First Thursday: Naugatuck East

There is no great way to hike a loop in Naugatuck State Forest East Block without doing more than 9 miles. You all know how I feel about posting 9 mile hikes.

We are going to car spot. The meeting point is where our hike will end. There is room for about 3-4 cars at the Whitemore trailhead where we'll start. We'll go up to Beacon Cap on the Naugatuck Trail which CFPA relocated in late 2024. Then we'll head west, dip down into Van Epps Preserve and then finally through pretty open forest until we descend back down to Cross Street. It's about 6 miles with a bunch of up and down.

I have a blue Kia Niro and will park in the lot with my hatch open. We'll try to start at 9:30am promptly so plan on being there by 9:15.
Not sure about bathroom facilities.

Plan on 3-4 hours depending on pace of group. Add some time if you're willing to help car spot. I don't run in the woods, but tend to average 30-40 minutes/mile. I do take breaks and we will stop for photos and snacks.
You will need to bring at least a liter of water, snacks, insect repellent and a pack to carry them. If it's sunny, bring sunscreen and additional water although it's pretty well forested. If it's rainy bring rain gear or ponchos, towels and dry clothes; we'll go rain or shine. Lightning or hurricane cancels. Hiking boots are a must for this hike. Jeans will chafe and ruin your day. Dogs and kids (10 and up) are welcome, but must be on a leash at all times :).
https://ctparks.com/media/559/download?inline

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