| American Legion State Forest Trails | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3.18 miles (5.12 km) [1] |
| Location | Barkhamsted, Connecticut, USA |
| Designation | CFPA Blue-Blazed Trail |
| Use | hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, geocaching, other |
| Hazards | hunters, deer ticks, poison ivy |
The American Legion State Forest Trails are a 3.18-mile (5.12 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail "system" in the Pleasant Valley section of Barkhamsted, Connecticut and are entirely in the American Legion State Forest.
The American Legion State Forest Trails consist of two official "Blue-Blazed" hiking trails ("non-dot"):
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The American Legion State Forest Trails are primarily used for hiking, backpacking, picnicking, and in the winter, snowshoeing.
Portions of the trails are suitable for, and are used for, cross-country skiing and geocaching. Site-specific activities enjoyed along the route include bird watching, hunting (very limited), fishing, horseback riding, bouldering and rock climbing (limited).
The official Blue-Blazed American Legion State Forest Trails pass through land completely located within Barkhamsted in the Paradise Valley area near the Riverton area.
The Blue-Blazed American Legion State Forest Trails were created by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.
The two trails are 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 Association
The trails are regularly maintained, and are considered easy hiking, with very few sections of rugged and moderately difficult hiking.
Much of the trail is close to public roads. There are camping facilities in American Legion State Forest but camping is controlled and must be arranged.
Weather along the route is typical of Connecticut. Conditions on exposed ridge tops and summits may be harsher during cold or stormy weather.[2] 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.
Biting insects can be bothersome during warm weather. Parasitic deer ticks (which are known to carry Lyme disease) are a potential hazard.
The trail is adjacent to, or is on lands where hunting and the use of firearms are permitted. Wearing bright orange clothing during the hunting season (Fall through December) is recommended.
This trail system is a part of the 'Connecticut 400', one of the official Blue-Blazed (or similar) trails listed in the Connecticut Walk Book by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) and recognized, since 1976, with an award known as the Connecticut 400 Club by the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). In 1976 there were only four hundred miles of Blue-Blazed trail but today (2010) the total length of the trails listed in the CFPA Connecticut Walk Books (East and West) exceeds 825 miles.[3][4][5]
The State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) Forestry Division provides two awards for locating and visiting "letterboxes" (similar to geocaches) in Connecticut's State Forests. The commemorative 'State Forest Centennial Patch' is available to those who complete five sponsored "letterbox" hikes (in each separate state forest you must hike the described route, find the "letterbox/cache" and record your visit in the "letterbox" book). The State Forest Centennial campaign dates to 2003 (the centennial of the first official state forest in Connecticut). A walking stick is available for those who complete the letterbox hike of all thirty-two (32) of the state forests. Many of the "Blue-Blazed" hiking trails in Connecticut travel through or near one or more of the State Forests, often very close to the sponsored (DEP) letterbox.[6]
Specific to this trail:
Government links:
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