Pachaug State Forest
Encyclopedia
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest
in the Connecticut
state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres (110 km²) of land. It is located on the Rhode Island
border in New London County, and parcels of the forest lie in the towns of Voluntown
, Griswold
, Plainfield
, Sterling
, North Stonington
, and Preston
. The forest was founded in 1928, but most of the land came from purchases made later during the Great Depression
. The Pachaug-Great Meadow Swamp portion of the park was declared a National Natural Landmark
in May 1973.
The forest is named after the Pachaug River
, which runs through the center of the forest.
.
, that run through Pachaug State Forest. The Pachaug Trail runs about 30 miles (48.3 km) in an east-west route that follows a horse-shoe curve north. It begins at the northern end of Pachaug Pond and ends at Green Fall Pond. The Nehantic Trail
is a route just under 15 miles (24.1 km) that begins at Green Fall Pond near the Pachaug Trail trailhead and runs northwest to RT 201 near the Pachaug River. The Quinebaug Trail
runs North-South for about 7 miles (11.3 km) from the junction of Breakneck Hill Road and the Nehantic-Quinebaug Trail Crossover to its northern terminus at Spaulding Road. The Narragansett Trail
runs from the southwest to the northeast, starting from Lantern Hill
in North Stonington. The Narragansett Trail
leaves the State Forest at the Connecticut/Rhode Island boundary; it enters Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rhode Island and later ends at Ashville Pond in the village of Canonchet in Hopkinton
, Rhode Island
.
The handicap (wheelchair) accessible Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail (which includes a planked wooden boardwalk section) in the Pachaug State Forest's Herman Haupt Chapman Management Area is spectacularly scenic when the Rhododendron are in bloom (June and July).
There are several dirt and gravel road trails that cross Pachaug State Forest; Trail 1, Trail 2, The main Drive, and Stonehill Road. In combination with dozens of unmarked side trails, this makes for easy mountain biking terrain that has become popular among locals.
Some trails and roads are marked as multi-use. One such is the Enduro
off-road motorcycle trail which winds through Pachaug State Forest).
On non-multi-use hiking trails in the forest however there is clearly both unauthorized vehicular and unauthorized equestrian use.
The 58 mile Enduro
trail in Pachaug State Forest is marked (on turns and intersections on trees) with white labels containing a red arrow pointing in the trail's direction. The route follows a mix of forest trails and public roads (therefore requiring both a valid current motorcycle registration and motorcycle driver's license rather than ATV registration).
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
in the Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres (110 km²) of land. It is located on the Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
border in New London County, and parcels of the forest lie in the towns of Voluntown
Voluntown, Connecticut
Voluntown is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2000 census. From 1726 to 1881 Voluntown had been part of Windham County.-Geography:...
, Griswold
Griswold, Connecticut
Griswold is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,807 at the 2000 census. Griswold contains one borough, Jewett City, and also contains the villages of Doaneville,Rixtown, Glasgo, Hopeville, and Pachaug...
, Plainfield
Plainfield, Connecticut
Plainfield is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,619 at the 2000 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield , Moosup , Wauregan , and Central Village . Each village has their own respective United States Post Office and fire department...
, Sterling
Sterling, Connecticut
Sterling is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,099 at the 2000 census.-Local History:The town was incorporated in 1794 following approval of the CT Assembly, and was carved from northern part of the Town of Voluntown...
, North Stonington
North Stonington, Connecticut
North Stonington is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,991 at the 2000 census. North Stonington was split off from Stonington in 1724.-Geography:...
, and Preston
Preston, Connecticut
Preston is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,688 at the 2000 census. The town includes the villages of Long Society, Preston City, and Poquetanuck.-History:...
. The forest was founded in 1928, but most of the land came from purchases made later during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. The Pachaug-Great Meadow Swamp portion of the park was declared a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
in May 1973.
The forest is named after the Pachaug River
Pachaug River
The Pachaug River is a river arising from the Pachaug State Forest at the Connecticut - Rhode Island border and draining into the Quinebaug River....
, which runs through the center of the forest.
Great Meadow
The Great Meadow section of the park is a National Natural Landmark due to its Atlantic white cedar swamp. This type of forest is at risk of being succeeded by hemlockTsuga
Tsuga is a genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae. The common name hemlock is derived from a perceived similarity in the smell of its crushed foliage to that of the unrelated plant poison hemlock....
.
Hiking trails
There are four popular hiking trails, maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park AssociationConnecticut Forest and Park Association
The Connecticut Forest and Park Association , established in 1895, is the oldest private, nonprofit conservation organization in Connecticut. The organization is credited as an important early pioneer of the national land conservation movement and as an early advocate of long distance trail building...
, that run through Pachaug State Forest. The Pachaug Trail runs about 30 miles (48.3 km) in an east-west route that follows a horse-shoe curve north. It begins at the northern end of Pachaug Pond and ends at Green Fall Pond. The Nehantic Trail
Nehantic Trail
The Nehantic Trail is a Connecticut hiking trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association....
is a route just under 15 miles (24.1 km) that begins at Green Fall Pond near the Pachaug Trail trailhead and runs northwest to RT 201 near the Pachaug River. The Quinebaug Trail
Quinebaug Trail
The Quinebaug Trail is a Connecticut hiking trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association....
runs North-South for about 7 miles (11.3 km) from the junction of Breakneck Hill Road and the Nehantic-Quinebaug Trail Crossover to its northern terminus at Spaulding Road. The Narragansett Trail
Narragansett Trail
The Narragansett Trail is a Connecticut hiking trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and the Narragansett Council, the Rhode Island chapter of the Boy Scouts of America....
runs from the southwest to the northeast, starting from Lantern Hill
Lantern Hill
Lantern Hill, elevation 491 feet , is located in North Stonington, Connecticut.- Name :The hill's white quartz cliffs are said to shine in sunlight when viewed from the Atlantic Ocean ....
in North Stonington. The Narragansett Trail
Narragansett Trail
The Narragansett Trail is a Connecticut hiking trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and the Narragansett Council, the Rhode Island chapter of the Boy Scouts of America....
leaves the State Forest at the Connecticut/Rhode Island boundary; it enters Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rhode Island and later ends at Ashville Pond in the village of Canonchet in Hopkinton
Hopkinton, Rhode Island
Hopkinton is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 8,188 at the 2010 census.The villages of Ashaway and Hope Valley are located in Hopkinton.-Geography:Hopkinton is found at 41.461 N latitude and 71.778 W longitude...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
The handicap (wheelchair) accessible Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail (which includes a planked wooden boardwalk section) in the Pachaug State Forest's Herman Haupt Chapman Management Area is spectacularly scenic when the Rhododendron are in bloom (June and July).
There are several dirt and gravel road trails that cross Pachaug State Forest; Trail 1, Trail 2, The main Drive, and Stonehill Road. In combination with dozens of unmarked side trails, this makes for easy mountain biking terrain that has become popular among locals.
Some trails and roads are marked as multi-use. One such is the Enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
off-road motorcycle trail which winds through Pachaug State Forest).
On non-multi-use hiking trails in the forest however there is clearly both unauthorized vehicular and unauthorized equestrian use.
The 58 mile Enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
trail in Pachaug State Forest is marked (on turns and intersections on trees) with white labels containing a red arrow pointing in the trail's direction. The route follows a mix of forest trails and public roads (therefore requiring both a valid current motorcycle registration and motorcycle driver's license rather than ATV registration).
See also
- List of Connecticut state forests
- Narragansett TrailNarragansett TrailThe Narragansett Trail is a Connecticut hiking trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and the Narragansett Council, the Rhode Island chapter of the Boy Scouts of America....
- Nehantic TrailNehantic TrailThe Nehantic Trail is a Connecticut hiking trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association....
- Quinebaug TrailQuinebaug TrailThe Quinebaug Trail is a Connecticut hiking trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association....
External links
- Connecticut DEP Pachaug State Forest
- Connecticut DEP Pachaug State Forest Chapman Area
- Connecticut DEP Pachaug State Forest Chapman Area Map
- Connecticut DEP Pachaug State Forest Green Falls Area
- Connecticut DEP Pachaug State Forest Green Falls Area Map
- Connecticut DEP Pachaug State Forest Seedling Letterbox Series Clues
- Pachaug Enduro Motorcycle Route Map
- Connecticut Explorer's Guide Online map of Pachaug State Forest.
- Connecticut Forest and Park Association
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails