Mile
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Hiker Rated
Parking Safety |
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Directions
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Comments
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Number of Vehicles
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Map &
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The official south end of the section is the crossing of US 7 just south of the intersection with CT 112. There is no parking at the crossing, but there is parking nearby at a large dirt parking lot on US 7 on the other side of the intersection. If one follows the road and not the AT which circles a cornfield, this is not far away. See Mile 10.4 of Section 2.
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Parking is also available in the triangle at the intersection of CT 112 and US 7 in what I believe is still the town of Sharon. See attached map. The marker indicates the parking area. The street view to the west or south shows this. To reach the AT crossing of US 7 walk south along the highway for a short distance. This crossing is the official north end of Section 3 and south end of Section 2. The southbound trail goes west into the woods. The map shows the southbound trail. The northbound trail goes east, circling around the large cornfield. Any comments about parking safety here refer to the parking at the triangle. GPS of parking in triangle: N 41.9310 W 73.3642 12/6/20 There is a garage near crossing that has been helpful in the past.
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6-10
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David Cullen
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West Cornwall Road goes west from US 7 just north of the intersection of US 7 and CT Route 128. The latter highway crosses the Housatonic River on a covered bridge to downtown West Cornwall. From US 7 follow West Cornwall Road about 2.2 miles to the trail crossing, which is not well marked. Shortly before the trail crossing the road passes what was (is ?) apparently a church camp with red-painted dormitory style buildings . There is roadside parking for 2-3 cars on the south side of the road at the crossing. I have led group hikes from this point and know that we safely parked 4 or 5 cars along the road nearby, but in general parking is limited here. GPS N41.8735 W 73.3911
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The marker on the attached map shows a place where there is roadside parking near the trail crossing. (See pictures for Section 3). The AT is shown on the map but it's location may not be entirely accurate. The northbound AT starts to climb the hill on the right side of the road (coming from West Cornwall). The southbound trail descends to Carse Brook. 05/30/17
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2-3
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David Cullen
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Any comments on parking safety for this mile marker should refer to the area of the campground. See below.
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.7 mile ascent from Housatonic Meadows State Park campground to AT. 5/18/06
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See Mile 10.0 for a description of the main hiker's parking lot for the Pine Knob Loop access to the AT.
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The blue-blazed trail leaves from the northwest corner of the parking lot. It crosses Hatch Brook and then divides. Continue straight ahead (north). At approximaterly 0.4 miles, the trail turns left (west). A connector trail about 0.2 miles long crosses US 7 to the state park campground. From here the trail climbs steeply at times for another 0.6 miles (1 mile total) to the AT. From here south to Mile 10.0, there are blue blazes of the Pine Knob Loop as well as the white AT blazes. 11/26/06
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10-12
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David Cullen
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The AT Guidebook to MA/CT mentions the Housatonic Meadows State Park Campground as a trailhead. The campground is on the east side of US 7 about half a mile north of the hiker parking area. In scouting the area, I noted there might be roadside parking available where the spur crosses US 7. There is also a small paved lot just at the campground entrance. I don't know the rules for parking in the campground. The marker indicates the entrance to the campground. The street view to the east shows this. GPS N 41.8383 W 73.3802
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To reach the Pine Knob Loop from the campground, follow the spur mentioned in the previous listing. It appears to be unmarked, but the trace of it can clearly be seen crossing the meadow on the west side of UF 7. See in the west street view on the attached map.
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David Cullen
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US 7
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1 mile trail from Housatonic Meadows State Park campground to the AT. 5/18/06
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There is a hiker parking lot for the Pine Knob Loop Trail rail at the south end of Housatonic Meadows State Park. It can seen in a satellite view and a street view (to the west) on the attached map. The marker indicates the position of the parking area, It is on the west side of the highway. This is 1 mile north of the intersection of US 7 and CT Route 4 on the west side of the Housatonic River and 4 miles south of the intersection of US 7 and CT Route 128 in West Cornwall. Ther is a blue oval "Pine Knob Loop" sign here. Overnight parking apparently is not allowed as there is a sign directing overnight parking 1 mile south to the parking lot at the US 7, Route 4 trail head. GPS N 41.8331 W 73.3833
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The blue-blazed trail leaves from the northwest corner of the parking lot. It crosses Hatch Brook and then divides. Go left (west). The trail parallels the brook for quite a distance and climbs steeply at times to the AT. Total distance is 0.7 miles. From here north to Mile 9.4, there are blue blazes of the Pine Knob Loop as well as the white AT blazes. 05/30/17
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10-15
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David Cullen
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See mile 9.4 for comments on the Houstanoic State Park campground as a trailhead.
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I have never done this, but one could follow the spur from the campground to the Pine Knob Loop (See Mile 9.4). Go left here for 0.2-0.3 miles to the point where the loop divides. Go right and proceed as in previous listing. 11/26/06
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David Cullen
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Parking for this access is the parking lot on US 7 just north of the intersection with CT Route 4 on the west side of the Housatonic River. It also serves as parking for access to the trail at Old Sharon Road (Mile 11.3) and CT 4 (Mile 11.5). The parking area can be seen in the satellite view and the west or south street views on the attached map. GPS at the parking area: N 41.8215 W 73.3759
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The Mohawk Trail is a blue-blazed trail that was formerly the route of the AT. It climbs (steeply at times) to the summit of Breadloaf Mountain (El. 1050 feet) at 0.5 miles from US 7. From there it descends gradually for 0.1 miles to the AT. 09/03/17
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8-10
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David Cullen
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This really is only an access point. There is no place to park at the trail crossing. Best parking is at the parking lot on US 7 just north of the intersection with CT Route 4 on the west side of the Housatonic River. See Mile 11.2.
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Follow Route 4 west from the intersection. The first intersection is with Old Sharon Road which angles off to the right. This is a good gravel road. There may be blue blazes as the road is part of a high-water bypass of Guinea Brook. The road climbs moderately, passes houses, several of them large and reaches the trail crossing about 0.7 miles from the parking area and 0.5 miles from Route 4. The crossing is marked by "AT" and north and south directions painted on a large rock. The northbound AT goes right, climbing steeply to the junction with the Mohawk Trail (See Mile 11.2). The southbound AT descends into the ravine of Guinea Brook. On the attached map I have delineated the route from the parking area to this trail crossing. I don't have the exact coordinates for the crossing, but from the map I estimate them to be N 41.8247 W 73.3874. They probably do not differ from the true values by much. 05/31/17
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0 at crossing,but see directions
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David Cullen
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There appears to be limited parking at the actual AT crossing of CT Route 4. Nearest good parking is at the Breadloaf Mt. (Mohawk Trail) parking area on the west side of US 7, just north of the intersection with Route 4 on the WEST side of the Housatonic River. (See Mile 11.2) There is a blue oval "Mohawk Trail" sign at the hiker parking lot. By my odometer it is 0.8 miles from the AT crossing of Route 4 to the parking area. The attached map delineates the route from the parking area to the trail crossing. GPS coordinates at the trail crossing are N 41.8229 W 73.3865.
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There is an oval "Appalachian Trail" sign at the crossing. The crossing is obvious, espescially on foot. Click on the street view near the red marker on the map to see the area of the crossing. While ascending Route 4 to the crossing, blue blazes may be seen, part of a high-water detour around Guinea Brook. At the crossing, the nortbound trail descends into the ravine of Guinea Brook. The southbound trail starts the steep ascent of Silver Hill. 05/31/17
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limited at crossing,8-10 at parking area (See directions)
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David Cullen
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There are two or three parking spots right at the AT crossing of CT Route 4, parked there today 8/16/2017. There are a few more about 20 feet away for a total of 5-6. 09/04/17
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5-6
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graham5 @ hvc.rr.com
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