Hockanum River Trail: Dart Hill North

Hockanum River Trail: Dart Hill North

Hockanum River Trail

15 acres in Vernon, CT

Parking:

• North End: Small lot before the gate near 100 Windsorville Rd, Vernon, CT
• South End: Small lot near 775 Dart Hill Rd, Vernon, CT

Trail Map            Trails: 1.4 miles        Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Starting from the south end at Dart Hill the Hockanum River Trail heads along a wide orange blazed dirt path that gradually climbs with occasional views of the river.

An offshoot trail blazed orange/blue soon appears on the right which is shown as Dart Hill Park North on the map above.  The trail is passable but uneventful and actually dropped me off at the back of Countrywood Apartments to walk behind apartments and across a parking lot to re-enter the woods.  It wasn’t worth it on my summer 2023 visit.

The main orange blazed trail climbs small hills and crosses a number of small bridges as it heads north.  It also passes an abandoned swimming pool and tennis courts lost in the woods next to yet more apartments. As a nice balance it soon opens to a wide view of the river underneath a group of old trees though the bench that once offered seating has broken with age.

The trail then comes out to the backside of Vernon Garden Apartments, briefly using the road behind their community pool before reentering the woods.  This stretch is narrow and windy along the curves of the river until climbing a set of wooden steps to the back of the Vernon Waste Water Treatment Plant.  The trail follows the fence line with a couple sturdily built viewing benches before rejoining the river, a boat launch, and the north end parking just off Rt 74

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History:

Links:

• CTMQ – Hockanum River Trail 20: Dart Hill North (2017)

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Last updated August 21st, 2023