AT in Connecticut CT 4 to US 7 Sharon Mountain

AT Hiking Guide - Connecticut $5.00 Descriptions, pictures and maps covering all 50+ miles the Appalachian Trail travels in Connecticut. This book comes to you as an e-Book via a PDF file. Use the BUY NOW button below and we'll email you the file usually within 24 hours. First Edition (2014) from CNY Hiking

This 11.5 mile section of the Appalachian Trail features Sharon Mountain. Most of the trail travels through Housatonic State Forest during this section. All of this section was part of a major relocation plan, first proposed soon after the original trail was completed. It took over fifty years to complete the current route, finishing in 1988. The old route is now a blue blazed side trail known as the Mohawk Trail.

There is one shelter and three designated campsites along this section of the trail. Pine Swamp Brook Shelter was built in 1989, sleeps six with a privy located close by. There is water available along a blue blazed trail. This shelter as well as this whole section of the trail is known for the swarms of mosquitos during the warm summer months.

This section begins where the trail crosses CT 4. There is no good parking at this road crossing and the best parking available is 0.5 miles east of the trail crossing, near where CT 4 joins US 7 across Cornwall Bridge. At 0.1 miles the trail crosses Guinea Brook on the property of the Walton Fishing Club. No camping allowed here. At 0.2 miles cross the dirt Old Sharon Road.

At 0.3 miles reach a blue blazed side trail on your right that leads 0.1 miles to the 1004 foot summit of Bread Loaf Mountain and 0.7 miles to a parking area on US 7. This side trail is an extension of the Mohawk Trail. At 1.4 miles the trail crosses Hatch Brook. At 1.5 miles the trail reaches the junction of the Pine Knob Loop Trail, which travels one mile to Housatonic Meadows State Park and US 7. At 1.7 miles the trail reaches Pine Knob and nice views.

At 2.1 miles reach the northern junction of the Pine Knob Loop Trail, which leads 0.7 miles to Housatonic Meadows State Park campground and US 7. At 2.5 miles the trail crosses the abandoned Caesar Road. The Caesar Brook primitive Campsite is located just south of Caesar Brook. At 3.9 miles the trail crosses the abandoned Sundam Road. At 4.7 miles the trail crosses Carse Brook on a log bridge.

At 4.8 miles the trail crosses West Cornwall Road after a descent and now ascend again. There is some parking available. The GPS coordinates is N41 52.409 W73 23.475. At 5.9 miles reach a blue blazed trail that travels to Pine Swamp Brook Shelter. At 6.8 miles cross gravel Sharon Mountain Road. At 7.1 miles the trail passes near the 1350 foot summit of Mount Easter. At 8.3 miles reach a blue blazed trail that travels to the Sharon Mountain Campsite.

At 9.1 miles the trail passes by real nice views from the "Hang Glider Spot". At 9.9 miles the trail passes views on both sides of the trail, including views of the Catskills. At 11.1 miles reach a side trail that travels to Belter's Campsite, after a steep descent. At 11.2 miles the trail reaches an outlook known as Belter's Bump. At 11.5 miles cross a stile and then reach US 7 near the junction of CT 112. This is the end of this section of the AT. There is parking available north of the CT 112 junction at a small parking area on US 7. The GPS coordinates is N41 55.940 W73 21.823.

We recommend checking out Appalachian Trail Guide to Massachusetts-Connecticut and Appalachian Trail, Schaghticoke Mountain to East Mountain [Connecticut, Massachusetts] (National Geographic Topographic Map Guide) to help plan your Appalachian Trail adventure.