AT in Connecticut Hoyt Road to CT 341 Ten Mile Hill

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 is the start of the AT in the state of Connecticut. This stretch of the trail features the views from Ten Mile Hill and Schaghticoke Mountain. The AT will meander into New York briefly during this section of the trail. The trail travels along the ridgeline of the Schaghticoke and Algo Mountains. A stretch of the trail follows the "Great Bend" gorge of the Housatonic River below Bulls Bridge.

This section of the AT has two shelters and two designated campsites available. Ten Mile Shelter was constructed in 1996 and sleeps six with a privy located nearby. Water is available from a pump along the AT about 0.1 miles north of the shelter. Mount Algo Shelter was built in 1986, sleeps six with a privy located nearby. Water is available along the AT. There are no fires allowed at either shelter.

This section of the trail starts where the trail crosses Hoyt Road and the Connecticut State Line. There is parking for about five cars available near the trail crossing. The GPS coordinates are N41 38.459 W73 31.182 for those who have a GPS devise in their vehicle. Hikers heading north will enter a field after crossing the road. At 0.3 miles, near the border of the woods and field, reach a side trail that leads to a large parking area on CT 55. The GPS coordinates of the parking area on CT 55 is N41 38.664 W73 31.122.

At 0.5 miles the trail crosses a small brook. The trail crosses CT 55 at 0.7 miles. At 1.8 miles the trail reaches the 1000 foot summit of Ten Mile Hill. There is a short, unmarked side trail that leads to a view. The trail now descends gradually. At 1.9 miles reach the junction of the blue blazed Herrick Trail on your right. At 2.5 miles the trail crosses a dirt road. At 2.8 miles there is a blue blazed side trail on the right that travels 0.1 miles to Ten Mile Shelter.

At 3.0 miles cross the Ten Mile River on the impressive 120 foot Ned Anderson Memorial Bridge. The was constructed in 1983 and is named after a local farmer who also designed, built and maintained the original AT in Connecticut. At 3.1 miles the trail passes under power lines, crosses a gap in a stone wall and then follows the riverbank. At 3.6 miles reach the intersection of an old farm road that leads to a parking area near Bulls Bridge. The GPS coordinates of the parking area is N41 40.515 W73 30.674. Just across the parking area is a dam, built in 1902.

Bulls Bridge is one of two covered bridges in Connecticut that still permit traffic across them. At 4.1 miles reach the intersection of Bulls Bridge Road and Schaghticoke Road. Follow Schaghticoke Road and at 4.4 miles veer left off the road, into the woods. The trail ascends Schaghticoke Mountain with the use of switchbacks and will eventually enter New York. At 6.1 miles the trail passes to the left of the 1331 foot summit of Schaghticoke Mountain.

At 7.3 miles the trail crosses back into Connecticut. At 7.7 miles the trail reaches an outlook known as Indian Rocks. At 8.1 miles the trail reaches an open ledge with nice views of the Housatonic River. At 8.3 miles reach a blue blazed trail on the left that leads to the designated Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite. There are tent sites and a privy available. At 9.1 miles the trail passes a large rock with views toward the south.

At 9.7 miles the trail reaches a high point at 1403 feet with nice views from ledges. At 10.2 miles the trail crosses Thayer Brook. At 10.6 miles reach a high point (1190 feet) on Mount Algo. At 11.2 miles the trail reaches a blue blazed trail on the left that travels 200 feet to Mount Algo Shelter. At 11.5 miles the trail reaches and crosses CT 341. This ends this section of the AT in Connecticut. There is parking available at a parking area where the trail crosses the road. The GPS coordinates are N41 43.865 W73 29.415.

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.