Cockaponset State Forest

Largest forest in Connecticut, United States

Cockaponset State Forest

Barrier at non-motor vehicle section of Pine Ledge Road/Trail

Location in Connecticut

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Cockaponset State Forest (the United States)

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Location| Connecticut, United States
Coordinates| 41°26′28″N 72°32′01″W﻿ / ﻿41.44111°N 72.53361°W﻿ / 41.44111; -72.53361[1]
Area| 17,186 acres (69.55 km2)[2]
Elevation| 430 ft (130 m)[1]
Established| 1926 [3]
Governing body| Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Website| Cockaponset State Forest

Cockaponset State Forest is the second largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) of land. Most of the land is in Middlesex County though some parcels lie in New Haven County. The forest is disjointed, and comprises land in the towns of Haddam, Chester, Deep River, Killingworth, Durham, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Middletown and Middlefield.[4]

## History

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Prior to European settlement, the section forest nearest Haddam was part of the Wangunk village of Cockaponset.[5][6] Modern acquisition of forest parcels began in 1926. Two Civilian Conservation Corps camps were active in the forest in the 1930s constructing roads and planting conifers.[3] The forest is purportedly named after a Native American chief buried in Haddam.[4] However, it may have been named after the Wangunk village.

## Features

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National natural landmark

A portion of the forest is known as the Chester Cedar Swamp was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1973. Along with Pachaug-Great Meadow Swamp, it is one of the finest remaining examples of an Atlantic white cedar forest.[7] This type of forest is at risk and being succeeded by hemlock.[8]

Hiking trails

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) manages a 20-mile (32 km) trail system based around Pattaconk Reservoir Recreation Area near Chester. Some trails have been designated for footpath only, while others are open to horses and mountain bikes. The centerpiece for this area is the scenic Pattaconk Lake which is used for swimming, fishing, and paddling. Even though the CT DEEP has maps detailing only 20 miles (32 km) of trails, there are over 100 miles (160 km) of trails within the greater Cockaponset State Forest. According to the headquarters at Chatfield Hollow State Park, many of these unmarked trails have an undesignated status, which means that the CT DEEP has either not yet decided their use or are within an area earmarked for logging in the future. These undesignated trails are currently open to most users willing to respect low-impact travel.

Rock climbing

Pine Ledge is a popular rock climbing destination within Cockaponset State Forest located about a half mile west of Deep River, Connecticut. The rocky cliff is as high as 60 feet (18 m) at its southern end and extends for about a half mile north. The larger cliff faces are primarily used with top-roping techniques and there are several large bouldering rocks. The locals have also adopted the name, "Pine Ledge," to describe the surrounding section of Cockaponset State Forest where the Pine Ledge cliff resides.

At this time, the access roads are somewhat rugged and may become thick with mud after a heavy rain or during the spring melt. However, there are hardly any large rocks and few bumps, and the road is usually pretty wide. Even though the use of all-terrain-vehicles has not been officially designated, the greater Pine Ledge area has become very popular among local riders. Jeeps and 4X4 off-road vehicles have also utilized some of the old abandoned access roads as trails. There are foot paths through dense mountain laurel throughout the Pine Ledge rock climbing area as access to the more remote cliff edges.

## In popular culture

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An assertion that geological features of the park represent the remains of a 1500-year-old European church have been disputed.[9][10]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Cockaponset State Forest". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
2. ^ "Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests" (PDF). State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-1. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
3. ^ a b "Clues for Cockaponset State Forest". Connecticut State Forests Seedling Letterbox Series. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. November 8, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
4. ^ a b "Cockaponset State Forest". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
5. ^ "Indigenous Communities of Connecticut - TeachIt | Connecticut History In The Classroom". TeachIt | Connecticut History In The Classroom -. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
6. ^ Lavin, Lucianne. “Pre-Colonial History of the Wangunk - The Institute for American Indian ...” Institute for American Indian Studies, December 5, 2015. https://www.iaismuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Pre-colonial_History_of_the_Wangunk-1.pdf.
7. ^ "Chester Cedar Swamp". National Natural Landmarks Program. National Park Service. September 8, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
8. ^ "Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. October 1, 2005. pp. 4-22 – 4-23. Retrieved January 10, 2009.4-22+-+4-23&rft.pub=Connecticut+Department+of+Environmental+Protection&rft.date=2005-10-01&rft_id=ftp://ftp.state.ct.us/pub/dep/wildlife/cwcs/CWCSCh4.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Cockaponset+State+Forest" class="Z3988">[permanent dead link‍]
9. ^ Connecticut's 5th Century Church
10. ^ 5th Century Greek Church in Connecticut - Nope!

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cockaponset State Forest.

* Cockaponset State Forest Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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Protected areas of Connecticut

National Park Service|

* Weir Farm National Historical Park

National Wildlife Refuges|

* Silvio O. Conte
* Stewart B. McKinney

National Trails|

* Appalachian Trail
* New England National Scenic Trail
* Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route

Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* Ashaway River
* Eightmile River
* Farmington River
* Green Fall River
* Housatonic River
* Pawcatuck River
* Salmon Brook
* Shunock River
* Wood River

State Parks|

* Above All
* Air Line
* Beaver Brook
* Becket Hill State Park Reserve
* Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument
* Bennett's Pond
* Bigelow Hollow
* Black Rock
* Bluff Point
* Bolton Notch
* Brainard Homestead
* Burr Pond
* Camp Columbia
* Campbell Falls
* Chatfield Hollow
* Collis P. Huntington
* Connecticut Valley Railroad
* Dart Island State Park
* Day Pond
* Dennis Hill
* Devil's Hopyard
* Dinosaur
* Eagle Landing
* Farm River
* Farmington Canal
* Fort Griswold Battlefield
* Fort Trumbull
* Gardner Lake
* Gay City
* George Dudley Seymour
* George Waldo
* Gillette Castle
* Haddam Island
* Haddam Meadows
* Haley Farm
* Hammonasset Beach
* Harkness Memorial
* Haystack Mountain
* Higganum Reservoir
* Hop River State Park Trail
* Hopemead
* Hopeville Pond
* Horse Guard
* Housatonic Meadows
* Humaston Brook
* Hurd
* Indian Well
* John A. Minetto
* Kent Falls
* Kettletown
* Killingly Pond
* Lake Waramaug
* Lamentation Mountain
* Larkin State Park Trail
* Lovers Leap
* Macedonia Brook
* Machimoodus
* Mansfield Hollow
* Mashamoquet Brook
* Mianus River
* Millers Pond
* Minnie Island
* Mohawk Mountain
* Mono Pond
* Moosup Valley State Park Trail
* Mooween
* Mount Bushnell
* Mount Riga
* Mount Tom
* Old Furnace
* Osbornedale
* Penwood
* Platt Hill
* Pomeroy
* Putnam Memorial
* Quaddick
* Quinebaug Lake
* Quinnipiac River
* River Highlands
* Rocky Glen
* Rocky Neck
* Ross Pond
* Salt Rock State Campground
* Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area
* Scantic River
* Selden Neck
* Seth Low Pierrepont
* Sherwood Island
* Silver Sands
* Sleeping Giant
* Southford Falls
* Squantz Pond
* Stillwater Pond
* Stoddard Hill
* Stratton Brook
* Sunnybrook
* Sunrise
* Talcott Mountain
* Tri-Mountain
* Trout Brook Valley
* Wadsworth Falls
* West Rock Ridge
* Wharton Brook
* Whittemore Glen
* Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail
* Windsor Meadows
* Wooster Mountain

State Forests|

* Algonquin
* American Legion
* Centennial Watershed
* Cockaponset
* Enders
* James L. Goodwin
* Housatonic
* Massacoe
* Mattatuck
* Meshomasic
* Mohawk
* Mohegan
* Nassahegon
* Natchaug
* Nathan Hale
* Naugatuck
* Nehantic
* Nepaug
* Nipmuck
* Nye-Holman
* Pachaug
* Paugnut
* Paugussett
* People's
* Pootatuck
* Quaddick
* Salmon River
* Shenipsit
* Topsmead
* Tunxis
* Wyantenock

Wildlife Management Areas|

* Aldo Leopold WMA
* Assekonk WMA
* Babcock Pond WMA
* Barber Pond WMA
* Barn Island WMA
* Bartlett Brook WMA
* Bear Hill WMA
* Belding WMA
* Bishops Swamp WMA
* Black Pond WMA
* Candlewood Hill WMA
* Cedar Swamp WMA
* Charles E. Wheeler WMA
* Cromwell Meadows WMA
* Durham Meadows WMA
* East River Marsh WMA
* East Swamp WMA
* Eightmile River WMA
* Franklin Swamp WMA
* Goshen WMA
* Great Harbor WMA
* Higganum Meadows WMA
* Housatonic River WMA
* King's Island Coop WMA
* Kollar WMA
* Larson Lot WMA
* Little River Fish and Wildlife Area
* Lord's Cove WMA
* Maromas Coop WMA
* Meadow Brook WMA
* Menunketesuck WMA
* Messerschmidt WMA
* Newgate WMA
* Nod Brook WMA
* Nott Island WMA
* Pease Brook WMA
* Plum Bank WMA
* Quinebaug River WMA
* Quinnipiac River Marsh WMA
* Ragged Rock WMA
* Raymond Brook Marsh WMA
* Robbins Swamp WMA
* Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area
* Roraback WMA
* Rose Hill WMA
* Ross Marsh WMA
* Salmon River Cove and Haddam Neck WMA
* Sessions Woods WMA
* Simsbury WMA
* Skiff Mountain Coop WMA
* James V. Spignesi WMA
* Stanley Works WMA
* Suffield WMA
* Talbot WMA
* Tankerhoosen WMA
* Wangunk Meadows WMA
* Wopowog WMA
* Zemko Pond WMA

Reservoirs|

* Aspetuck Reservoir
* Barkhamsted Reservoir
* Beaver Dam Lake
* Candlewood Lake
* Easton Reservoir
* Far Mill Reservoir
* Hemlock Reservoir
* Hop Brook Lake
* Lake Lillinonah
* Mansfield Hollow Lake
* Means Brook
* Saugatuck Reservoir
* Trap Falls Reservoir
* West Hartford Reservoir
* West Pequonnock Reservoir
* Lake Zoar

Private|

* Aspetuck Land Trust
* Aton Forest
* Audubon Center at Bent of the River
* Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens
* Bear Mountain
* Beckley Bog
* Branford Land Trust
* Case Mountain
* Cathedral Pines
* Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield
* Connecticut College Arboretum
* Devil's Den Preserve
* Earthplace
* Great Mountain Forest
* Higby Mountain
* Highstead Arboretum
* Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
* McLean Game Refuge
* New Canaan Nature Center
* Peter's Rock
* Pine Mountain Reserve
* Saltonstall Mountain
* Stamford Museum & Nature Center
* Steep Rock Association
* Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust
* White Memorial Foundation
* Woodcock Nature Center
* Yale-Myers Forest

Trails|

* American Legion State Forest Trails
* Aspetuck Valley Trail
* Blue-Blazed Trails
* Chatfield Trail
* Hancock Brook Trail
* Housatonic Range Trail
* Lillinonah Trail
* Mattabesett Trail
* Menunkatuck Trail
* Metacomet Trail
* Narragansett Trail
* Natchaug Trail
* Naugatuck Trail
* Nehantic Trail
* Nipmuck Trail
* Paugussett Trail
* Pequot Trail
* Quinnipiac Trail
* Regicides Trail
* Salmon River Trail
* Shenipsit Trail
* Tunxis Trail
* Westwoods Trails
* Whitestone Cliffs Trail
* Zoar Trail

Nature centers|

* List of nature centers in Connecticut

Local Government
Forest/Parks|

* Bear Mountain Reservation
* Beardsley Park
* Burr Farm Protected Open Space
* East Rock Park
* Gurski Farm Protected Open Space
* Happy Landings Protected Open Space
* Lighthouse Point Park
* Lillinonah Woods
* Mill River Park
* Old Bridge Sanctuary
* Pleasure Beach
* Roosevelt Forest
* Salt Meadow Park
* Seaside Park
* Webb Mountain Discovery Zone
* Webb Mountain Park

* Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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Hiking trails in Connecticut

* Airline
* Alain and May White
* American Legion
* Appalachian
* Arthur A. Harris
* Aspetuck Valley
* Bigelow Hollow
* Case Mountain
* Charter Oak Greenway
* Chatfield
* Cockaponset
* East Coast Greenway
* Falls Brook
* Farmington Canal Heritage
* Gay City
* Hancock Brook
* Hop River
* Housatonic Range
* Iron
* Jericho
* Kettletown
* Lillinonah
* Lone Pine
* Macedonia Brook
* Mattabesett
* Mattatuck
* McLean Game Refuge
* Menunkatuck
* Metacomet
* Mohawk
* Moosup Valley
* Muir
* Narragansett
* Natchaug
* Naugatuck
* Nayantaquit
* Nehantic
* New England
* Nipmuck
* Old Furnace
* Pachaug
* Paugussett
* Peoples
* Pequot
* Pine Knob
* Pomperaug
* Quinebaug
* Quinnipiac
* Ragged Mountain
* Regicides
* Salmon River
* Saugatuck
* Shenipsit
* Sleeping Giant
* Still River Greenway
* Stony Creek Quarry
* Sunny Valley Preserve
* Tunxis
* Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
* Westwoods
* Whitestone Cliffs
* Williams
* Wolcott
* Zoar

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