace
[  7.55]  Back at paved road turn right and walk along paved road
[  7.65]  Turn right through field beyond gate to left on trail along Spooner Dam to cut off part of road walking; comes back out on road short distance ahead
[  7.75]  Continue right on paved road
[  7.85]  Turn right on Schaghticoke Road at Indian farm stand sign; now back on AT
[  8.10]  AT leaves road to the left into woods
[  8.90]  Partial views through trees to the left
[  9.70]  View to the south at rock outcrop
[11.00]  NY/CT state line
[11.45]  View to the east at Indian Rocks in the Schaghitoke Indian Reservation
[12.00]  Short side trail to right to view
[12.15]  Stay on white-blazed AT when blue-blazed side trail goes left to Schaghticoke Camping Area
[13.50]  High point; begin descent
[14.10]  Cross Thayer Brook
[14.50]  High point of trail on Mount Algo; begin descent
[15.14]  Stay on white-blazed AT when blue-blazed side trail goes left to Mt. Algo shelter
[15.40]  Cross woods road
[15.50]  AT parking area on CT 341