To reach the north end of the Paugusset Trail follow road routes to Stevenson Dam on Rt.34.The east end of the dam is in the town of Oxford;its west abutment is in the town of Monroe.Paugusset Trail junctures with the Pomperaug at the west side of the river and dam on Rt.34.A few hundred feet west of the river and south of the road is a restricted parking lot.At the lot's entrance is to be found a blue-blazed tree and an oval blue and white trail sign.Park car off the travelled portion of highway,then follow trail south to green building housing rest rooms.From the southeast corner of this utility house the blazed trail ascends a steep bank.Less than one-half mile from starting point the trail reaches overlook above Lake Zoar;the trail continues south to a rocky ledge with a good view of both sides of the river.Descend through a cleft in the cliff o a brook at about one mile from Rt.34.You may wish to return from this point.Should you desire to continue the trail leads south to other overlooks,crosses two brooks,and passes through two interesting gorges.
Turn east onto Whitney Ave.,and follow for 0.4 of a mile to Poquonock River Bridge and Riverside Drive.Pomperaug Trail follows Riverside Drive to the north:to the south it enters wooded area on the east bank of the river.
Park car,follow blue-blazed trail south from junction of Whitney Ave.,and Riverside Drive;approximately 100 yards from Whitney Ave.,trail turns sharply to the east for several hundred feet then turns south again.Trail crosses open field then enters a grove of large hemlocks on the steep east bank of the river.Trail descends to the river bed and passes along the base of a high ledge to the east.Leaving this beautiful ravine follow the east bank a short distance to the point where the trail crosses the river to ascend its west bank.
Trail continues south for 2.5 miles to Inca Drive.You might not wish to do the round trip(5 miles);walk to any point along the trail you desire then retrace your steps to Whitney Ave.
The river and ravine near the beginning of this walk is a delightful area to investigate and explore.Here as well as other wet lands along other trails one may find the first sign of spring;the hooded heads of the lowly skunk cabbage.
Spring perhaps means more to people than the other three seasons combined.This prejudice may be due to several reasons:winter is cold,forbidding;summer may be uncomfortably hot;fall though colorful is too close to another drab,grim winter.Spring however is a time of expectation,a time of rebirth.
[[ author goes on talking about skunk cabbage ]]
To reach the starting point on the Pomperaug Trail leading to Devil's Den follow road map routes to Rt.34 immediately west of Stevenson Dam.From the east follow Rt.34 west 0.3 of a mile from the west end of the dam to the Pomperaug Trail sign.From the west follow Rt.34 east 0.8 of a mile from junction of Rt.111 to trail sign.The Pomperaug Trail sign is the regulation blue oval lettered in white with trail name;it is located on the south shoulder of Rt.34.
Park car,follow blue-blazed trail south from sign and pass through culvert under railroad and ascend to Cottage St. Trail follows cart path through hemlock grove then parallels the west bank of Boys Halfway River.After crossing river continue on trail southwest to Devil's Den.Trail leads to Barn Hill Rd.,crossing then continues 0.2 of a mile to Hammertown Rd. The total trail distance is approximetely 1.6 miles from Rt.34.
One of the unexpected things to look for on this or any walk in the woods is a 'bee-tree'.This is a tree with a sizable cavity in limb or trunk in which honeybees live and store their honey.A mild day in early spring,before foliage has developed,is an ideal time to spot a wild honeybeee colony.
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The Connecticut Blue Trail System offers many walks beside a stream or pond,not the least of these is the beautiful falls at Parlor Rock.The falls and ravine are part of the Poquonock River which parallels the Pomperaug Trail in this area.
Parlor Rock is on the Pomperaug Trail in the town of Trumbull;it is easily accessable by car.Follow road maps to the intersection of Whitney Ave. and Rt.25 in the Long Hill section of Trumbull.Whitney Ave.at Long Hill Center may be reached from the junction of Rts.25 and 111 by driving south 0.8 of a mile on Rt.25;from the junction of Rts.25 and 127 drive 1.4 miles north on Rt.25.Turn east onto Whitney Ave. and follow 0.4 of a mile to Riverside Drive.The Pomperaug Trail crosses Whitney Ave. at this point.The crossing is indicated by blue-blazed trees and poles.Park car,then follow the blazed trail north on Riverside Drive 0.2 of a mile to Parlor Rock.The Poquonock River flows south just west of the rail;the falls and ravine are only a short distance west of Riverside Drive.
Explore this interesting beauty spot as long as you wish,then should you decide to extend your walk follow the blue-blazed trail east on Riverside Drive 0.1 of a mile to Teller Rd.Turn north and follow road for 50 yards to where trail enters woods.Follow blazed trail as far as you wish then return along the trail to your car.
These woods walks as enjoyable as they may prove can be doubly enjoyed with the addition of an inexpensive piece of equipment.An ordinary magnifying glass of a few diameters,or one of the slightly more expensive combinations of two or more lenses with increasing magnification,is an investment that will repay its cost many times.
[[ author goes on discussing use of magnifying glass in woods with nature,etc. ]]
A segment of this trail that may prove an interesting walk is the 1.5 mile section paralleling Boys Halfway River between Rt.110 and Hammertown Rd.,in the town of Monroe.
Follow road map routes to the junction of Rts.110 and 111 in Monroe.From Rt.111 take Rt.110 east 0.8 of a mile to blue-blazed tree and oval trail sign on north shoulder of highway.
Park car,then follow blazed trail north through pastures and woodland to Hammertown Rd. It is three miles round trip to Hammertown Rd.,should you wish to go all the way,or you may turn back from any point you desire.No need to warn the dedicated walker that most of this trail passes over private property and should be treated as you would have your own respected.
Not only on the Pomperaug Trail but on the entire Connecticut Blue Blazed Trail System are to be found a host of trees and shrubs of varied economic value and botantical interest.Of all the specimens of our native woody plants none is more unusual than the witch hazel.
[[ author goes on discussing witch hazel..rather lengthy..]]
