Mattabesett Trail: East Terminus
508 acres in Middletown, CT
Parking:
- East end: Small pull off near 1501 River Rd, Middletown, CT
- West end: Small pull off near 705 Brooks Rd, Middletown, CT
Trail Map Trails: 4.8 miles Rating: ★★☆☆☆
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This eastern most section of the blue blaze Mattabesett Trail is also the part of the New England Trail. It features hilly terrain, rutted ATV trails, but also a rock pile ‘cave’ and reservoir overlook views.
Hiking
From the parking area on River Road, across from the NRG Energy Plant, the trail heads off into the woods quickly crossing a small unnamed stream. The trail parallels the road for a good stretch before cutting east crossing occasional rutted ATV paths.
The trail climbs to a utility corridor and follows its opposite edge for a good stretch including a very steep descent. In snowy and muddy conditions this descent is not for the faint of heart. There are some interesting rock formations in this stretch and a distant view of the Connecticut River over the trees. After a couple more stream crossings and a couple more old woods roads you pass and old well and a homestead foundation. These possibly date back to the Maromas section of Middletown (since they’re roughly the right area) but I don’t have any real evidence to back that up.
This first 1.5 miles or so did have a couple areas where blazing was a bit spotty causing a retrack or two particularly along the utility corridor and with crossing old woods roads. After 1.5 miles I finally felt like I was on ‘real’ trail working through rocky forest.
Just over 3 miles into the hike is the rock pile cave and just a bit past that is the Asylum Reservoir overlook. The trail crosses over the reservoir road and provides a loop option around the second reservoir.
Next section: Mattabesett: Bear Hill & Kätchen Coley Mountain Laurel Preserve
History:
These parcels of the Cockaponset State Forest were purchased in 1945. The Middlesex Land Trust also purchased two parcels near the first reservoir in 2019.
Links:
- Peter Marteka – In Search Of A Ghostly Village And Discovering A Lost Quarry Instead (2013)
- CTMQ – Mattabesett Trail: Section 9 (2008)
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Last updated: February 26th, 2024
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