Hike It

Hiking
The Connecticut Branch in Connecticut

The proposed NET route follows mostly established trails and trail systems as well as several short sections with no established trails. 

Section 1: Lighthouse Point Park to West Rock. 
There is no official continuous trail through this section. The NET route pieces together numerous urban conservation properties and parklands. Much of the route is easy to follow.    

Section 2: West Rock to Sleeping Giant.
The proposed NET route follows the Regicides Trail and the Quinnipiac Trail over West Rock Ridge. 

Section 3: Sleeping Giant.
The proposed NET route follows the Quinnipiac Trail and other shorter trails over the Sleeping Giant ridgeline. The actual route should include most of the peaks on the Sleeping Giant. However, the exact route isn't that important, as there are a number of suitable interconnecting trails. 

Section 4: Sleeping Giant to Pistapaug Mountain
There is no official trail through this section. The NET route pieces together various parks and conservation properties in a mostly rural setting with short suburban and industrial stretches. Several existing trails are used, while other sections of the proposed route must either be bushwacked or traversed by walking nearby roads.

Section 5: The Mattabesett Trail from Pistapaug to Lamentation Mountain. 
The proposed NET route follows the Mattabesett Trail.

Section 6: The Metacomet Trail to the Massachusetts border. 
The proposed NET route follows the Metacomet Trail.

Hiking guides and trail descriptions

The primary hiking guide for this section will be the Connecticut Forests and Parks Association's Connecticut Walk Book West (hereafter referred to as the CWB). This guide is available commercially, online and through regional bookstores and hiking gear outfitters. 

Other map resources are available online and are detailed below.  

Route resource maps and descriptions (from south to north)

Section

1. Lighthouse Point to the foot of West Rock  
   a. NET instructions for navigating the route from Lighthouse Point Park to West Rock. 
   b. A good map of New Haven; these are available commercially and online from the City of New Haven (PDF format).
   c. The New Haven Green Map, front and back (PDF); available online and through Hew Haven City Hall.
   d. Map of the trails on East Rock. Available online (PDF).
      

2. West Rock to the foot of Sleeping Giant
   Map of the Regicides and Quinipiac Trails, CWB
   

3. Sleeping Giant to Quinipiac River
   Map of Sleeping Giant State Park, in the CWB and online through the Sleeping Giant Park Association (pdf). 
   

4. Quinnipiac River to the foot of Pistapaug Mountain
   a. NET instructions for navigating the route from the Quinnipiac River to the Metacomet Trail.  
   b. USGS, DeLorme TOPO, or equivalent topographic maps covering northern North Haven, southern Wallingford, and northern North Brandford. Google Earth maps may also be useful, as would a good street map of the region (such as a Delorme Atlas). 
   c. Map of Wharton Brook State Park, available online (pdf). 
   d. Map of Tyler Mill Area Trails, available online (pdf).
   e. Map of the Big Gulph Recreation Area. Available online (pdf).
   

5. Mattabesett Trail from Pistapaug to Lamentation Mountain
   Available in the CWB; trail maps of Lamentation & Giufridda Park can also be found online (pdf). 
   

6. The Metacomet Trail: Lamentation Mountain to the Massachusetts border
   Available in the CWB. Supplemental maps include:
   a. Hubbard Park , available online. 
   b. Ragged Mountain map, online. 
   c. Maps of the Hartford Reservoir system can be purchased at the reservoir resource center or viewed online. 
   d. Online Map of Talcott Mountain State Park
   d. Online Map of Penwood State Park

Camping

Camping is generally not permitted on this route. 

Standard accommodations are readily available in New Haven, Wallingford, Meriden, New Britain, Farmington, and Hartford, as well as in other abutting towns. A low budget hostel is located in Hartford. A Lonely Planet Guide, AAA Guide, or similar resource would be valuable in planning overnight stays.  

Food and Water

The route is rarely far from roads and stores. A Delorme Atlas or similar resource would be helpful in planning resupply locations. Water is scare on the dry traprock ridges; many of the dependable water sources along lower portions of the route flow through developed areas and may be contaminated. The CWB provides information on water sources along the existing trails used in the NET proposal. In the New Haven section, water is readily available at nearby stores and public facilities. In Wallingford, water is available at convenience stores not far from the Big Gulph trailhead and Wharton State Park (and at the park during the summer). 

Seasons/Weather/ Hazards/ Terrain

This part of the NET is most suitable for hiking from May through October. From November through March, winter conditions may make the trail difficult to hike. Hiking during the April mud season is hard on the trails and should be avoided; snow and ice may persist in some areas through early April. Biting insects and thunderstorms are potential summer problems. Poisonous snakes are rare along the route, but are not extinct. Bears are rare; problems with them are rarer still. Poison ivy is common. Some road crossings may be difficult during periods of high traffic. The southernmost part of the route passes through urban areas of New Haven. While crime in New Haven is no more problematic than it is in many urban areas of New England, hikers should think about personal safety if planning on traversing urban areas after dark. Most of the route segments have varied terrain that includes both easy and difficult hiking. Steep rises in elevation to ridgelines make for very rugged terrain while the linear traprock summit ridgelines are often easier walks. Bushwacks should always be considered difficult hiking.