Hikes

*Mostly Hiking, but also Historic, Artistic and Oenophilic. For CT’s many interesting non-hiking trails, Go Here
For all non-CT hiking, peak-bagging and highpointing, Go here.

There are over 800 miles of blue-blazed hiking trails in 88 different towns in little Connecticut. A 52 mile section of the Appalachian Trail also cuts across the Northwest corner of the state. I love hiking, lists, and writing… Soooo, why not try to hike them all? And take a bunch of pictures and document it all here for you – since it sounds fun and there really is not a comparable resource on the Internet that I’m aware of.

There exists something called the Connecticut 400 Club which recognizes those who have hiked all the major trails of Connecticut. Since the “Club’s” inception, over 400 more miles have been added to the task, but no one bothered to change the name. I shall join the club with the terribly inaccurate name. (Note: in 2008 it was determined the total amount is 825 miles, but is still growing – My work is never done.)

We also have plenty of non-CFPA trails worth checking out.

This is an interesting read; a NYT article about the CT 400 when it was only the CT 400(500) not the 825 it is today.

(And speaking of lists and hiking, please check out our Highpointing pages – where Hoang and I are attempting to climb to the highest point in each state. Check it out.)

The Connecticut Forest and Parks Association not only maintains our trails wonderfully, they also maintain a great website with tons of good resource material on CT’s hiking and natural resources. Like, the blue-blazed trails! And much, much more.

There are also a TON of other well-maintained trails throughout the state; many are in various town land trusts but others are just scattered in preserves and state parks. To hike and document them all would be impossible, but I will be doing a bunch of these non CT400(825) trails as well. As there is no official list, it will be a work in progress.

Completed

Long Distance Trails:

The Mattabesett Trail, 5/23/2008 – 11/9/2008
The Tunxis Regional Trail Network, 2/17/2008 – 11/16/2008

Shorter Trails:

Nayantaquit Trail, solo, 7/8/2007
Salmon River Trail, solo, 8/19/2007
American Legion Trails (Henry Buck and Turkey Vulture Ledges), solo, 9/9/2007
People’s Forest Trails (too many to name), solo, 10/7/2007
Case Mountain Trails solo, 11/24/2007
Saugatuck Trail, with King Whistle and Abacus, 12/9/2007
Lillinonah Trail, solo, 12/9/2007
Regicides Trail, with Andy, 1/6/2008
Lone Pine Trail, solo, 8/1/2008
Wolcott Trail, solo, 9/13/2008
The Muir Trail, solo, 9/13/2008
Alain & May White Trails, solo, 9/13/2008
McLean Refuge Game Trails, solo, 10/12 & 13/2008
Paugussett Trail, solo, 10/27/2008
Falls Brook Trail, solo, 1/19/2008
Cockaponset Trail, w/Rob Butterworth, 3/15/2009
4 Cockaponset side Trails, w/Rob Butterworth, 3/15/2009
Hancock Brook Trail, solo, 3/31/2009
Whitestone Cliffs Trail, solo, 3/31/2009
Zoar Trail, solo, 4/14/2009
Miller Trail (Kettletown State Park), solo, 4/14/2009
CFPA Demonstration Forest Trail, with Damian, 4/17/2009
Jericho Trail, solo, 5/18/2009
Gay City Trails, 6/15/2009 & 6/24/2009
Ragged Mountain Trail, solo (in 3 distinct seasons: Winter, Summer, Fall)
Sunny Valley Preserve Trails, solo, July-November 2009

In Progress

The 61.7 mile Metacomet Trail, with Hoang 4/29/2007 – ?
The Tunxis Mainline Trail, with RobY 2/17/2008 – ?
Quinebaug Trail, solo, 12/14/2008 – ?
Pachaug Trail, solo, 12/14/2008 – ?
Kettletown Trails, solo, 4/14/2009 – ?
Shenipsit Trail, solo, 5/3/2009 – ?

To Do

Appalachian
Bigelow Hollow
Chatfield
Housatonic
Macedonia Brook
Mattatuck
Mohawk
Narragansett
Natchaug
Naugatuck
Nehantic
Nipmuck
Old Furnace
Pequot
Pine Knob
Pomperaug
Quinnipiac
Sleeping Giant
Stony Creek Quarry
Westwoods

…………………………………………………….

Worthy non-CFPA Hikes

Bailey’s Ravine at Ayers Gap, Franklin
Shade Swamp Trails, Farmington
Simsbury Land Trust Trails, Simsbury