Introducing Housatonic Woods

Woodsend Trail has seasonal views of the river
(trail entering the Passageway from the north)

Shelton has a new hiking destination called Housatonic Woods located across the highway from Indian Well. Although intrepid hikers of the Paugussett Trail have been trekking through this preserve for years, it was one of the least-used and hardest to access sections of the 13-mile trail.  And there were no loop options for hikers, which is what most people are looking for.

(click map to enlarge)

That changed when the City purchased an eight-acre tract of open space off Woodsend Avenue, expanding the preserve along the slopes of the Housatonic River to a total of about ninety acres. There is now a designated hiker parking area at the end of Woodsend Avenue and a new trail under construction leading to the Paugussett Trail. When combined with a short connector trail, a one-mile loop is possible. 

Housatonic Woods on Google Earth
"Potential Trail" is under construction
(click to enlarge)

This is giving hikers the opportunity for a variety of so-called "lollipop loops." Starting from Woodsend Ave, the total hike length would be an even 2.0 mile. It would be nearly the same length if starting at the parking area for Indian Well Falls (1.9 mile). Coming in from Mayflower Lane would result in a shorter and easier hiker (1.25 mile).  

Temporary signs mark the loop trail junctions during construction

As of March 1, the entire route has been marked with pink survey tape (except through a small Land Trust property at the end of Woodsend Ave. pending approval from the Land Trust, which was recently granted). Most of the trail has also been cleared well enough to be hiked, with some additional clearing, chainsawing, and earthwork needed. The northern section near closest to Woodsend has not been worked on yet, and none of the trail has been marked with blazes (which will be orange). 

The hike: 

From Woodsend Avenue, the terrain slopes gently down towards Route 110 and Indian Well State Park. The trail route curves back and forth down the slope to reduce erosion of the sandy soil. Each change in direction allows water to drain off of the trail. There used to be a glacial lake here, explaining the deep sand. Before long, the trail comes to a broad flat area perched above Route 110 with good seasonal views of the Housatonic River and hills beyond. People looking for a short walk may stop here to enjoy the views before turning around and heading back. The next section is a bit more challenging. 

A broad level area just north of the Passageway

Most of Housatonic Woods Preserve slopes down gently towards the river, but at one point the hillside steepens and a series of cliffs and ledges rise up to confront hikers traveling between Woodsend Avenue and the new loop.  A narrow hiker passageway was found between the cliffs, moderate in difficulty due to the rocky terrain. It's a different world up on the pass, with seasonal views of the river. The highway is not far, and the sound of traffic below bounces off the rock an drifts up to the trail. 

The "Tangerine Squeeze"

Coming from Woodsend, the entrance to the Passageway is marked by a tight squeeze between ledge and a large tree dubbed the "Tangerine Squeeze."   Rock ledges rise up on the right and drop down on the left as you continue through the Passageway.  At the south end of this pass, a broad wooded valley opens up below and the trail switchbacks down the slope to cross a narrow boulder field with a seasonal runoff flowing steeply down the hill towards Indian Well. 

"The Passageway", high above Route 110

After crossing the bolder-strewn brook, the slope becomes much more gentle as the trail heads through open woods. The blue/orange connector trail will soon be on the left, marking the beginning of the loop. Hikers wishing to reach Indian Well State Park would take a left here, but loop hikers will continue straight ahead on the orange-blazed Woodsend Trail and continue gradually up the hillside. 

An unexpected section of fencing in the woods

At one point the trail passes an unexpected section of green metal fencing and a gate. The old fencing crosses a sewer easement and presumably stopped traffic from driving down the sewer easement, but it doesn't seem to be serving any purpose at this time and will likely be removed. 

Lots of rock

The trail levels out and then enters a scrappy section of former pastureland filled with invasive Japanese Barberry and crossed by stone walls and a series of small seasonal drainage channels. Up to this point, the trail has been passing through older forests, as shown in 1934 Connecticut aerials, but this area below Owl Hill and Hilltop Drive was pastureland in the 1930s.  At some point, the pasture was abandoned and thorny Japanese Barberry shrubs created a nearly impenetrable thicket. Although Japanese Barberry causes many problems for ecosystems, the thriving population of turkey at Housatonic Woods enjoy eating the berries. 

Partly cleared section
through barberry

People were hunting these lands long before the stone walls were built, as evidenced by a quartz projectile point that was spotted in a seasonal stream while scouting for the new trail. Native Americans in this area often used milky white quartz, a common mineral in Connecticut, since flint was only available by trading. 

Arrowhead found while scouting for the new trail

After passing through barberry thickets, the trail slips below Sinsabaugh Heights, where it ends in a "T" at the blue-blazed Paugussett Trail. The Paugussett is thirteen miles long and was built in the 1930s, although this particular section only goes back maybe fifteen years.  Going right would eventually get you to the Shelton Dog Park and Hope Lake, but loop hikers will take a left and head gently down the hillside towards Indian Well State Park, keeping an eye out for the blue/orange blazes on the left marking the Woodsend Connector trail.  The blue blazes continue past this junction across Route 110 through Indian Well, Birchbank Mountain, and Webb Mountain Park, but loop hikers will instead turn left to complete the loop and head back to Woodsend Ave. 

Woodsend Ave parking is at a hammerhead in front of a guardrail

TRAIL ACCESS: 

Woodsend Ave: Designated trailhead parking for 2-3 cars is located at a hammerhead corner where the end of the Woodsend Ave meets Cynthia Lane. This route option includes a moderately difficult section where the trail travels up through the Passageway and across a short boulder field. Total hike length for a lollipop loop is 2.0 miles. 

Indian Well State Park: There are two CT DEEP hiker parking lots located off of Indian Well Road near the falls, where the private access road for the Maples subdivision joins the main road. The larger lot is closed during the summer by DEEP. The smaller lot is located a short ways up the road to the Maples next to the railroad tracks and is signed for off-season parking. The lot fills up during peak summer months. (There is additional public parking for the Paugussett Trail further up Indian Well Road, which would substantially lengthen the hike.) This route requires crossing busy Route 110, so hikers may wish to avoid rush hour or other busy times of the day. Be sure to cross at the blue oval sign for the Paugussett, which has the best sight line. Total hike length for a lollipop loop from this parking is 1.9 miles.

Mayflower Lane: There is no designated hiker parking on Mayflower Lane, but it is a City-owned street. People may also walk in from the neighborhood. This route is shorter and avoids the more challenging terrain of the Passageway as well as the highway crossing. Total lollipop-loop hiking length is 1.25 mile. 

Sinsabaugh Heights: There is no public parking at Sinsabaugh Heights except for maintenance vehicles and guests of residents, but people from the greater neighborhood might walk in for trail access.