Hiking The Pomperaug Blue Blazed Trail

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By Morrowlong (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Pomperaug is one of Connecticut's principal Blue Blazed Trails. It is one of the Zoar area trails, across Lake Zoar from The Zoar trail, and The Paugussett. Its 4 miles traverse through Jackson Cove Recreational Area and Kettletown State Park. The opportunity to loop back on The Crest trail makes an 8 mile round trip through pines and past overlooks with sweeping views of The Housatonic Valley.
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Tiny Falls on The Pomperaug Trail, Oxford Ct
Tiny Falls on The Pomperaug Trail, Oxford Ct

Lake Zoar is a flowage created when the Stevenson Dam was installed on the Housatonic River in 1919. Just north of the dam, Lake Zoar is flanked by recreational and public lands. The Paugussett State Forest straddles both sides of the lake. Jackson Cove Recreational Area and Kettletown State Park are nested into the northeast side of Zoar. The Pomperaug Trail follows the lake shore on this northeast bank while climbing impressive bluffs to soaring overlooks.

The trail takes its name from Chief Pomperoug of Pootatuck people who sold much of eastern Fairfield County to early European setters. The Pootatuck people of the Paugussett Nation lived in spring and winter encampments along the Housatonic River in the area now submerged below Lake Zoar near what is now Sandy Hook. Descendants of Pootatuck now identify as the Golden Hill Paugussetts of Colchester CT.

From Fiddlehead Road the Pomperaug Trail climbs several steep and challenging mountaineering rated climbs through dense old growth forest. The trail conditions moderate and widen after climbing the river bluff from Jackson Cove. A long meandering easy descent leads into Kettletown State Park.

Amenities along the trail include large paved parking lots, picnic shelters, a beach, restrooms at Jackson Cove and Kettletown State Park and camping at Kettletown State Park. Several trails connect the Pomperaug to the Zoar area trails and the Crest Trail provides a loop option along the Pomperaug.

The Housatonic River, from The Crest Trail, Kettletown State Park
The Housatonic River, from The Crest Trail, Kettletown State Park

Poemperaug Blue Blazed Trail

COUNTY: New Haven
COMMUNITIES: Oxford, Southbury

DISTANCE: 5 Miles Total
Fiddlehead Road - Jackson Cove = 2.3 Miles
Jackson Cove - Kettletown State Park = 2.3 Miles

LOWEST ELEVATION100FT above sea level
HIGHEST ELEVATION525FT above sea level

POINTS OF INTEREST: Lake Zoar, Kettletown State Park, Jackson Cove


Trail Map and Directions



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Address for your GPS: 99 Fiddlehead Road, Oxford CT
| Coordinates: N41.39449,W073.17954 |
From Bridgeport40 Minutes
From New Haven35 Minutes
From Hartford1 Hour
From New London1.5 hours
From Providence2 Hours
From New York2 Hours


Photos


Cascade along The Pomperaug Trail, Oxford CT
Cascade along The Pomperaug Trail, Oxford CT

MOSS GARDEN ON THE POMPERAUG TRAI
MOSS GARDEN ON THE POMPERAUG TRAIL

TINY FALLS ON THE POMPERAUG
TINY FALLS ON THE POMPERAUG


Video