Naugatuck Trail

Hiking trail in Connecticut, United States

Naugatuck Trail

Naugatuck Trail parallel to Connecticut State Route 8 and the Naugatuck River

Length| 5.5 mi (8.9 km)
Location| New Haven County, Connecticut
Designation| CFPA Blue-Blazed Naugatuck Trail
Use| hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, other
Highest point| Beacon Cap 770 ft (234.7 m)
Lowest point| Connecticut Route 8, 220 ft (67 m)
Difficulty| easy, with very few difficult sections
Season| easiest spring to fall
Hazards| hunters, deer ticks, poison ivy

The Naugatuck Trail is a 6.8-mile (10.9 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail "system" in the eastern central-lower Naugatuck River Valley in New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. It is almost entirely contained in the Naugatuck State Forest.[1] The mainline (officially the "Blue" or "non-dot") trail is primarily east to west with three short side or spur trails. Composed of four trails (including the primarily East-to-West mainline trail (5.5 miles) plus three shorter side trails), at its western end the trail ends with a section alongside Route 8 and the Naugatuck River. During the 1930s and 1940s, it was much larger. But post–World War II housing developments of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trails, led to its drastic reduction.

Notable features include: the summits of Beacon Cap[2] and Spruce Knoll.[3] The trail goes near, but does not summit Beacon Hill (670 feet).[4] The Connecticut Forest and Park Association is mostly responsible for its maintenance.

## Trail description

[edit]

Naugatuck Trail South-Eastern Trailhead

The Naugatuck Trail extends from its western terminus at Andrasko Road in Naugatuck as an abandoned North-South road and fence-line along Connecticut Route 8 before heading east crossing successively the municipalities of Naugatuck, Beacon Falls and Bethany—all in New Haven County. Its southern terminus is located on Connecticut Route 42 just 1.2 miles west of the junction of Connecticut Route 42 and Route 63.

The Naugatuck Trail is primarily used for hiking,[5] backpacking, picnicking,[6] and in the winter, snowshoeing.[7] Portions of the trail are suitable for, and are used for, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Site-specific activities enjoyed along the route include hunting, fishing, horseback riding, bouldering and rock climbing (access). There are signs at the Connecticut Route 42 trail head forbidding rock climbing.[4][8]

### Trail route

[edit]

Whittemore (side) Trail Head

The official Naugatuck Trail mainline trail primarily traverses a 600-foot (above sea level) plateau running east to west which extends from Route 8 (and the Naugatuck River) to the eastern border of Naugatuck (with Bethany). From south-east to north-west, the trail system summits or travels near the ridges and peaks of Beacon Cap, Beacon Hill and Spruce Knoll. Several seasonal streams cut across the trail including Egypt Brook.[9] The Naugatuck Trail crosses the Naugatuck State Forest, land/preservation trust, water company and private properties.

### Trail communities

[edit]

The official Blue-Blazed Naugatuck Trail passes through land located within the following municipalities, from south to north: Bethany, Beacon Falls and Naugatuck, Connecticut.[4][10] Remnants of the original Naugatuck Trail still exist as local trails in the communities of Bethany, Orange, Woodbridge, and New Haven, Connecticut.

## History

[edit]

The route of the original (longer) Naugatuck Trail blazed in the 1930s can be seen in the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's 1940 Connecticut Walk Book map of major trails.[11]

There are also references to vestigial portions of the Naugatuck Trail (and recommendations to purchase tracts of land over which it traveled as open space) in the April 1998 Town of Bethany Conservation Commission's 'Open Space Plan'.[12]

## Origin and name

[edit]

The name Naugatuck is said to be an indigenous term (in the Native American Algonquian language) for either “one tree” or “fork of the river.”[13]

"Naugatuck" was also the name of a village of the Paugussett sachemdom on the Naugatuck River where Naugatuck Connecticut is today. Another Paugussett sachemdom village (Capage) existed on the Naugatuck River a few miles south at what is now Beacon Falls, Connecticut.[14]

For more information on the Naugatuck sub-tribe of native-Americans ("American Indians") see the Wikipedia entry on the Paugussett.

Beacon Cap is a large "glacial erratic boulder" at the end of the Beacon Cap "spur" Trail on the Bethany/Naugatuck border.

## Hiking the trail

[edit]

The Whittemore Trail following a forest road through dense mountain laurel.

The mainline Naugatuck trail is blazed with blue rectangles. It is regularly maintained, and is considered easy hiking, with very few sections of rugged and moderately difficult hiking. Much of the Naugatuck Trail is close to public roads. There are no camping facilities along the trail and camping is generally prohibited in Naugatuck State Forest. Trail descriptions are available from a number of commercial and non-commercial sources, and a complete guidebook is published by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association

Weather along the route is typical of Connecticut. Conditions on exposed ridge tops and summits may be harsher during cold or stormy weather.[15] Lightning is a hazard on exposed summits and ledges during thunderstorms. Snow is common in the winter and may necessitate the use of snowshoes. Ice can form on exposed ledges and summits, making hiking dangerous without special equipment.

Extensive flooding in ponds, puddles, and streams may occur in the late winter or early spring, overflowing into the trail and causing very muddy conditions. In this case fairly high waterproof boots are recommended. Some parts of the trail follow forest roads which often contain ruts from ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles.

Biting insects can be bothersome during warm weather. Parasitic deer ticks (which are known to carry Lyme disease) are a potential hazard. The mainline trail heads are close to civilization (suburban homes, streets and highways). Much of the trail is adjacent to, or is on lands where hunting and the use of firearms are permitted (particularly Connecticut State Forest land). Wearing bright orange clothing during the hunting season (Fall through December) is recommended.

Old stone fences left by farmers cross and run alongside the Whittemore Trail in the Naugatuck State Forest

## Other local trails

[edit]

There are local trails named the "Naugatuck Trail" in Bethany, Orange and Woodbridge Connecticut which are apparently vestiges of the original trail which extended south to New Haven Connecticut. Some of these can be found on the following individual maps:

* South Central Regional Council of Governments
* Bethany Farms
* Town of Orange Racebrook Tract
* Woodbridge Land Trust Fitzgerald Tract
* Woodbridge Land Trust Meadows
* Woodbridge Land Trust History Indian Trails
* Woodbridge Land Trust Race Brook Estates Blue Trail System

## See also

[edit]

* Blue-Blazed Trails

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Naugatuck Trail | Connecticut Forest & Park Association". www.ctwoodlands.org. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
2. ^ "Beacon Cap via Naugatuck Trail and Beacon Cap Trail". AllTrails.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
3. ^ MARTEKA, PETER. "From The Falls Of Egypt Brook To The Top Of Beacon Cap Along The Naugatuck". courant.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
4. ^ a b c Connecticut Walk Book: A Trail Guide to the Connecticut Outdoors. 17th Edition. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Rockfall, Connecticut. Undated.
5. ^ Hike, Rob McWilliams: Taking a (January 14, 2019). "Taking a Hike: Trekking the Naugatuck Trail". The Wilton Bulletin. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
6. ^ Walker, T. "Naugatuck State Forest". State Parks. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
7. ^ "Other State Parks and Forests". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
8. ^ "Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection". Ct.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
9. ^ McWilliams, Rob (January 5, 2019). "Taking a detour for the Naugatuck Trail". The Hour. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
10. ^ DeLorme Topo 6.0. Mapping Software. DeLorme, Yarmouth, Maine
11. ^ "The Connecticut Trail System Map". Chriswoodside.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
12. ^ "Town of Bethany : Open Space Plan" (PDF). Bethany-ct.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
13. ^ "Wappinger Tribe". Accessgenealogy.com. October 18, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
14. ^ "New York Indian Tribes". Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
15. ^ "National Weather Service". Weather.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2014.

## Further reading

[edit]

Books – Connecticut hiking [edit]

* Colson, Ann T. (2005). Connecticut Walk Book East (19 ed.). Rockfall, Connecticut: Connecticut Forest and Park Association. pp. 1–261\. ISBN 0961905255.1-261&rft.edition=19&rft.pub=Connecticut+Forest+and+Park+Association&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=0961905255&rft.aulast=Colson&rft.aufirst=Ann+T.&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=x3vXPQAACAAJ&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Colson, Ann T. (2006). Connecticut Walk Book West (19 ed.). Rockfall, Connecticut: Connecticut Forest and Park Association. pp. 1–353\. ISBN 0961905263.1-353&rft.edition=19&rft.pub=Connecticut+Forest+and+Park+Association&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=0961905263&rft.aulast=Colson&rft.aufirst=Ann+T.&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=5hZSAAAACAAJ&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Emblidge, David (1998). Hikes in southern New England: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont (1 ed.). Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. pp. 1–304\. ISBN 0-8117-2669-X.1-304&rft.edition=1&rft.pub=Stackpole+Books&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=0-8117-2669-X&rft.aulast=Emblidge&rft.aufirst=David&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=H_4A-XrPYggC&lpg;=PP1&pg;=PP1#v=onepage&q;&f;=false&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Keyarts, Eugene (2002). Pietrzyk, Cindi Dale (ed.). Short Nature Walks: Connecticut Guide Book (7 ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Falcon Publishing. pp. 1–192\. ISBN 0-7627-2310-6.1-192&rft.edition=7&rft.pub=Falcon+Publishing&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=0-7627-2310-6&rft.aulast=Keyarts&rft.aufirst=Eugene&rft_id=http://www.globepequot.com/isbn/0-7627-2310-6&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Laubach, Rene; Smith, Charles W. G. (2007). AMC's Best Day Hikes in Connecticut (1 ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Appalachian Mountain Club Books. pp. 1–320\. ISBN 1-934028-10-X.1-320&rft.edition=1&rft.pub=Appalachian+Mountain+Club+Books&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=1-934028-10-X&rft.aulast=Laubach&rft.aufirst=Rene&rft.au=Smith,+Charles+W.+G.&rft_id=http://www.globepequot.com/isbn/1-934028-10-X&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Ostertag, Rhonda; Ostertag, George (2002). Hiking Southern New England (2 ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Falcon Publishing. pp. 1–336\. ISBN 0-7627-2246-0.1-336&rft.edition=2&rft.pub=Falcon+Publishing&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=0-7627-2246-0&rft.aulast=Ostertag&rft.aufirst=Rhonda&rft.au=Ostertag,+George&rft_id=http://www.globepequot.com/isbn/0-7627-2246-0&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">

Books – Connecticut history and geography [edit]

* De Forest, John (1853). History of the Indians of Connecticut from the earliest known period to 1850. Hartford, Connecticut: Wm. Jas. Hamersley. pp. 1–509.1-509&rft.pub=Wm.+Jas.+Hamersley&rft.date=1853&rft.aulast=De+Forest&rft.aufirst=John&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=QysTAAAAYAAJ&dq;=editions%3AHARVARD32044014634349&pg;=PP1#v=onepage&q;&f;=false&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Hayward, John (1857). New England Gazetteer: Containing Descriptions of the States, Counties, Cities and Towns of New England (2 ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: Otis Clapp. pp. 1–704.1-704&rft.edition=2&rft.pub=Otis+Clapp&rft.date=1857&rft.aulast=Hayward&rft.aufirst=John&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=vMcMAAAAYAAJ&ots;=qbWGmJHe8A&dq;=New%20England%20Gazetteer%20states%20counties%20towns&pg;=PR1#v=onepage&q;=&f;=false&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Trumbull, Benjamin (1797). A Complete History of Connecticut - Civil and Ecclesiastical. Vol. I (1818 printing ed.). New Haven, Connecticut: Maltby, Goldsmith & Co. and Samuel Wadsworth. pp. 1–1166.1-1166&rft.edition=1818+printing&rft.pub=Maltby,+Goldsmith+&+Co.+and+Samuel+Wadsworth&rft.date=1797&rft.aulast=Trumbull&rft.aufirst=Benjamin&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=I2Z4ACHdrIoC&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">
* Trumbull, Benjamin (1797). A Complete History of Connecticut - Civil and Ecclesiastical. Vol. II (1818 printing ed.). New Haven, Connecticut: Maltby, Goldsmith & Co. and Samuel Wadsworth. pp. 1–1166.1-1166&rft.edition=1818+printing&rft.pub=Maltby,+Goldsmith+&+Co.+and+Samuel+Wadsworth&rft.date=1797&rft.aulast=Trumbull&rft.aufirst=Benjamin&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=qwgWAAAAYAAJ&ots;=N7363Fc8D4&dq;=A%20Complete%20History%20of%20Connecticut%20-%20Civil%20and%20Ecclesiastical&pg;=PR3#v=onepage&q;&f;=false&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Naugatuck+Trail" class="Z3988">

## External links

[edit]

* Connecticut Naugatuck State Forest Overview map
* Town of Beacon Falls, Connecticut website
* Bethany Land Trust, Inc.

41°27′28″N 73°02′03″W﻿ / ﻿41.45778°N 73.03417°W﻿ / 41.45778; -73.03417

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Hiking trails in Connecticut

* Airline
* Alain and May White
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* Bigelow Hollow
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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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