Narragansett Trail
Narragansett Trail "white oval" sign at junction of Connecticut State Route 2 and Ryder Road.
Length16 miles (26 km)[1]
LocationConnecticut
DesignationCFPA Blue-Blazed Trail
UseHiking, running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Highest pointLantern Hill
41°27′39″N 71°56′39″W / 41.4608°N 71.9441°W / 41.4608; -71.9441, 490 ft (150 m)
Lowest pointLantern Hill Pond, 115 ft (35 m)
SightsLantern Hill, High Ledge, Wyassup Lake, Green Falls Pond, CT/RI Border Marker
HazardsHunters, deer ticks, poison ivy, insects, snakes, black bears

The Narragansett Trail is a 16-mile (26 km) hiking trail located in Connecticut. It is one of the Blue-Blazed Trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, the Narragansett Council, and The Rhode Island chapter of Scouts BSA.


The trail passes through the towns of Ledyard, Voluntown, and North Stonington in eastern Connecticut and runs along the Connecticut/Rhode Island border. 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 Scouts BSA Narragansett Council Camp Yawgoog reservation property.

For 15.5 miles, the Narragansett Trail follows a primarily southwest-to-northeast trail. However, at the easternmost end, the trail becomes a north-to-south trail section that strictly follows the Connecticut/Rhode Island border south for 0.5 miles. Notable features include the summits of Lantern Hill and High Ledge. The trail also goes near, but does not summit, Cossaduck Hill and Pendleton Hill.[2]

Trail description

The Narragansett Trail is a Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail 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 snowshoeing in the winter. The trail has the highest uphill grade when it crosses a 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. Trail sections in low-lying areas close to Hell Hollow Pond and Lockes Meadow Pond are the most frequently flooded.

The trail connects to two other Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails via the Green Falls Pond Loop connector trail: the Nehantic Trail and Pachaug Trail in Connecticut's Pachaug State Forest. The Green Falls Pond Loop trail and Narragansett Trail overlap around the southern and eastern shores of Green Falls Pond.

The Narragansett Trail connects to several other trails outside the "Blue-Blazed" system, including sections of the Lantern Hill trail in the west and several unnamed trails along its route. The Tippecansett Trail connects to the Narragansett Trail at the Connecticut/Rhode Island state border.

Trail route

Narragansett Trail blazes with Lantern Hill and Loop Trail signs.

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 Hill 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. 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 at the 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 boat launch. From the Lake Wyassup boat launch, 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 southeast 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 housing a cave. After a half mile, the trail's Connecticut section ends at a small parking lot and state line marker where Green Fall Road becomes Yawgoog Road in Rhode Island.

There is a 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 through the Rockville Wildlife Management Area before ending at Ashville Pond in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The Narragansett Trail used to continue to Rhode Island Route 138 in Kingston, Rhode Island.

Trail communities

The Narragansett Trail passes through land located within the following Connecticut municipalities, from west to east: Ledyard, Voluntown,

and North Stonington

Landscape, geology, and natural environment

The landscape in the area is generally low-lying and flat with some rolling hills. The most prominent features are Lantern Hill and the High Ledge plateau and rocks (containing some small caves).

In terms of animal wildlife numerous vultures and ravens 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-flies in season.

History and folklore

Narragansett Trail Eastern Terminus - Connecticut - Rhode Island State Line Marker on Green Fall Road.

The Blue-Blazed Narragansett Trail was created by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association as part of the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail system. The eastern end of the longer Pequot Trail blazed in the 1930s connected to the western end of the Narragansett Trail at the Lantern Hill section of the Mashantucket Pequot reservation. The original "connection" of these two trails can be seen in the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's 1940 Connecticut Walk Book map of major trails.[3] The missing "gap" sections are on Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation property and are trails used for centuries by the Pequot tribe.[4] 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 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 footpaths. Trails added since often follow this convention, so many of the trails have Native American names.

The Narragansett is a tribe of Algonquian-speaking people who live in the area which is now western Rhode Island including the coast and islands in Narragansett Bay. Members of the recognized tribe continue to live in areas of eastern Connecticut near the current border with Rhode Island.

The word "Narragansett" means, "People of the Small Point."[5] See Narragansett name and language.

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 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

Narragansett Trail's south-west trailhead at Wintechog Road.

The mainline trail is directed with blue rectangles. Trail descriptions are available from several commercial and non-commercial sources, and a complete guidebook is published by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. 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.[6] Lightning is a hazard on exposed summits and ledges during thunderstorms. Snow and ice formations along exposed ledges and summits are common in the winter and may necessitate the use of snowshoes and special equipment.

The landscape is low-lying and trails cross wetland areas. Extensive rain and snow melt can lead to wet and muddy conditions, and in this case, fairly high waterproof boots are recommended.

Currently, hiking through the property owned by Groton Rod and Gun Club is prohibited. The trail that runs between Route 49 and Tom Wheeler Rd, (Groton Rod and Gun property) can be avoided by walking Pendleton Hill Road to Sand Hill Road to Tom Wheeler Road and rejoining the trail on Tom Wheeler Road.

Biting insects such as parasitic deer ticks (which are known to carry Lyme disease) are a potential hazard as well as encounters with small wildlife. Knowing the signs of erratic behavior or other disease symptoms and taking 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 the 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 that 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 off-road motorcycle trail which winds through Pachaug State Forest); but in other sections, there is 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. This combination requires 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.[7]

See also

Bibliography

Heermance, Edgar L. (1935). The Connecticut Guide: What to See and Where to Find It. Hartford: Emergency Relief Commission. pp. 246–247. OCLC 719786.

Haynes, Williams; Boylan, James (1976). Stonington Historical Society (ed.). Stonington Chronology 1649-1976: Being a year-by-year record of the American way of life in a Connecticut town (2nd ed.). Chester Connecticut: Pequot Press. p. 74. ISBN 0-87106-059-0. OCLC 2523265.

Philips, David E. (1992). Legendary Connecticut: Traditional Tales from the Nutmeg State (2nd ed.). Willimantic: Curbstone. pp. 122. ISBN 1-880684-05-5. OCLC 26218340.

Pritzker, Barry M. (2000). A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.

References

  1. ↑ Colson, Ann T. (2006). Connecticut Walk Book West (19th ed.). Connecticut Forest and Park Association. ISBN 0-9619052-6-3.
  2. ↑ Connecticut Walk Book: A Trail Guide to the Connecticut Outdoors. 17th Edition. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Rockfall, Connecticut. Undated.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation". www.mptn-nsn.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  5. ↑ Pritzker, 442
  6. ↑ NOAA
  7. ↑ Connecticut State Forests - Seedling Letterbox Series Clues for Pachaug State Forest

Further reading

Books – Connecticut hiking []

Books – Connecticut history and geography []

Trail Maps:

Specific to this trail:

Nearby areas and the Pachaug State Forest:

Connecticut hikes and related information:

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