Campground Review: Blackrock State Park – Thomaston, CT

Circumstances had it that my family was not able to solidify our Labor Day weekend plans until later in the summer. Therefore, we decided to keep things simple by staying close to home. Despite the false alarms associated with hurricane Earl, we left on Friday afternoon for Blackrock State Park in Thomaston. In past Labor Day weekends we had traveled some distances. This year we were happy to stay close, and satisfied with our selection of Blackrock State Park.


Blackrock features camping, picnicking, large fields, paved areas, fishing, swimming, and hiking. There were a variety of campsites, from open and grassy to forested and shady. All campsites were quite large. They come equipped with fire rings. There are no hookups, but water, bathrooms, showers, dishwashing sinks, and dumpsters are all near.
The ranger office sells bundles of wood, and provides trail maps. Several gas stations and convenience stores are available just a couple miles down the road from the park entrance. There are also restaurants, diners, a pharmacy, a hardware store and other services all within 5 minutes of the park.
The bathrooms are adequate and standard for state campgrounds. Nothing spectacular, but they get are generally clean. The showers have free hot water, so no need to stockpile quarters.
My 5 year-old son enjoyed riding his bike on the campground roads. We were also able to pull a small fish out of the pond.

The highlight of Blackrock for us was the hiking trails. A blue blazed trail leads from the beach area of the campground up to the rock cliff overlooking the park. This is a relatively short, but steep hike. Once to the top, you are treated with views of the valley, campground, and town.
The second hike we took is a little less known. It is actually not in the park proper. We hiked to a rock area known as the Leatherman’s Cave across the street from the park in the Mattatuck State Forest. Directions to the cave are available from the ranger office. The Leatherman’s cave is not really a cave. It’s more accurately a large rock formation about a mile or two from the road. The start of the trail is about .4 miles from the park entrance. There is a small parking area on the side of the road next to a blue sign marking the Mattatuck Trail. The start of the trail leading to the Leatherman’s Cave is on the opposite side of the road from the blue sign. The trail is blue blazed, hence easy to follow. It winds through some tight laurel and leads you to a huge rock overlook. The rocks under this overlook form the Leatherman’s Cave. The trail to the overlook on top of the rocks is blazed, but the trail to the actual cave underneath is not blazed. One must go down to the bottom of the huge rock to find the cave. The Leatherman was a local hobo circa 1862. The story goes that the Leatherman traveled around eastern New York state and western Connecticut in a 365 mile loop. He made the loop in 34 days, stopping in the same spots at the same time year after year. He was dubbed the Leatherman due to a strange patchwork leather suit he wore year round. The Leatherman has left several caves throughout the towns on his path. The cave in Watertown/Thomaston is the most well known.
We made both of these hikes in the same day. Our 5 year old had no problems making the hikes, although be aware that there are some steep sections with cliffs that require very careful supervision.

Some Tips:
· Even though it was late in the season, we were able to scavenge a fair amount of downed firewood from the adjacent woods.
· Check with the rangers before choosing your site. There are many different types of sites available, but it’s not obvious from looking just at the camp map. Blackrock has a type of site to suit nearly every preference.

Some Negatives:
· Although swimming is allowed at the park, Canada geese have come close to ruining the swimming. The pond is always on the borderline for swimming with respect to bacteria levels. It’s checked often by the state. We did not swim in the pond, but there were people swimming.
· Kayaking or canoeing is not allowed in the pond. We found this out the hard way. After we launched our boats, and got nearly to the end of the pond, a lifeguard decided to start whistling us in. Although kayaking is technically not allowed, I suspect the pond will be unsupervised for the remainder of the year. There is a lake nearby (Blackrock Lake) that allows non-motorized boats.
· The lights at the ranger station stay on all night. Due to the unfortunate set up of our campsite, one of the lights was shining right into our sleep area. We were able to shut our camper window and block the light. The campground has seemingly already taken steps to alleviate this situation. They have planted several spruces on the hill next to the ranger office. Once these trees grow, they will certainly block this light. Until then, it’s a small inconvenience.

Blackrock was a good facility, and we will be very likely to return.

Devil’s Hopyard State Park – East Haddam, CT

A Shared Landscape A Guide & History of Connecticut's State Parks & Forests


The primary attraction of Devil’s Hopyard State Park is Chapman Falls, which falls over 60 feet along a rocky trail. Chapman Falls is just off the road near the south entrance of Devil’s Hopyard State Park.

In addition to the falls, Devil’s Hopyard State Park features fishing holes, picnicking, camping, and several hiking trails. My family and I took the orange trail, which starts just after the covered bridge in the picnic area. The trail makes an approximately 2 mile loop with a scenic overlook at the halfway point. The overlook gives a nice vista view of the valley below. The trail goes through the woods. It is easy hiking. There are only a few hills and some medium boulders to negotiate. My 5-year old son made it with no problems.

One bonus: While driving around exploring the park we saw several deer. I don’t remember the exact count, but something like 4 or 5 sets of deer.

The state link to the park is below:
http://www.ct.gov/Dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325188

Equipment Review: Bushnell Backtrack GPS – Better than noting, but not as good as it should be

The Bushnell Backtrack is a hand held electronic compass that uses a GPS signal. It is meant to tell you direction at any time, as well as an “as-the-crow-flies” distance from one of 3 selected waypoints.

I was attracted to the Bushnell Backtrack because of its simplicity, small size, and low cost. I purchased the unit for approximately $70 from Cabela’s. I was hoping to get something that I could slip into a pocket that would give me some confidence while hunting in the big woods. Also, I was hoping it could save me some time returning to my car after a day in the woods. If it worked as advertised, the Bushnell Backtrack would have been perfect for my needs. However, I had several issue with the Bushnell Backtrack.

First, the unit had difficulty picking up a GPS signal when in the woods. It was able to pick up a signal relatively easily in an open field or on a trail or road. However, when you need it most, in the middle of the thick woods, it could not always pick up a signal.
Second, the compass feature was not properly working. I compared the electronic compass reading to a reading on traditional compass. They did not match. A compass that can’t be trusted is not useful.
Lastly, the arrows intended to direct you back to your base point were not always accurate. The unit seemed to correctly tell the distance from a point, but fell down in pointing the direction. I observed that after a while the arrow would point in the correct direction, but when the unit was first turned on, the arrow direction was incorrect. This is not a good thing when in the middle of the deep woods. Even though I knew the direction back to my vehicle, the incorrect arrow direction on the Bushnell Backtrack made me question myself. Luckily I trusted my instincts and ignored the Bushnell Backtrack. Eventually the unit corrected itself, but I could have spent a lot of time walking in the opposite direction if I followed the Bushnell Backtrack.

I suppose if you were truly lost in the woods, since the unit did EVENTUALLY give the correct direction, it would be better than being lost in the woods with nothing. However, the unit did not operate up to my standards, or as advertised.
I will be returning the unit and spending the extra money to buy a regular map-based GPS unit. It’s a shame because I really liked the small size and simplicity of the Bushnell Backtrack. Now I will be forced to carry a larger unit if I want GPS insurance when in the woods.

Kent Falls State Park -- Kent, CT

What: Kent Falls State Park
Where: Route 7, Kent, CT. Just south of the boarder with Cornwall.
What's Available: Picnicking, fishing, hiking, some swimming
Facilities: Not much. It's basically a parking lot, a big field, and a hiking trail along the falls. Bathrooms are available, but are not open all the time.

I happened to be in the area on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, so my family and I took a short excursion to Kent Falls State Park, or just Kent Falls as it is locally referred. We spent about 90 minutes hiking the short trail (about 1 mile one-way) to the top of the falls, hanging out by the stream at the bottom of the falls, and enjoying an ice cream from a cart that set up shop in the parking lot.
A lot of people were taking advantage of the first warm weekend of spring at Kent Falls. There were several picnics in process. Charcoal grills and tables are available at the park. There were several people fishing for trout in the stream at the base of the falls. The trout were visible from the shore. There is a 2 fish limit, and I believe the stream is frequently stocked. There were some kites, some Frisbee, some football, some wading in the water, but mostly Kent Falls is just a place to hang out and relax while enjoying the picturesque falls. It's a popular stop for bikers (both motorcycle and pedal cyclists), and tourists enjoying the rural area.
I believe there is usually a $5 fee for parking at the falls. The state had not yet opened their collection booth, so on this weekend the park was free. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Interesting Fact: The park was created as part of the New Deal public works programs during FDR's administration. There is a plaque near the covered bridge that crosses the river that commemorates the establishment of the park.

Sessions Woods -- Burlington, CT

What: Hiking trails, nature center
Where: Route 69, Burlington, CT

Sessions Woods is a state owned property featuring several hiking trails and a large nature center building. The building is used for programs, but also contains a permanent exhibit displaying samples of local wildlife. The highlight of Sessions Woods are the well maintained walking trails. The primary trail goes 2.6 miles through forested property. The trail is wide, and well maintained with crushed stone. It's an ideal trail for an easy hike, jog, or a dog walk. On Saturday morning I did the complete loop with my dog and 3-year old son. The trail contains mile markers, which are especially helpful to joggers.
Along the primary trail there are several side excursions. There is a permanent observation blind on a beaver pond, an outlook fire tower, and a waterfall, as well as several side trails. There are also nature exhibits along the trail.
Sessions Woods is a ideal place for a peaceful walk through the woods.

Hiking to Castle Craig at Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT

Hubbard Park in Meriden offers hikers the opportunity to hike to one of the highest peaks in the east within 25 miles of the Atlantic. Castle Craig, and the spectacular views of the central Connecticut valley await. The castle can be accessed via several trails starting in Hubbard Park. It is also part of the blue blazed Metacomet Trail. For those that make the climb, they will be rewarded with views that span from Massachusetts to the north to Long Island to the south. It is quite spectacular, and well worth the effort.

The path to Castle Craig includes a more direct trail hike, as well as paved trail. The paved trail (closed to vehicles) must wind around the local reservoir, so it is quite a bit longer. We elected to take the trail up and the road down. If time is a concern I would recommend taking the trail both up and back, although the paved road is a much gentler trip. The trail maps at the start of the trail within Hubbard Park leave a little to be desired. They do not show all the possible trails. However, if you goal is to reach Castle Craig, as long as you continue to go up, it's a good bet you will eventually hit it. Overall I estimate the trip was about 5 miles, but I have now official measurement.

The trail is moderate hiking. There are some steep areas with some loose stone. Although do-able by a reasonably fit adult, the trail proved difficult for the some of the younger children in our group (ages 3 and 5), and necessitated some carrying by the stronger adults. The 9 and 15 year old did not have an issue. Although a bit difficult, upon reaching Castle Craig at the top all agreed the effort was worth it. Hey, the difficulty makes one appreciate the view from the summit even more.

There was some whining on the long paved trail down, but considering all the kids spent about an hour running around the park playground at the conclusion of the hike, I suspect the limited whining that did occur was not due to tiredness.

Hiking Hubbard Park to Castle Craig was a good family experience. Just be aware that it may be more suitable to the older kids. If you are prepared for some carrying, by all means bring the littlest ones. I recommend this location for an enjoyable day hike.

Heublein Tower and Talcott Mountain State Park -- Simsbury

The Facts
Where:

Park spans the towns of Avon, Simsbury, and Bloomfield
When:

6-28-2008

Driving along route 10 from Avon to Simsbury you can see the Heublein tower atop a ridge to the right. Conditions were perfect this Saturday morning to take the 1.25 mile hike from the parking area just off route 185 to the tower. The trail is rocky with a slight uphill grade. It's clear and easy to follow. Our group included a 3-year old, a 5-year old, and a 8-year old. Even on a 88 F degree day all the kids made the hike without much trouble. Only caution is to be aware of rocks and roots along the trail, but overall the trail is in good shape and easy to navigate. On the way to the tower the trail passes along the mountain ridge. There are numerous spots that provide over-look points. The ridge gives an excellent view of the scenic valley. A great photo opportunity.
The hike to the tower takes about 30 minutes. The tower includes some exhibits from the original occupant. There are several picnic areas. The tower has bathrooms, water, vending machines and even a dog watering station. The dog watering station is especially appreciated, and a nice touch.
One of the best features of a short, non-strenuous hike like this is that everyone on the trail is in a friendly mood. Pleasantries are often exchanged with the people you meet along the trail. The trail is a great stress reliever. My family and I make it a habit of making the trek at least on an annual basis.
Check the DEP website for more information: http://www.ct.gov/dEP/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325272