To reach these two trails follow road map routes to Cornwall Bridge. Cross the Housatonic to junction of Rt.4 and U.S. Rt.7 on the west side of the Cornwall Bridge. From the juncture follow Rt.4 west 0.6 of a mile to Appalachian Trail crossing. The trail is indicated by an oval blue sign with white lettered trail name and located on the north side of highway.
Park car off the traveled portion of the road. Take trail north from sign and follow the white blazes on trees and rocks. The Appalachian Trail System uses a white blaze to indicate its course. The 2,000 mile long Appalachian Trail runs in a general north-south course from Mount Katahdin, Maine, to Springer Mountain, Georgia. Breadloaf is a section of the Appalachian Trail that runs through the northwest corner of our state.
From Rt.4 the trail descends abruptly into a beautiful hemlock covered ravine. The hemlocks are ancient, tremendous in height and girth. The sun has difficulty penetrating the heavy foilage and the stream bed is somewhat characteristic of a rain forest. Crossing Guna Brook, follow trail up steep north side of ravine to old Notch Road. (dirt) on the southern slope of Breadloaf Mountain.
The Appalachian Trail turns right (east) and descends along old Notch Road to Rt.4 then turns right (west) and returns to your car, should you decide to use this route.
The crest of Breadloaf Mountain is reached by a blue-blazed side trail. After climbing out of the ravine to old Notch Road the blue trail is directly north of the corner of the right angle formed by the Appalachian Trail as it turns east to follow the road. The blue side trail is indicated by blue arrows and blue blazes which are badly weathered and not very distinct.
The moment you reach Notch Road from the ravine, stop and look for the blue arrows and blazes. There is a house on the north side of the road about 100 feet east of where the blue-blazed trail branches from the white-blazed main trail. The blue trail has been only moderately trampled and in spots it is overgrown but with care and a sharp eye for the weathered blazes one can find his way to the top. Some of the blue-blazes have recently been painted over with silver paint. Do not allow the intermixture of colors confuse you, both silver and blue lead to the same point.
From the summit of Breadloaf Mountain, elevation 1,030 feet, there is an excellent view of the Housatonic Valley, the Housatonic Meadows State Park to the north, the river and Dean Hill as well as Coltsfoot Mountain to the east, and a grand view of the 1,290 foot crest of Silver Hill to the south.
The northwest corner of our state presents our highest mountains and some of the most vivid fall colors to be found anywhere in New England.
