Appalachian Trail hike

While some dedicated hikers take on the Appalachian Trail and conquer it in a season, others will take only a brief taste of it. The section that cuts through the northwest corner of Connecticut offers some of the state’s most beautiful scenery and a variety of hiking experiences. Total mileage in Connecticut is 51.6 miles, with a difficulty rating of 4-5, which means strenuous ups and downs, although one section near Falls Village has been designed for wheelchair accessibility. Several sections of the trail are suitable for day hikers, including one beginning in Kent that follows the Housatonic River,  a 7.8-mile hike north to the village of Cornwall Bridge.  The section that ascends Bear Mountain in Salisbury is a challenge, cresting at 2,316 feet, one of the highest points in the state. The lowest elevation in the Connecticut section is 260 feet.

Sturdy boots are a must; the terrain can be rough. The Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club Trails Committee since 1979 has organized trail maintenance for the Connecticut section, built in 1930 through the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

Details

For more information on the Connecticut section, visit www.ct-amc.org/trails/index.shtm. For more information on the whole trail, go to www.apppalachiantrail.org, the Appalachian Trail Conference site.

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