Pootatuck State Forest: Pine Hill
1,103 acres in New Fairfield, CT
Parking: Medium sized lot near 230 Pine Hill Rd, New Fairfield, CT
Trail Map Trails: 4.37 miles Rating: ★★★☆☆
Adjacent to Squantz Pond, these two properties can be combined for great hiking, high overlooks, rocky streams, views of the water, and sandy beaches
Hiking
I started my hike from the parking area at Pine Hill. I quickly jumped onto the orange blazed trail and old eroded forest road. This brings you down to the yellow trail. I was seeking out the overlook first so taking a right on the yellow led me to the blue. After a short climb up some wide rocks the wide overlook southeast over Squantz Pond and down to the state park’s beach opened ahead of me. It’s truly a fantastic view.
The trail descends steeply into a rocky ravine and the trail map notes a second overlook. This one is likely at it’s best in winter and didn’t provide much a view in full spring leaf out. Another steep descent brings you down to the unblazed forest road which is a longer but easier hike from the same parking area.
I headed further downhill to catch the white blazed trail into Squantz Pond property to seek out Council Rock and it was well worth the effort.
I returned on the yellow trail through the state forest. It was a long reasonably steep climb all the way back to the parking area without too much new and notable to see along the way.
History:
Purchased by the state in 1926.
The purchase of this forest is in large part thanks to Elliot Bronson of Winstead, a retired lumberman and longtime fire warden of Winchester, who went on to become Field Agent of Commission on Forests and Wildlife. Thanks to his experience buying woodland he was able to compete successfully against the Connecticut Light and Power Co. to purchase “nearly a 1000 acres here within his limit of $10 an acre in competition with such a wealthy company”.
Links:
- CTMQ – Pootatuck State Forest Intro (2016)
- Austin Hawes – History of Forestry in Connecticut (1957)
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Last updated May 26, 2024
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