Trail Changes/Relocations

For your safety, we encourage you to make sure you have the latest edition (19th) of the Connecticut Walk Book, as many conditions cause changes to the trails. Please check this website for updated information whenever you're planning a hike on the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails.

To report a change or problem please print and complete this form and mail or email it to info@ctwoodlands.org.  Please note that the report is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Guide to Trail Changes and Relocations - Click on item or scroll-down for details.

Changes to Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails

Changes to Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails

Mohawk Trail, Cornwall. A section of the Mohawk Trail in Cornwall, from the entrance at Dark Entry Road to the Cornwall Village trailhead, will be closed temporarily for ten days beginning at sunset on Friday, October 24, until sunrise on Monday, November 2. Hikers and other visitors throughout the year are reminded to observe the No Parking and No Trespassing signs posted in this area, which is private property and not open to the public. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. (Posted October 2008)

Trail interruption, QUINNIPIAC TRAIL, Hamden. Due to unexpected logging on private property, a section of the Quinnipiac Trail at Rocky Top Road is no longer accessible. Most, if not all, of the trees marked with CFPA's distinctive blue blaze have been cut down and the trail route interrupted. Please plan your hike accordingly in order to avoid this area. For details of the original route, see page 227 of Connecticut Walk Book West. (Posted March 2008)

Road construction, QUINNIPIAC TRAIL, Hamden. During the construction phase of the sports complex of Quinnipiac University, contractors will re-build Kimberly Road and relocate a short section the Blue-Blazed Quinnipiac Trail west about a hundred feet. The trail will be closed temporarily when road construction begins and appropriate signage will be posted.  CFPA will post the closing/re-opening dates on this website when we're notified that construction is underway. (Posted July 2008)

Correction to description for TUNXIS TRAIL, Route 44 to Route 219 section, New Hartford. This correction adds a sentence to page 307 of the Connecticut Walk Book West. The change follows the fifth sentence under ‘The hike:' and is shown in bold type below. (Posted December 2006)

The hike: From Satan's Kingdom Road go right (east) on Route 44 across the Farmington River bridge (0.0). Turn left on Breezy Hill Road (0.2) and in 50 feet turn left again onto Farmington River Turnpike. Follow blacktop past houses and continue on dirt road (this section of road not maintained in winter). Turn right (0.5) into woods (limited parking past trail turn). Climb steep hill using switchbacks and continue through woods. Turn left (north) (1.0) down hill on dirt road. Turn right past oak tree, ascending through hardwoods and stone wall bearing left (north) onto forest road (1.3) that is overgrown with ferns spring through fall. Follow forest road to end. Turn right and parallel stone wall, ascending to wooden TOWN LINE post (1.4). Turn left, cross under power lines and enter woods. Descend gradually north through beautiful section of ferns and open hardwoods.

Replacement text for NAYANTAQUIT TRAIL, Lyme, in Connecticut Walk Book East, beginning with ‘The hike:' on page 97 through end of mileage matrix on page 98.) Posted February 2006)

The following revised text addresses a potentially confusing section on the eastbound Nayantaquit Trail between Nickerson Hill and the northern end of the Crossover Trail. The Pipe line shown at the top of the map on page 99 was drawn in error and does not exist. Text changes between mile 2.0 and 2.8 and to the mileage matrix are included in this revision.

The hike: The Nayantaquit Trail begins just beyond the gated park service road at rear of the northern Keeny Road parking area. Pass around yellow gate; in 50 feet the trail enters woods on left side of dirt road. After a short distance, pass to the right (north) of large glacial boulder. Reach fork (0.2) and beginning of loop and head left (south/southwest). Begin gradual ascent to top of hill (0.5), then begin steep descent. Pass through small boulder area (0.6) and between sloped boulders. Cross stream and ascend again. Reach another stream and begin final climb to Brown Hill summit (0.9). Reach edge of small overgrown field and southern junction with blue/yellow-blazed Crossover Trail, which goes right (north). Continue southwesterly on main trail and pass old house foundation, well, and stone wall. Reach junction with blue/green-blazed Uncas Pond Connector Trail (1.0), which goes left (southeast). Pass second stone wall and continue along blue-blazed main trail. Reach junction with horse path and turn right (west). Join woods road (1.1), where trail heads northwesterly downhill. Turn right off woods road (1.3), continuing downhill. Rejoin woods road and cross stream (1.5). Reach three-way intersection of woods roads and turn right, continuing on woods road. Turn left off woods road (1.7) and ascend, steeply at times, to summit of Nickerson Hill (2.0). Soon reach ledge and views of Long Island and Long Island Sound. Continue following trail east past vista. Reach orange and white National Guard orientation marker (2.5).and turn sharply right (south). (Straight ahead a spur trail, also blazed blue but not shown on the CFPA map, leads to a three-way intersection of forest service roads, at which point the blazes end. Following the road that heads in an easterly direction leads about 0.6 mile to the northern Keeny Road parking area.) Descend steeply on main trail, cross two forest service roads, a brook on puncheon, and another service road. Reach northern junction with blue/yellow-blazed Crossover Trail (2.8), which goes right (south). Continue to end of loop (3.2) and turn left (northeast) to trailhead (3.4).

0.0 Keeny Road parking area 3.4

0.2 loop trail 3.2

0.9 Brown Hill 2.5

1.0 Uncas Pond Connector Trail 2.4

2.0 Nickerson Hill Summit (elev.: 452 ft.) 1.4

2.8 northern intersection of Crossover Trail 0.6

3.2 loop trail 0.2

3.4 Keeny Road parking area 0.0

Replacement text for MATTABESETT TRAIL, Middletown/Meriden, in Connecticut Walk Book East, page 17, for directions to Country Club Road trailhead:

To reach Country Club Road trailhead: From I-91 exit 20, go east on Country Club Road. A small, two-car parking lot is located at the trailhead on the south side of Country Club Road, 0.25 mile from the I-91 northbound exit and entrance ramps.  (Posted March 2006)

MATTABESETT TRAIL, Reservoir Section, Middletown. All hikers! When parking at the trailhead on River Road in Middletown (across from the power plant) please notify the guard at the power plant as to the number of cars and how long they will be parked at the trailhead. Also leave a note in the windshield with contact information. Failure to do so may result in your vehicle being ticketed and/or towed. (Posted September 2006)

METACOMET TRAIL, Route 20 to Phelps Road Section, Suffield/East Granby, is closed on the Bloomfield Fish and Game Club property. (Posted September 2007)

MATTABESETT TRAIL reopened on Lamentation Mountain. A previously closed 2.5-mile section of the Mattabesett Trail on Lamentation Mountain, between the Meriden/Berlin town line and Spruce Brook Road in Berlin, has been reopened. The reopened trail follows essentially the same route as before, with the following change: Starting from mile 10.6 (Connecticut Walk Book East, page 18; Connecticut Walk Book West, page 102) the trail description should now read as follows: Leave woods road following ridgeline. Bear right (10.8) from ridge, descend, and quickly cross woods road and continue descent. Reach small, wooded overlook (11.0) and begin short, steep descent, slabbing a talus slope on switchback. Climb over low ridge, cross woods road (11.2) and continue descent. Cross a swampy area on rocks (11.3). Reach old Stantack Road (11.4) and turn left following road. Bear right on paved road a short distance through housing development (11.8) then bear right off road at gas pipeline right-of-way. Reach Spruce Brook Road (12.4) (limited parking available). Turn left onto Spruce Brook Road (may be unblazed) and follow west to Berlin Turnpike (Routes 5/15) (13.1). The Metacomet Trail begins on the west side of Routes 5/15 at Orchard Road in Berlin. (Posted December 2006)

SAUGATUCK TRAIL, Redding, Seasonal Trail Closing. Warning: Nesting Goshawks - they are extremely territorial and aggressive and may swoop down on hikers. For the safety of hikers the trail is closed from the Tudor Road parking north to the Route 53 causeway parking area from February to July.

SAUGATUCK TRAIL, Redding/Weston. No pets allowed. Correction to Connecticut Walk Book West. Please refer to the section on page 249 that states "pets are not permitted on some parts of the Trail." In fact, as per Department of Public Health regulations, pets are not permitted on any parts of the Trail within the Centennial Watershed State Forest. (Posted June 2008)

ASPETUCK VALLEY TRAIL, Newtown/Redding. No pets please. As per Department of Public Health regulations, pets are not permitted on any parts of the Trail within the Centennial Watershed State Forest. (Posted June 2008)

ZOAR TRAIL, Newtown, Seasonal Closure. Hikers on the Zoar Trail are reminded to follow the alternate Blue/Yellow Dot Trail between April 15 and August 15 (Connecticut Walk Book West, page 62, 1.8 mile mark). Located in the lower Paugusset State Forest in Newtown, this forested section of the trail is closed during the spring and summer to protect nesting hawks and other vulnerable wildlife.

Trail Events

Your participation is always welcome in any of our trail maintenance events. For a schedule please check the events page.