Sugar Brook

Sugar Brook / Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area / Tillinghast Preserve

Sugar Brook Field Trial and Wildlife Management Area and Wyndham Land Trust

Estimated 400 acres in Plainfield, CT

Parking: Large dirt lot at the end of Sugar Brook Rd near 161 Black Hill Rd Plainfield, CT

DEEP Hunting Map      Trails: 5 miles       Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I was initially confused by Sugar Brook.  Google Maps lists it as a state park, but no DEEP information (other than the hunting map) mentions it.  However, after becoming a bit more familiar with how these work, Sugar Brook is one of Connecticut’s 105 Wildlife Management Areas and this Sugarbrook Field Trail Area is part of the larger Quinebaug River WMA.  Most follow the same pattern, no information online but generally a wealth of old paths and logging roads.

There are a number of fields to explore right off the parking lot that are maintained for Field Trial purposes.  Just beyond the fields are wood roads, caution should be taken in these areas for possible hunting. 

Heading back down the entrance dirt road a bit will reach the 4.7 mile blue-blazed loop trail.  The trail starts on Wyndham Land Trust property at the Tillinghast Preserve.  The preserve is only 30 acres so the trail soon enters Sugar Brook property looping around the fields, through pine forest, and heading north towards the Quinebaug River.

Though it is well blazed, for the most part, it can get confusing when crossing the more obvious woods roads.  The sections along the Quinebaug River are beautiful with a wide viewpoint at a bend in the river.  The route seems well traveled and somewhat maintained.  The second half passes through old stone walls and along a ridge around a beaver pond.  It is moderately difficult with a few steep climbs/descents and it could be muddy in the spring.

History:

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Last updated: December 9th, 2018