APPALACHIAN TRAIL

BUNKER HILL(CT.4)TO U.S.7(Cornwall Bridge)

The trail continues through part of the Mohawk State Forest with many scenic overlooks along the way.

The north end begins at CT.4 near the entrance to Mohawk State Forest, 4 miles west of Goshen and 10 miles from Litchfield.
The south end begins at U.S.7 at the east end of the Cornwall Bridge over the Housatonic River, 9 miles north of Kent, 17 miles south of Canaan. Parking places are designated at both ends of section.

There are two lean-to's in this section.

There are no public accommodations at the north end of this section but in Cornwall Bridge there is a general store, post office (P.O. zip code 06754), Package store !!!!!!!, and a motel.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION,North to South

Leave CT.4 and go south on trail to IVES PICNIC AREA. Turn right near pump. [0.1]Reach BOULDER LEAN-TO AT CAMPING ZONE 8 on left. The trail turns left off the gravel road and into the woods. [0.3]Trail enters a low-lying forest and then starts to climb a rocky promontory. The climb levels off in a couple hundred yards and proceeds through an attractive forest with heavy undergrowth of mountain laurel. This section of the trail is part of the Mohawk State Forest. [0.6]Reach top of the rise and proceed on level trail for about 50 yards after which the trail descends sharply. [0.8]Reach bottom of hill and proceed into a lovely mature pine forest. Trail turns to the right. After a few hundred yards the trail begins to gradually ascend out of the pine forest into scattered birchs. [1.4]Reach CAMPING ZONE 9 with lean-to built by the YCC in 1979. Fireplace and outhouse are nearby; so is water (pump). There is a small brook passing under the road at this point near the back of the shelter. There is hard surfaced parking area providing panoramic view of the Taconics and the entire Mohawk Valley. Trail turns left and follows TOUMEY ROAD. About a hundred yards along the road, the trail enters the woods again to the right. [1.6]Trail crosses over the top of Mohawk Ski Area lift terminal. Hiking trail proceeds along ski trail to second terminal lift. [1.7]Reach upper terminal of lift number 2 with superb views to the west. Nearby is a stone structure(kiosk)which, if climbed, provides an improved view of the Berkshires, Mt.Greylock, and the Catskills.
Trail then descends sharply to the south into a large stand of pines joining at this point the MATTATUCK TRAIL with blue-blazes. (The MATTATUCK TRAIL continues south for 0.9 miles to the summit of Mohawk Mountain. (1,680 feet) where there is an observation tower with fine views. It leads south 35 miles to Wolcott.
[1.8]Trail turns sharply right and descends gradually through a mature pine forest. Hiking trail follows ski trail for 200 yards, then turns left, leaving the ski trail, and continues to descend the mountain. [1.9]Trail passes under powerline and continues down mountain steeply. After 100 yards trail crosses small brook and continues steeply down mountain, through a beautiful pine plantation. [2.3]Trail enters gully and proceeds down along powerline where trail is heavily eroded. Trail proceeds down gully along ancient stone walls with neglected and overgrown apple orchards on each side.

THIS SECTION WAS PART OF OLD HARTFORD-POUGHKEEPSIE STAGE TRAIL

[2.5]Trail crosses lively brook over wood bridge passing barn on left with clearings and a house nearby. Trail then joins hard-surfaced drive from farm. Drive enters Great Hollow Road. Turn right and follow road. Proceed about 200 yards and turn left on Essex Hill Road. In about 100 yards,trail turns right into woods. [2.7]Turn right as trail starts to ascend through a dense hemlock forest. (This part of the trail is known as Cathedral Pines). [3.0]Trail takes a left turn downhill, continuing through a mature stand of hemlocks, some well over 3 feet wide at the base, and with their tops out of sight in the green boughs above. The forest floor is open with minimal undergrowth, being heavily shaded from the sun. [3.3]Trail crosses Essex Hill Road again,then parallels a small brook down to Valley Road. [3.4]Trail turns left and follows Valley Road. Cross brook on steel bridge in about 100 yards. Road passes through a lovely valley with handsome farms bordered by carefully tilled fields and rimmed by majestic pine forests. [4.5]Road enters on the left. Continue ahead on Valley Road through Cornwall Valley. [4.7]Cross brook over iron bridge. Take right fork ahead in 100 feet. and proceed 200 feet to where trail turns sharply right into woods. Cross brook and proceed up through pine forest on steep rough trail. [5.0]Trail bears right going steeply up the hill.

[5.2]Blue Blazed Trail to left leads to BALDWIN CAVES(0.1 miles). [5.4]

In 1960 Blue-Blazed COLTSFOOT MOUNTAIN TRAIL TOOK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE OVER COLTSFOOT MOUNTAIN, for an alternate variety

Reach the shoulder of Coltsfoot Mountain. [5.5]Reach a high granite promontory overlooking the valley to the west. Sharp turn at this point on south shoulder. Pass through a relatively level spot and then ascend very steeply the final peak of Coltsfoot Mountain. [5.8]Reach top of Coltsfoot Mountain. Trail levels off through a forest of young trees. [6.0]Reach spectacular overlook (ECHO ROCK 1,450 feet) viewing Cornwall Valley. Mohawk Mountain can be seen in the distance. [6.2]Trail takes a sharp right.Trail descends gradually on level road. This is an old charcoal road dating back into the 18th century. [6.4]Bend around large rock formation and pass through opening in old stone wall. [6.7]Trail takes sharp left across small brook.A second small brook is crossed in about 50 yards. Trail passes through several stone walls in a wide open area and gradually starts to descend. This is part ofDUDLEYTOWN, an 18th century community made famous by the fact that it was suddenly abandoned for no known reason. [7.0]Trail crosses brook and enters pine forest on an old woods road. Cross woods road and continue through woods. Enter lovely CAMPING AREA AT CAMPING ZONE 10 with stream on the left. Beech and laurel growth abounds.. Cross to left bank of BONNIE BROOK, ALSO KNOWN AS DARK ENTRY. Descend steeply through ravine with magnificant hemlocks. Reach another good camping area which is still part of CAMPING ZONE 10 (DARK ENTRY). [7.3]Pass an old stone dam and skirt upper cascades. [7.6]Recross BONNIE BROOK to old logging road. Continue on the north side of the brook as the woods road ascends gradually. Brook cascades along left side of road through beautiful falls and pools. The trail passes over a rise and in about 100 yards gradually starts to descend as a wide open woods road. [7.8]Turn right on Dark Entry Road. (unpaved) Parking is not permitted at this point. Road soon becomes hard-surfaced and steeply descends to intersect with CT.4 and U.S.7 at Cornwall Bridge [8.5]Reach Cornwall Bridge where there is a post office, a general store, AND A PLACE TO OBTAIN A COLD BEER. A motel is just south of the junction. A designated car parking spot is available alongside FURNACE BROOK on CT.4 just west of the junction with U.S.7. Kent is 9 miles and New Milford 23 miles south. Lime Rock is 8 miles and Canaan 17 miles north of the intersection. To continue on trail,cross river on concrete bridge.

This courtesy of: Excerpts: Appalachian Trail Guide-Appalachian Trail Conference-P.O.Box 807-Harpers Ferry,WV. - 1983 edition.

THIS WAS THE OFFICIAL APPALACHIAN TRAIL GUIDE 1983 EDITION. A COLD BEER???!!!! SEE HOW WE HAVE BECOME MORE EDUCATED IN 2008 ??!!!! TRAIL-HIKERS BEER DRINKERS !!!! THANKFULLY THEY RE-ROUTED THE TRAIL TO BYPASS MACEDONIA BROOK STATE PARK AND HOUSATONIC MEADOWS STATE PARK. (I without looking in depth NOW think that it skirts Housatonic Meadows)