Naugatuck State Forest, West Block and East Block

Autumn colors from the flag overlook off the Purple Trail in the Naugatuck State Forest, West Block, Oct. 2015.

Flood Damage from the August 2024 Rainstorm

The Naugatuck State Forest West Block suffered extensive washouts from a storm that dropped about a foot of rain over the area in one day on Aug. 18, 2024. The storm washed out bridges along roads in Oxford, Southbury and other areas. In the West Block, some woods roads have ruts up to a foot deep.

I hiked the forest on Nov. 3, and cleared some small blowdowns, and made note of the larger ones for volunteers with chainsaws to clear.

The Blue Trail through Spruce Brook Gorge was heavily damaged, with some sections completely washed away. The sides of Spruce Brook were scoured down to bare rock. Ironically due to a drought, Spruce Brook was nearly dry, and we were able to scramble across the bedrock to hike through the gorge, an option that could be underwater with a normal water flow.

The Boy Scout footbridge from the Blue Trail to the White Trail was knocked sideways by the floodwaters. The White Trail has an entire section missing from the footbridge back toward the paved Spruce Brook Road. Heading up the hill, the White Trail has long ruts. The Red-White Trail approaching the Red Trail is very rocky from all the erosion, so step carefully.

By comparison, footing was unchanged from previous visits on Beige, Red-Yellow, Purple, Orange, and Red-White.

The blazes appeared to be fairly visible in most locations. Where the Purple-White Trail meets the Purple Trail, there are no blazes visible on Purple-White from Purple. I will repaint these when I can.

This report from Oct. 31, 2024 has additional photos and information:

https://davidreikandjudithlohmanpictures.blogspot.com/2024/10/2024-10-31-naugatuck-state-forest-west.html

The sides of Spruce Brook are scoured in this photo taken 0.3 miles from Cold Spring Road on Nov. 3, 2024. There is almost no water due to the lack of rain in October and November 2024.

A section of the White blazed woods road off Spruce Brook Road at the base of a large waterfall is washed away, as seen on Nov. 3, 2024. The photo is fuzzy due to camera shake.

A deep rut is visible along the White blazed woods road heading up the hill from Spruce Brook Road. When the road levels out near the Green Trail, the rut disappears.

Naugatuck State Forest Overview

While I have concentrated my trail maintenance efforts on West Rock Ridge State Park, my favorite place in New Haven County for hiking is the Naugatuck State Forest, West Block. There are actually five blocks or sections of the Naugatuck State Forest.

State website with maps: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Locate-Park-Forest/Other-State-Parks-and-Forests 

The nearest area to West Rock is the Mount Sanford Block at the border of Hamden, Cheshire, and Bethany. I describe this area on the page "Hikes Beyond West Rock."

The Quillinan Reservoir Block is located in Ansonia and Seymour, and is well worth hiking with miles of trails that have been improved by volunteers from the New England Mountain Biking Association and Thule Corporation. The multiple purple trails can be confusing, but the state declined my offer to have a better color plan. I describe this area on the page "Hikes Beyond West Rock."

Across the Route 313 from the Quillinan Reservoir Block is the Regional Water Authority’s Pine Hill Trails, which are open to those who purchase the RWA’s hiking permit. The White Trail at the Quillinan Reservoir connects to the adjacent Ansonia Nature Center property. Quillinan Reservoir map at https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/stateparks/maps/QuillinanReservoirpdf.pdf?la=en
Map for mobile apps: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/stateparks/maps/QuillinanReservoirGPSpdf.pdf?la=en

This is a review of the Quillinan Reservoir area: https://rootsrated.com/new-haven-ct/hiking/naugatuck-state-forest-quillinan-reservoir

 

The Great Hill Block is located in Seymour, but has maybe one mile of unblazed trails that do not connect to one another. This area is mainly intended for hunting.

The West Block and East Block are located on either side of Route 8 in the Beacon Falls and Naugatuck area with a section of the West Block located in Oxford. The West Block and East Block share some common natural features, including dramatic rock formations, streams, and a mixture of evergreen and hardwood woods, including hemlock forests.

The West Block also has a beautiful gorge with numerous cascades called Spruce Brook Gorge, plus four reservoirs, two waterfalls, and multiple overlooks of the Naugatuck River Valley.

Be aware that all blocks of the forest permit hunting, so be sure to wear blaze orange during hunting season. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays in Connecticut, so that day is always a safe choice for hiking. I encountered hunters while doing trail work in the West Block in fall 2015. Some had shotguns for quail, while others had bow and arrow or shotguns for deer. All were courteous people out enjoying the woods.

If you go through the CT Parks website, you will have a link to the older map without the trail colors in the West Block. Use the above links for the most recent maps, which are dated 2016 for the East Block and 2017 for the West Block.

West Block map (showing the new trail colors): https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/stateparks/maps/NaugatuckWestBlockpdf.pdf?la=en
West Block map for mobile apps:
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/stateparks/maps/NaugatuckWestBlockGPSpdf.pdf?la=en

East Block map: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/stateparks/maps/NaugatuckEastBlockpdf.pdf?la=en
East Block map for mobile apps: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/stateparks/maps/NaugatuckEastBlockGPSpdf.pdf?la=en

Aubudon Connecticut published a 171 page report in February 2012 for the East Block and West Block called "Important Bird Area Conservation Plan". This comprehensive document has detailed information regarding the topography, geology, water, trees and shrubs, and wildlife, including birds, of course. This report may be downloaded at https://ct.audubon.org/sites/g/files/amh426/f/nsf_final_iba_plan.pdf.

The Audubon website provides an overview of why the organization designated these two blocks of the forest as an Important Bird Area: http://ct.audubon.org/conservation/naugatuck-state-forest

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has published a two page brochure called the Naugatuck State Forest Bird Checklist, which could be used by someone looking for particular species while in the forest: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/forestry/nsfbirdchecklistpdf.pdf 

High Rock Grove in the West Block was a popular place to spend the day at the turn of the 20th century. This article provides details about that experience: http://patch.com/connecticut/naugatuck/a-place-in-naugatuck-history-the-high-rock 

Those with a Hartford Courant subscription can read this review of the forest by columnist Peter Marteka:

https://www.courant.com/2019/12/13/hiking-the-lost-reservoirs-of-naugatuck-state-forest-in-oxford-and-beacon-falls/

Fall colors as viewed from the flag overlook on the Purple-Green Trail in the West Block of the Naugatuck State Forest.

East Block

The only marked trails in the East Block of the Naugatuck State Forest are the 5.5 mile Blue-Blazed Naugatuck Trail, the 0.8 mile Blue-White Whittemore Trail, and the Blue-Yellow 0.4 mile Beacon Cap Trail, all of which are managed by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA). The 0.1-mile Blue-Red Spruce Knoll Trail was decommissioned by CFPA in 2015 as there is no longer a view from the knoll. There are also numerous unmarked woods roads, plus illegal trails created by ATV ruts. The Blue Trails are foot traffic only, while mountain bikes and horses may use the woods roads.

The eastern trailhead of the Naugatuck Trail was relocated in August 2024 and now shares the same trailhead along Route 42 in Bethany with the Whittemore Trail. This is opposite Veterans Memorial Park.

Naugatuck Trail information from the CFPA website: https://ctwoodlands.org/trails/naugatuck-trail/ 

This website has a review of the Naugatuck Trail: http://hikethegiant.blogspot.com/2011/05/naugatuck-trail.html

 

Egypt Brook is one of the highlights of the Naugatuck State Forest, East Block, seen in March 2016.

East Block Suggested Hikes

When I lead hikes in the East Block, I create loops using the Naugatuck Trail, the side trails, and the woods roads.

From Veterans Memorial Park in Bethany, cross Rt. 42 and follow the Naugatuck Trail west and be sure to divert over to the Beacon Cap Trail, which ends at Beacon Cap, an open rock face with a limited view to the east. From the Beacon Cap Trail, return to the Naugatuck Trail and continue west to the Whittemore Trail to return to Route 42.

Veterans Memorial Park is a better location for parking than the trailheads on the Naugatuck or Whittemore Trails, which are small, dirt parking lots that are not easy to find if you do not know the area, and potentially muddy or icy in wet and cold weather conditions.
Keep in mind that Bethany requires a resident sticker to use this park, but does not seem to enforce that requirement in the winter.

The other hike starts at the commuter parking lot on Cross Street in Naugatuck, which is a short distance away from the Naugatuck Trail trailhead on Andrasko Road. Head east along Route 8 and then turn left into the woods by Egypt Brook. I follow the Naugatuck Trail to the Whittemore Trail and turn left to head north past that trail and loop back along the woods roads. This can be difficult to follow if you do not know the area, so the safer choice is retracing your steps on the Naugatuck Trail.

The path of the former Spruce Knoll Trail can be followed to a woods road that eventually leads to the end of Andrasko Road in Beacon Falls, saving you from the noise of walking along Route 8 a second time. From the top of Spruce Knoll, descend the hill heading north, and then turn right on this unmarked woods road. Turning left from the base of Spruce Knoll leads to an overlook of the Naugatuck River Valley.

Disclaimer: Following any of these woods roads is entirely at your own risk, since they are not marked and are not always obvious.

The Naugatuck Trail is one of the milder Blue-Blazed trails with regard to difficulty, as it winds through the valley with gentle climbs and descents. This trail is good for hiking in all four seasons. The Whittemore Trail has similar characteristics. Many Blue Trails cross ridgelines with steep climbs and descents that require hikers to be in good shape. Some of these trails can be tricky in wet, snowy, and icy conditions due to their steepness. This is not the case for the Naugatuck Trail. The Beacon Cap Trail more closely matches the characteristics of some of these other trails, as it ascends several rock faces, which can be decidedly slippery in wet and icy conditions.

East Block parking areas

Both of these parking lots are large and can hold in excess of 30 cars, more than enough for most hiking groups.

Route 8, Exit 24 Park and Ride, 241 Cross St., Naugatuck.

Bethany Veterans Memorial Park, 265 Beacon Rd. (Rt. 42), Bethany

From Rt. 8 Exit 21, take Rt. 42 East for 4 miles. The park is on the right about ¾ of a mile past the Beacon Falls-Bethany border. There are signs that indicate cars may be ticketed for people without a Bethany sticker, so park at your own risk. This does not seem to be enforced in the winter. On the north side of Route 42 is a muddy parking lot by the Whittemore Trail that is for use by anyone.

One of the many cascades along Spruce Brook makes the Blue Trail a highlight of the Naugatuck State Forest, West Block. This photo was taken in 2015.

West Block

The West Block of the Naugatuck State Forest contains both woods roads and hiking trails. The woods roads in the central part of the property were created facilitate logging, while those along the reservoirs were used as access roads when the water company owned the property.

All trails are open to mountain bikes and horses, although some of the woods roads are too eroded for comfortable use by either mode of transportation.

The area was formerly a confusing maze of woods roads and trails, but that situation dramatically improved when I received state permission to blaze the trails, a project that took place from Sept. 2015 to April 2016. The forest now has nearly 20 miles of blazed woods roads and trails. I left some woods roads unblazed, but they are fairly obvious due to all the other blazing.

The reservoirs are popular for fishing (including ice fishing). Canoes and kayaks are permitted on the reservoirs, but the portage from the parking lots could be a challenge. Swimming is strictly prohibited in the reservoirs.

The Red-Green Trail at the junction with the Red Trail by Reservoir 2 shows the typical appearance of these woods roads, seen in Oct. 2015.

West Block Trail Color Scheme

The basic color scheme for the forest is that the main woods roads on the western side of the forest are blazed Red. The two trails to the east of those woods roads are blazed Red-White to indicate these trails are spur trails off the main Red Trails. The spur trails to the west of the Red Trail are blazed Red-Yellow and Red-Green.

Randomly within the mix is the Teal Trail that runs along the south and east sides of Reservoir 4 and the Beige Trail that runs along the east side of Reservoir 3. There is an unmarked, washed out trail north on the west side of the Red Trail north of Reservoir 4 that leads to a small waterfall. The trail does not extend past the waterfall, so users need to backtrack to the Red Trail to continue their hike.

The main trails and woods roads along the eastern side of the forest are blazed Purple. There is a Purple-White and Purple-Yellow Trail on woods roads that connect Purple to other trails. The colors along the woods road that is blazed Purple-Yellow changes at the southern end to Purple as the Purple Trail merges from the east. There is a brief Purple-Green Trail near the northern end of the Purple Trail that leads to the Flag Overlook, which offers excellent views of the Naugatuck River Valley.

Other trail colors off Purple include the Green and Orange Trails, which are woods roads, and the White Trail that is a narrow footpath. The Orange Trail parallels the top of Spruce Brook Gorge.

The narrow, uneven trail through Spruce Brook Gorge is blazed Blue. This trail has uncertain footing in spots, and is best avoided in wet and icy conditions. This trail ends at its western end by a large waterfall on the White blazed woods road.

The woods road across this section of the forest is blazed White. There is no physical connection between the woods road and the trail that is blazed white.

The White Trail north of Spruce Brook Road ends at this overlook of the Naugatuck State Forest's East Block, as seen in Dec. 2015.

North of Spruce Brook Road, some colors are reused on a variety of footpaths and woods roads. None of these trails have any physical connection to the trails south of Spruce Brook Road, although the White Trail and the White-blazed woods road come within 0.2 miles of each other.

The overlook off the Red-Orange Trail is an excellent one with views to the south. The overlook off the White Trail has more limited views.

With all these trails the property offers multiple options for hiking. The highlight for most people is the three-quarter mile long hike through Spruce Brook Gorge (misnamed by people who thought the hemlocks lining the gorge were spruce trees).

This hike is usually accessed by people parking at the Big Rock parking lot (which earns its nickname from the large boulder in the parking lot) at the end of Cold Spring Road. At the end of the gorge, one option is to turn left and head up to the Flag Overlook, so named due to the American flag located on pole at an overlook with an excellent view of the Naugatuck River Valley.

Another popular hike is to park at the Old Litchfield Turnpike parking area, at the corner of Route 42, or the Chestnut Tree Hill Road parking area by the power lines, and hike along the reservoirs. This is particularly popular with dog walkers.

The Purple Trail passes through a ravine near the Green Trail. This is one of many scenic spots in the Naugatuck State Forest, West Block, pictured in Dec. 2015.

Trails South of Spruce Brook Road, Trail Characteristics

Most of the trails southwest of Spruce Brook Road are wide woods roads with good footing. The general orientation of the forest is that as you head north, the trails go uphill. The Purple Trail between the Purple-Yellow Trail is a mixture of woods roads and narrow footpaths. From the Flag Overlook, just past the White Trail, the Purple Trail is a very steep descent to the Orange Trail. I recommend using the White Trail as a safer alternative, especially in wet and icy conditions.

The White Trail between the Purple Trail and the Orange Trail is a footpath that winds up and around various rock formations. Near the Orange Trail, the White Trail has a sharp descent to the Orange Trail. The Red Trail from the base of Reservoir 1 to the Purple Trail is a footpath.

The Blue Trail through Spruce Brook Gorge is uneven with uncertain footing in places due to erosion, and has a couple of short rock scrambles. I recommend not using this trail in wet or icy conditions, due to the risk of falling. The alternative is walking up Spruce Brook Road to the White blazed woods road.

Trails North of Spruce Brook Road

This metal marker shows the way along the Red Trail North of Spruce Brook Road, seen in Dec. 2015.

There is an additional set of trails north of the paved Spruce Brook Road (also known as Black Forest Road). The Red Trail from Spruce Brook Road is steep with several extended rock faces that offer limited footing. This trail is best hiked only from Spruce Brook Road, rather than trying to descend to the road. I recommend NOT using this trail in wet or icy conditions. The Red Trail is marked with metal disks and paint. Due to the steep terrain, it was not possible to create a switchback trail to soften the ascent. When coming from this area, it is best to descend on the White Trail where volunteers were able to create switchbacks around the rock faces, or on the gravel road from the powerlines.

This is one of four rock faces that make for a challenging climb on the Red Trail north of Spruce Brook Road, seen in June 2016.

The White Trail north of Spruce Brook Road has a winding ascent from the road that levels off when it reaches the Orange Trail. From the Orange Trail to the overlook of Route 8, the White Trail has gentle changes in grade. The Orange Trail and the Yellow Trail stay on top of the hills, so they have moderate changes in elevation. The Orange Trail connects to the powerlines at the northern end. While they are not official trails and they are not marked, the woods roads under the powerlines are obvious. The Yellow Trall cuts across the powerlines and links to Old Highway.

There is no trail connecting the overlook on the Red-Orange Trail to the overlook on the White Trail because the terrain between is steep and unsuitable for trails. 

The overlook on the Red-Orange Trail north of Spruce Brook Road offers a good perspective of the Naugatuck River Valley south toward the Flag Overlook on the Purple-Green Trail, in June 2016.

In the center of the West Block is High Rock Shooting Range, located on Spruce Brook Road. The firing range can be quiet loud on weekends, and the noise is unsettling to some hikers who hear gunshots in the woods and wonder if they are at risk of being hit. Rest assured that while the noise may be bothersome, the range is safe as they are firing at targets with a hill behind them. There are no trails near the back of the range and there are signs warning people when they are getting too close along the side. Website: http://www.highrockrange.com/

The High Rock Shooting Range is located on Spruce Brook Road, seen in May 2016.

The range and the forest inadvertently became part of history when terrorists were found to be using both locations during the 1990s. The Hartford Courant has different articles on the topic. You may need to have a subscription to read them.

This 1993 article was reprinted in 2021:

https://www.courant.com/1993/08/01/terrorism-suspects-used-naugatuck-forest/ 

West Block Parking Areas, west side

Thanks to an expansion in spring 2016, there is a decent-sized parking lot holding about 20 cars at 360 Chestnut Tree Hill Rd., Oxford, at the southwest corner of Reservoir 4. There are also a few spots along the road by the powerlines.

Directions:

Rt. 8 North to Exit 21. Left at end of ramp to Rt. 42 West for 2.1 miles. Right on Chestnut Tree Hill Rd. for 1 mile. The parking area is on the right just past the powerlines.

Rt. 8 South to Exit 21. Right onto S. Main St. (becomes Rt. 42 West) for 3.1 miles. Right on Chestnut Tree Hill Rd. for 1 mile. The parking area is on the right just past the powerlines.

There is a parking area holding about 6 cars at 1 Old Litchfield Tpke., Oxford, corner of Rt. 42, near Reservoirs 1 and 2. This parking area is popular, so it is often nearly full with cars. Be sure to observe the "No Parking" signs located at both end of the parking lot.

Directions:

Rt. 8 North to Exit 21. Left at end of ramp to Rt. 42 West for 1.6 miles. Old Litchfield Tpke. is a slight right turn about 1/3 mile past Oxford town line.

Rt. 8 South to Exit 21. Right onto S. Main St. (becomes Rt. 42 West) for 2.6 miles. Old Litchfield Tpke. is a slight right turn about 1/3 mile past Oxford town line. The parking area is just beyond the turn.

There is a "secret" parking area holding about 10 cars at 75 Old Litchfield Tpke., Oxford; just beyond Sheldon Road. The area is not indicated on the state map as a parking area, but there is a signboard for the forest there. This parking area is where the gravel road accessible to cars turns into a dirt woods road open only to non-motorized vehicles. From the parking area, there is a woods road about a tenth of a mile long that descends to the Red-Green Trail just south of Reservoir 3. This area may not be plowed in the winter.
Directions: Follow the directions for the parking area at 1 Old Litchfield Tpke., but continue another 0.5 miles to the end of the road.

There is a large parking lot holding about 20 cars at an approximate address of 700 Hunters Mountain Road, Naugatuck, at the northwest corner of the forest. The nearest house is half mile east of this lot and is numbered 300 Hunters Mountain Road, so keep that other number in mind if you are using GPS or a mapping program that does not recognize 700 Hunters Mountain Road. If you use this lot, keep in mind that the forest elevations tend to rise as you head north, so parking here means a long uphill walk on the way back. Finding this lot confusing as you wind through the streets of Naugatuck and end with a super steep climb up Hunters Mountain Road that will challenge your engine.

Directions:

Route 8 North to Exit 25A. Left on Route 63 North for 0.4 miles. Bear left on Scott Street for 0.1 miles. Left on Lewis Street for 0.5 miles. Bear left on Hunters Mountain Road for 1.5 miles. The parking lot is at the end of the road.

Note: Coming from Route 8 North, you can save 3 miles by getting off at Exit 21 and taking Route 42 to Cold Spring Road, but trust me, you don’t want to do that. Cold Spring Road (as indicated in the directions below for the Big Rock parking lot) is a bumpy, rutted dirt road, and is not plowed in the winter.

Route 8 South to Exit 25A. Right on Route 63 North for 0.3 miles. Bear left on Scott Street for 0.1 miles. Left on Lewis Street for 0.5 miles. Bear left on Hunters Mountain Road for 1.5 miles. The parking lot is at the end of the road.

The Flag Overlook on the Purple-Green Trail is a popular destination in the Naugatuck State Forest, West Block, as seen in Nov. 2014. No flag was present in Nov. 2024.

West Block parking areas, east side

If you are leading a group hike and plan to hike Spruce Brook Gorge, I recommend meeting in the parking lot at the base of Spruce Brook Road (also known as Black Forest Road), Naugatuck, near the junction with Cold Spring Road. This parking lot does not have a street address that is recognizable by GPS devices and mapping software.
In winter the gates to the base of this road may be locked, so another option are the two small parking lots on either side of Spruce Brook Road, just past the firing range.
From any direction, access this lot by going through Naugatuck, as the northern section of Cold Spring Road is a 1.2-mile dirt road, typically full of 6-inch deep craters (sometimes filled with water) and lots of loose rocks. This road has not been regraded since at least 2015 (by my estimation), and I think that people in four-wheel drive vehicles like tearing up the road. This is the only way I can explain the large craters in the road.

Much of the dirt section is a single car length wide and all of it is directly next to the Metro North Waterbury line. People who have not been there before will likely think they made a wrong turn, i.e., “This can’t possibly be the right way!” The road is not plowed in the winter, and in winter 2019-20 the gate at the end of the paved section of this road was locked for winter to stop the illegal dumping that was taking place along the road.

Story: https://www.mycitizensnews.com/news/2020/02/state-blocks-access-road-to-forest-due-to-dumping/

Directions to the Spruce Brook Road (Black Forest Road) parking lot: 

You can try 100 Spruce Brook Road (also known as Black Forest Road), Naugatuck, as your destination, which should get you pretty close). The trailhead probably does not have an address that your GPS can recognize, so follow these directions.

Rt. 8 South to Exit 25A. Right on Rt. 63 East. After the bridge, bear left on Scott Street, then take the left on Lewis Street for 0.5 miles. Bear left on Hunters Mountain Road for 1.1 miles. (In May 2019, sections of Hunters Mountain were a patchwork of potholes and patches, so drive slowly.) Left on Spruce Brook Road for 1.3 miles. Drive to the end of the road and park in the dirt lot on the right before the railroad tracks.

From Rt. 8 North, your GPS will tell you to take Exit 21, and will lead you over the cratered road, so ignore it until Exit 25A. Then left on South Main St., and immediate left on Rt. 63 North (go under the highway). After the bridge, bear left on Scott Street, then take the left on Lewis Street for 0.5 miles. Bear left on Hunters Mountain Road for 1.1 miles. Left on Spruce Brook Road for 1.3 miles. Drive to the end of the road and park in the dirt lot on the right before the railroad tracks.

   

If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance, or if Cold Spring Road is regraded and smoothed at some point in the future, and the gate is open, then I would return to my original recommendation to have a group meet at the Beacon Falls Railroad Station, 1 Railroad Avenue, Beacon Falls, and doing a carpool/car caravan over to the Big Rock parking lot. The Big Rock parking lot gets its nickname from the large boulder along one side of the lot. There are no signs indicating you are in the Naugatuck State Forest, but you are.
Another option is to meet at the Beacon Falls Railroad Station and carpool to the small parking area (4 to 5 cars) at the fence where the paved road changes to dirt. From this location, it is a seven-tenths of mile walk to the start of the Blue Trail and Orange Trail at the end of the Big Rock parking lot.

Directions to the Beacon Falls Railroad Station:

Rt. 8 North to Exit 21. Right on S. Main St. (briefly Route 42 West). Left at the second light on Depot St. and go over the green metal bridge. Left on Railroad Ave. The train station is on the right.

Rt. 8 South to Exit 21. Right on S. Main St. Right on Depot St. and go over the green metal bridge. Left on Railroad Ave. The train station is on the right.

From the train station, turn left on Railroad Ave. and go over the concrete bridge. Turn right on Lopus Road. At the next intersection, continue straight where the road name changes to Cold Spring Road (sometimes called High Rock Road). As you pass through the gate, the road becomes dirt for 0.7 miles. The road splits and bear left up a slight hill into the parking area. Park by the large rock.

Mapping programs may see the trailhead as 290 Cold Spring(s) Rd. or 290 High Rock Rd., Beacon Falls.

Cold Spring Road squeezes between a rock formation and the guardrail with the Metro North Railroad Tracks along the right in Nov. 2015.

The Big Rock to the left gives this parking lot its unofficial nickname, seen in Nov. 2015.

If you are headed directly to the Big Rock parking lot, here are the directions:

Directions:

Rt. 8 North to Exit 21. Right on S. Main St. (briefly Route 42 West). Left at the second light on Depot St. and go over the green metal bridge. Right on Railroad Ave. and go over the concrete bridge. Turn right on Lopus Road. At the next intersection, continue straight where the road name changes to Cold Spring Road (sometimes called High Rock Road). As you pass through the gate, the road becomes dirt for 0.7 miles. The road splits and bear left up a slight hill into the parking area. Park by the large rock.

Rt. 8 South to Exit 21. Right on S. Main St. Right on Depot St. and go over the green metal bridge. Right on Railroad Ave. and go over the concrete bridge. Turn right on Lopus Road. At the next intersection, continue straight where the road name changes to Cold Spring Road (sometimes called High Rock Road). As you pass through the gate, the road becomes dirt for 0.7 miles. The road splits and bear left up a slight hill into the parking area. Park by the large rock.

There is a second parking lot on Spruce Brook Road, just past the junction of Cold Spring Road. This would involve staying straight on Cold Spring Road, instead of bearing left into the Big Rock parking lot. This lot holds about 15 cars, but is not the recommended choice from this direction. From the split in the road, Cold Spring Road is a sharp, rocky descent to Spruce Brook Road.

There are a few small pull-offs holding 2 to 4 cars along Spruce Brook Road, which is a paved road. This road is best accessed from Hunters Mountain Road, sparing car and driver alike the challenge of driving along Cold Spring Road. There is a gate on Spruce Brook Road near Cold Spring Road and another near the High Rock Shooting Range that are potentially locked in winter, as Cold Spring Road is not paved.

 

Fall colors make for a beautiful sight at Reservoir 4 in Oct. 2015.

Indie Movie Filmed at West Block, Reservoir 2

An indie horror movie called Beneath, released in 2013, was filmed at Reservoir 2, and adds another entry to the dubious category of clueless teens who are stalked by an uncertain menace that kills them, in this case a person-eating fish. For the purposes of the movie, they are stuck in a leaky rowboat, unable to get to shore after the fish has taken their only oar.

The movie rates 3.5 out of 10 on the Internet Movie Database, which is one of the lowest scoring movies on the website. I viewed the trailer and that was more than enough. I have no desire to see the movie. Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2325518/

Wikipedia has a summary of the movie, plus comments from critics savaging it. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneath_(2013_film)

Naugatuck State Forest, West Block:

List of Trails and Mileage

Distance	Trail Color(s)	Trail Location
Miles		Blazed trails and woods roads SW of Spruce Brook Road
3.1	Red	The west side of the forest from Hunter Mtn. Rd. south to the Purple Trail east of Reservoir 1
1.6	Red-White	Two sections: the northern section from the White woods road south to the Red Trail east of Reservoir 4. The southern section extends from the Red Trail in the northwest corner of Reservoir 2 and heads south along the east side of Reservoirs 1 and 2 to the Red Trail Each section is 0.8 miles long.
1.2	Red-Green	From the Red Trail east of Reservoir 4 southwest to the Red Trail west of Reservoir 2
0.3	Red-Yellow	From the Red Trail west of Reservoir 2 south to the Red-Green Trail east of Reservoir 3
1.4	White	A woods road starting at the Red Trail near the powerlines and heading west with a horseshoe turn by the Red-White Trail. Past the horseshoe turn it connects with three woods roads and ends at the paved Spruce Brook Rd.
0.6	Green	From the White woods road south to the Purple Trail, just west of High Rock
0.7	Orange	From the Green woods road southeast to the big rock parking lot
0.7	Blue	From the White woods road southeast through the gorge to the big rock parking lot.
0.4	White	From the Orange Trail southeast over High Rock to the Purple Trail just west of the flag overlook
0.55	Teal	From the Chestnut Tree Hill Rd. parking lot east along the base of Reservoir 4 and then north along the east side of Reservoir 4 to the Red Trail
0.45	Beige	From the Teal Trail at the Res. 4 dam to the Red-Green Tr. at the Res. 3 dam.
3.0	Purple	From the Orange Trail near the Big Rock parking area and flag overlook southwest to the Red Trail east of Reservoir 1
0.4	Purple-Yellow	From the White woods road south to the Purple Trail
0.3	Purple-White	A short connector trail between the Purple Trail and the Red-White Trail east of Reservoir 4.
0.05	Purple-Green	A brief connector trail to guide people from the Purple Trail to the flag overlook.
14.85	Subtotal	Blazed trails and woods roads SW of Spruce Brook Road
		Unblazed trails and woods roads SW of Spruce Brook Rd.
0.7	Unblazed	Gravel section of Hunters Mountain Road, between the two paved sections, running south toward Chestnut Tree Hill Rd.
0.5	Unblazed	Grassy woods road running roughly west east from the Red-blazed gravel road, 0.35 miles south of Hunters Mountain Road to Spruce Brook Road.
0.5	Unblazed	Gravel logging road running north south from the White gravel road to the Purple Trail, sandwiched between the Purple-Yellow gravel road and the Green gravel road
0.35	Unblazed	Woods road connecting Hunters Mountain Road to the grassy path that runs west-east from the Red-blazed gravel road to Spuce Brook Road.
0.35	Unblazed	Gravel extension of Old Litchfield Tpke. from the cul-de-sac north of Sheldon Drive to the junction with Chestnut Tree Hill Rd.
0.15	Unblazed	Woods road from the Old Litchfield Tpke. parking area to the Red Trail by Reservoir 2.
0.15	Unblazed	Trail to Surprise Falls from Red Trail
2.70	Subtotal	Unblazed trails and woods roads SW of Spruce Brook Rd.
17.55	Subtotal	All woods roads and trails, SW of Spruce Brook Road
		Woods roads and trails northeast of Spruce Brook Road
1.2	Yellow	From the Old Highway south and west to the White Trail
1.0	White	From the Spruce Brook Road east to the overlook
0.7	Orange	From the powerlines southeast, briefly overlapping the White Trail, then joining the Red Trail to an overlook
0.4	Red	From Spruce Brook Road west, then south joining the Orange Trail to the overlook
3.3	Subtotal	Blazed trails
0.7	Powerline Access Road	From the powerlines south to Spruce Brook Road
0.7	Unblazed	Woods road from Hunter Mountain Road south to Spruce Brook Road
4.6	Subtotal	Woods roads and trails northeast of Spruce Brook Road
20.95		Woods roads and trails in the Naug. State Forest West

Roads and Powerlines (mileage reflects only those sections within the forest)

Distance	Surface	Name or Area
1.4	Paved	Spruce Brook Road
0.8	Paved	Hunters Mountain Road
0.4	Paved	Cold Springs Road
2.4	Gravel	Powerline cut from the west side of Res. 4 north and west to Sugar Bush Brook in the forest’s northeast corner, ending at Cherry Street Extension in Naugatuck
0.8	Gravel	Powerline cut south of Reservoir 4, extending west and south to Cold Springs Road at Lopus Road Extension
5.8	Total	Roads and powerline cuts

The forest is 2.9 miles north to south. The forest is 2 mile wide at its widest point in the northern section and narrows to 0.5 miles wide at its southern end.

Damage from 2018 Microburst

The Naugatuck State Forest West Block suffered some significant tree damage during the May 2018 thunderstorm and microburst. The state and volunteers have cleared the damage along most trails, which took almost a year. With subsequent storms some scattered areas may require walking around, sliding over, or ducking under trees.
The Beige Trail along Reservoir 3 has almost no tree canopy, since the trees were knocked down by a storm. As a result, plants grow at an explosive rate and quickly reach over the trail in spring and summer, creating a perfect habitat for picking up ticks. As a result, the Beige Trail should be considered a winter-only trail. 
In August 2018, I cleared a number of small fallen trees and did a general pruning back of the Blue Trail through the Spruce Brook Gorge, making that area much easier to navigate. These trees fell due to the steep sides of the gorge, and most I recognized as being down on hikes I did prior to the March and May 2018 storms.