Narragansett Trail
Encyclopedia
The Narragansett Trail is a 16 miles (25.7 km) 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.
The trail is located in the towns of Ledyard
, Voluntown
and North Stonington
in eastern Connecticut as well the Connecticut
/Rhode Island
border and it traverses the Lantern Hill
section of the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, the Groton Sportsman Club, the Nature Conservancy's Gladys Foster Preserve , the Pachaug State Forest
Green Falls Pond area and the Rhode Island Boy Scouts Narragansett Council Camp Yawgoog reservation property.
For fifteen and one half miles the is primarily a southwest-to-northeast trail. At the easternmost end the trail becomes a north-to-south trail section which strictly follows the Connecticut/Rhode Island border south for one half mile.
Notable features include the summits of Lantern Hill
and High Ledge. The trail goes near, but does not summit Cossaduck Hill and Pendleton Hill.
and extends from Wintechog Road near the intersection with Connecticut Route 2 in Ledyard, Connecticut
to Green Fall Road in North Stonington at the Connecticut
/ Rhode Island
state line. Much of the Narragansett Trail is on state land within the Pachaug State Forest
. The Narragansett Trail connects to public recreation areas maintained by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
at Green Falls Pond and Wyassup Lake in Pachaug State Forest
.
Much of the Narragansett Trail is flat or has gradual ascents and descents and is suitable for casual walking or hiking
, running
- or snowshoe
ing in the winter. The steepest section is where the trail traverses the closed section of Flat Rock Road. The Narragansett Trail crosses streams and wetland areas that are subject to flooding in periods of significant rain and snow melt. In particular the trail sections close to Hell Hollow Pond and Lockes Meadow Pond are low lying areas which are often under water.
The trail connects to two other Blue-Blazed trails in Connecticut's Pachaug State Forest: in the Green Falls Pond area via the Green Falls Pond Loop connector trail -- the Nehantic Trail
and Pachaug Trail. The Green Falls Pond Loop trail and Narragansett Trail overlap for a section of the southern and eastern shores of Green Falls Pond.
The Narragansett Trail also connects to several non-Blue-Blazed Trails.
Near its western end it connects to and overlaps with sections of the Lantern Hill
trail and loop trail as well as several unmarked trails.
The Tippecansett Trail and a Rhode Island extension of the Narragansett Trail connect to the Narragansett Trail at the Connecticut
/ Rhode Island
state border.
trail and Lantern Hill
Loop trail. After climbing to the Lantern Hill
summit the trail descends to the west and heads north-west. It passes through the North Stonington Dog Pound and waste transfer station property before crossing Wintechog Road. The trail continues north through woods and eventually passes through two open fields (meadows). After the Gallup Pond dam bridge the trail crosses Connecticut Route 2. There is a short road walk to and down Ryder Road to the trail entrance to Nature Conservancy's Gladys Foster parcel. The trail continues to Yawbux Brook and an unnamed beaver pond before entering Pachaug State Forest
. The trail then joins Wyassup Lake Road at the Lake Wyassup beach area and boat launch. From the Lake Wyassup beach area the trail climbs to the High Ledge plateau and then to the Legend Woods / Pendleton Hill area before crossing Connecticut Route 49
.
Next the trail travels north-east through the private hunting preserve (and fishing pond) of the Groton Sportsmen Club (this Narragansett Trail section is closed from October to March according to posted signs), re-enters the Pachaug State Forest
at Tom Wheeler Road and follows the Green Fall River (and ravine) north to Green Fall Pond. The trail follows the south-east shore of the pond before leaving the shore of the pond to head east to the Rhode Island border. At the border the trail turns ninety degrees to head south over a rock ridge over a cave. After a half mile the trail's Connecticut section ends at a very small parking lot and state line marker where Green Fall Road becomes Yawgoog Road in Rhode Island.
There is a short (four mile) extension of the trail into Rhode Island which is blazed yellow. This Narragansett Trail extension passes by the Long and Ell Ponds and passes through the Rockville Wildlife Management Area before ending at the former swimming area on Ashville Pond in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The Narraganset Trail used to continue to Rhode Island Route 138 in Kingston, Rhode Island.
For more information on the Rhode Island Narragansett Trail yellow-blazed extension read The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Seven Pond Path - Part I
, Voluntown
and North Stonington
and the High Ledge plateau and rocks (containing some small caves).
In terms of animal wildlife numerous hawks can be spotted flying around the summit of Lantern Hill and black bear sightings have been reported in the Pachaug State Forest
area near the state border.
The Pachaug State Forest
Green Falls Pond area features large extents of undeveloped land, consisting of mature growths of hardwood and evergreens, along with swampy areas having extensive coverage by Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron and other shrubs and smaller trees.
The Narragansett Council (Rhode Island Boy Scouts of America chapter) property at the eastern end of the trail is similar to the Pachaug State Forest
terrain. In addition, the several swampy areas breed many biting insects including large horse-flys in season.
as part of the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail system.
The eastern end of the original longer Pequot Trail blazed in the 1930s connected to the western end of the Narragansett Trail at the Lantern Hill
section of the Mashantucket Peqout reservation.
The original "connected" Pequot and Narragansett Trails can be seen in the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's 1940 Connecticut Walk Book map of major trails.
The missing "gap" sections are on Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation property and are trails used for centuries by the Pequot tribe.
Plans are underway to lengthen the Pequot Trail and return the south-eastern terminus to its original location with the Narragansett Trail on Lantern Hill
in North Stonington via the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation property near their highly regarded museum and research center.
The Narragansett
were a tribe of Algonquian
speaking people who occupied the area which is now western Rhode Island including the coast and islands in Narragansett Bay
during the early colonial period. They periodically occupied areas of eastern Connecticut near the current border with Rhode Island.
The word "Narragansett" means, literally, "People of the Small Point."
For more information see the Narragansett name and language section of the Wikipedia article on the Narragansett Tribe.
Pachaug State Forest
was the first state forest in Connecticut and grew quickly in acreage primarily because many of the farmers and landholders in the area realized that their soil was poor for farming and sold their land to the state in the 1920s and 1930s.
. More information can be found on the CFPA website (http://ctwoodlands.org/blue-blazed-hiking-trails) including updates on trail conditions and closure or restrictions. Contact information is also available on the site for trail users to report adverse trail conditions or submit other feedback or questions.
Weather along the route is typical of Connecticut
. Conditions on exposed ridge tops and summits may be harsher during cold or stormy weather. Lightning
is a hazard on exposed summits and ledges during thunderstorms. Snow is common in the winter and may necessitate the use of snowshoes. Ice can form on exposed ledges and summits, making hiking dangerous without special equipment.
Landscape is low-lying and trails cross wetland areas. Extensive rain and snow melt will lead to wet and muddy conditions, and in this case fairly high waterproof boots are recommended.
Biting insects can be bothersome during warm weather. Parasitic deer tick
s (which are known to carry Lyme disease
) are a potential hazard. Encounter with small wildlife is always possible and hikers should be alert to signs of erratic behavior or other disease symptoms and take evasive action if warranted.
Seasonal hunting is permitted on state forest land, so wearing bright orange clothing during the hunting season (Fall through December) is advised.
State regulations govern use of state forest land. The land, plants and animals should generally be left undisturbed, especially endangered and protected species. For guidelines on how to act during a black bear encounter please view the American Bear Association hiking and camping awareness page.
There is also evidence of use by all terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes and horses. Some sections of the Narragansett trail are explicitly multi-use (paved roads, dirt/gravel forest roads, jeep trails and the Enduro
off-road motorcycle trail which winds through Pachaug State Forest
), but in other sections there is clearly unauthorized vehicular and 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).
Specific to this trail:
Nearby areas and the Pachaug State Forest:
Connecticut hikes and related information:
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...
hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trail and is one of the Blue-Blazed hiking trails
Blue-Blazed Trails
The Blue-Blazed trail system, managed by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and the related trail systems documented in the two volume 19th Edition of the "Connecticut Walk Book" comprise over 800 miles of hiking trails in Connecticut.There are now over 825 miles of CFPA Blue-Blazed...
maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association
Connecticut 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...
and the Narragansett Council, the Rhode Island chapter of the Boy Scouts of America.
The trail is located in the towns of Ledyard
Ledyard, Connecticut
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile . There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile...
, 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:...
and 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:...
in eastern Connecticut as well 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...
/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 and it traverses the 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 ....
section of the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, the Groton Sportsman Club, the Nature Conservancy's Gladys Foster Preserve , the Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
Green Falls Pond area and the Rhode Island Boy Scouts Narragansett Council Camp Yawgoog reservation property.
For fifteen and one half miles the is primarily a southwest-to-northeast trail. At the easternmost end the trail becomes a north-to-south trail section which strictly follows the Connecticut/Rhode Island border south for one half mile.
Notable features include the summits of 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 ....
and High Ledge. The trail goes near, but does not summit Cossaduck Hill and Pendleton Hill.
Trail description
The Narragansett Trail is a Blue-Blazed hiking trailBlue-Blazed Trails
The Blue-Blazed trail system, managed by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and the related trail systems documented in the two volume 19th Edition of the "Connecticut Walk Book" comprise over 800 miles of hiking trails in Connecticut.There are now over 825 miles of CFPA Blue-Blazed...
and extends from Wintechog Road near the intersection with Connecticut Route 2 in Ledyard, Connecticut
Ledyard, Connecticut
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile . There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile...
to Green Fall Road in North Stonington at 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...
/ 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...
state line. Much of the Narragansett Trail is on state land within the Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
. The Narragansett Trail connects to public recreation areas maintained by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is a state agency of Connecticut. The department oversees the natural resources and environment of the state, as well as regulating public utilities and energy policy...
at Green Falls Pond and Wyassup Lake in Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
.
Much of the Narragansett Trail is flat or has gradual ascents and descents and is suitable for casual walking or hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
- or snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing in the winter. The steepest section is where the trail traverses the closed section of Flat Rock Road. The Narragansett Trail crosses streams and wetland areas that are subject to flooding in periods of significant rain and snow melt. In particular the trail sections close to Hell Hollow Pond and Lockes Meadow Pond are low lying areas which are often under water.
The trail connects to two other Blue-Blazed trails in Connecticut's Pachaug State Forest: in the Green Falls Pond area via the Green Falls Pond Loop connector trail -- 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....
and Pachaug Trail. The Green Falls Pond Loop trail and Narragansett Trail overlap for a section of the southern and eastern shores of Green Falls Pond.
The Narragansett Trail also connects to several non-Blue-Blazed Trails.
Near its western end it connects to and overlaps with sections of the 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 ....
trail and loop trail as well as several unmarked trails.
The Tippecansett Trail and a Rhode Island extension of the Narragansett Trail connect to the Narragansett Trail at 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...
/ 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...
state border.
Trail route
The western end of the Narragansett Trail starts on Wintechog Road in North Stonington Connecticut, to the southeast of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe's Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard Connecticut. The trail climbs southward, connecting with the Lantern HillLantern 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 ....
trail and 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 ....
Loop trail. After climbing to the 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 ....
summit the trail descends to the west and heads north-west. It passes through the North Stonington Dog Pound and waste transfer station property before crossing Wintechog Road. The trail continues north through woods and eventually passes through two open fields (meadows). After the Gallup Pond dam bridge the trail crosses Connecticut Route 2. There is a short road walk to and down Ryder Road to the trail entrance to Nature Conservancy's Gladys Foster parcel. The trail continues to Yawbux Brook and an unnamed beaver pond before entering Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
. The trail then joins Wyassup Lake Road at the Lake Wyassup beach area and boat launch. From the Lake Wyassup beach area the trail climbs to the High Ledge plateau and then to the Legend Woods / Pendleton Hill area before crossing Connecticut Route 49
Connecticut Route 49
Route 49 is a Connecticut state highway from Route 2 in Stonington to Route 14A in Sterling, in the southeast part of the state. It is a scenic route that runs through the Pachaug State Forest.-Route description:...
.
Next the trail travels north-east through the private hunting preserve (and fishing pond) of the Groton Sportsmen Club (this Narragansett Trail section is closed from October to March according to posted signs), re-enters the Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
at Tom Wheeler Road and follows the Green Fall River (and ravine) north to Green Fall Pond. The trail follows the south-east shore of the pond before leaving the shore of the pond to head east to the Rhode Island border. At the border the trail turns ninety degrees to head south over a rock ridge over a cave. After a half mile the trail's Connecticut section ends at a very small parking lot and state line marker where Green Fall Road becomes Yawgoog Road in Rhode Island.
There is a short (four mile) extension of the trail into Rhode Island which is blazed yellow. This Narragansett Trail extension passes by the Long and Ell Ponds and passes through the Rockville Wildlife Management Area before ending at the former swimming area on Ashville Pond in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The Narraganset Trail used to continue to Rhode Island Route 138 in Kingston, Rhode Island.
For more information on the Rhode Island Narragansett Trail yellow-blazed extension read The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Seven Pond Path - Part I
Trail communities
The Narragansett Trail passes through land located within the following Connecticut municipalities, from west to east: LedyardLedyard, Connecticut
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile . There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile...
, 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:...
and 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:...
Landscape, geology, and natural environment
Landscape in the area is generally low-lying and flat with some rolling hills. The most prominent features are Lantern HillLantern 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 ....
and the High Ledge plateau and rocks (containing some small caves).
In terms of animal wildlife numerous hawks can be spotted flying around the summit of Lantern Hill and black bear sightings have been reported in the Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
area near the state border.
The Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
Green Falls Pond area features large extents of undeveloped land, consisting of mature growths of hardwood and evergreens, along with swampy areas having extensive coverage by Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron and other shrubs and smaller trees.
The Narragansett Council (Rhode Island Boy Scouts of America chapter) property at the eastern end of the trail is similar to the Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
terrain. In addition, the several swampy areas breed many biting insects including large horse-flys in season.
History and folklore
The Blue-Blazed Narragansett Trail was created 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...
as part of the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail system.
The eastern end of the original longer Pequot Trail blazed in the 1930s connected to the western end of the Narragansett Trail at the 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 ....
section of the Mashantucket Peqout reservation.
The original "connected" Pequot and Narragansett Trails can be seen in the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's 1940 Connecticut Walk Book map of major trails.
The missing "gap" sections are on Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation property and are trails used for centuries by the Pequot tribe.
Plans are underway to lengthen the Pequot Trail and return the south-eastern terminus to its original location with the Narragansett Trail on 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 via the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation property near their highly regarded museum and research center.
Origin and name
The original Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails were named after Native American people and place names, in recognition that many of the trails followed historic foot paths. Trails added since often follow this convention, so many of the BBHT's have Native American names.The Narragansett
Narragansett
Narragansett may refer to:*Narragansett , a Pennsylvania Railroad train*Narragansett , an Amtrak train*Narragansett **Narragansett land claim*Narragansett, Rhode Island, a town*Narragansett Bay*Narragansett...
were a tribe of Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
speaking people who occupied the area which is now western Rhode Island including the coast and islands in Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
during the early colonial period. They periodically occupied areas of eastern Connecticut near the current border with Rhode Island.
The word "Narragansett" means, literally, "People of the Small Point."
For more information see the Narragansett name and language section of the Wikipedia article on the Narragansett Tribe.
Historic sites
The foundations for stone cellars that can be found along the route indicate that much of the landscape was used for settlements and farms up until the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, after which much of the land was allowed to return to forests. In particular stone foundations and extensive stone walls can be found off of the trail east of High Ledge in the Legend Woods area.Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
was the first state forest in Connecticut and grew quickly in acreage primarily because many of the farmers and landholders in the area realized that their soil was poor for farming and sold their land to the state in the 1920s and 1930s.
Folklore
The town name of Voluntown is attributed to the fact that it was settled by Volunteers of the Narragansett War in 1700 who received land grants to settle there. The land was remote and difficult to farm and many of the original settlements were subsequently abandoned, so stone walls and foundations can be found throughout the forest today.Hiking the trail
The mainline trail is blazed with blue rectangles. Trail descriptions are available from a number of commercial and non-commercial sources, and a complete guidebook is published 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...
. More information can be found on the CFPA website (http://ctwoodlands.org/blue-blazed-hiking-trails) including updates on trail conditions and closure or restrictions. Contact information is also available on the site for trail users to report adverse trail conditions or submit other feedback or questions.
Weather along the route is typical of 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...
. Conditions on exposed ridge tops and summits may be harsher during cold or stormy weather. Lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
is a hazard on exposed summits and ledges during thunderstorms. Snow is common in the winter and may necessitate the use of snowshoes. Ice can form on exposed ledges and summits, making hiking dangerous without special equipment.
Landscape is low-lying and trails cross wetland areas. Extensive rain and snow melt will lead to wet and muddy conditions, and in this case fairly high waterproof boots are recommended.
Biting insects can be bothersome during warm weather. Parasitic deer tick
Deer Tick
Deer Tick is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island led by guitarist and singer-songwriter John McCauley. Deer Tick's music has been described as a combination of folk, blues, and country.-History:...
s (which are known to carry Lyme disease
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most...
) are a potential hazard. Encounter with small wildlife is always possible and hikers should be alert to signs of erratic behavior or other disease symptoms and take evasive action if warranted.
Seasonal hunting is permitted on state forest land, so wearing bright orange clothing during the hunting season (Fall through December) is advised.
State regulations govern use of state forest land. The land, plants and animals should generally be left undisturbed, especially endangered and protected species. For guidelines on how to act during a black bear encounter please view the American Bear Association hiking and camping awareness page.
Conservation and maintenance of the trail corridor
Much of the trail is flooded or muddy. There are sections filled with stones and other evidence of erosion which has occurred when the trail has turned into a temporary stream.There is also evidence of use by all terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes and horses. Some sections of the Narragansett trail are explicitly multi-use (paved roads, dirt/gravel forest roads, jeep trails and 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
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
), but in other sections there is clearly unauthorized vehicular and 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
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
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).
Recognition / Inspiration Programs
There is a State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection letterbox hidden close to the trail on the High Ledge plateau.Image gallery
See also
- Blue-Blazed TrailsBlue-Blazed TrailsThe Blue-Blazed trail system, managed by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and the related trail systems documented in the two volume 19th Edition of the "Connecticut Walk Book" comprise over 800 miles of hiking trails in Connecticut.There are now over 825 miles of CFPA Blue-Blazed...
- Foxwoods
- Pequot Trail
- 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....
- Pachaug Trail
- Pachaug State ForestPachaug State ForestPachaug State Forest is the largest forest in the Connecticut state forest system, encompassing over 27,000 acres 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...
- Lantern HillLantern HillLantern 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 ....
- Mashantucket Pequot TribeMashantucket Pequot TribeThe Mashantucket Pequot are a small Native American tribal nation of the Algonquian language community in the state of Connecticut. Within the tribe's Reservation, in Ledyard, New London County, Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequot operate Foxwoods Resort Casino, the world's largest resort...
- Narragansett (tribe)Narragansett (tribe)The Narragansett tribe are an Algonquian Native American tribe from Rhode Island. In 1983 they regained federal recognition as the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island. In 2009, the United States Supreme Court ruled against their request that the Department of Interior take land into trust...
External links
Trail Maps:- CT DEP - Green Falls Area Map
- CT DEP - Pachaug State Forest Enduro Motorcycle Trail Topo Map
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Green Fall Pond Area Topo Map
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Lantern Hill Area Topo Map
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Wyassup Lake Area Topo Map
Specific to this trail:
- "Hiking a regular pastime at Narragansett Trail", MetroWest Daily News, Sept. 6, 2007
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Narragansett Trail and Lantern Hill
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Connecticut Countryside - Part I
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Connecticut Countryside - Part II
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Green Fall Pond Area - Part I
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails - Green Fall Pond Area - Part II
- Geocaching on the Narragansett Trail - Geocaching.com
- CT DEP - Letterbox Clues for Pachaug State Forest
- CT DEP - Wyassup Lake Boat Launch, North Stonington
Nearby areas and the Pachaug State Forest:
- Narragansett Council BSA - Boy Scouts of America Rhode Island Chapter
- Groton Sportsmen Club
- Mashantucket Pequot TribeMashantucket Pequot TribeThe Mashantucket Pequot are a small Native American tribal nation of the Algonquian language community in the state of Connecticut. Within the tribe's Reservation, in Ledyard, New London County, Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequot operate Foxwoods Resort Casino, the world's largest resort...
- Pequot Tribe History - First Nations Issues of Consequence
- Narragansett Tribe History - First Nations Issues of Consequence
- CT DEP-Pachaug State Forest
- CT DEP-Green Falls Area
- North Stonington Historical Society
- The Story of the Yawgoog Trails
Connecticut hikes and related information: