The Quinnipiac Blue Blazed Trail

Quinnipiac River

The Quinnipiac is the original Blue Blazed Trail. The complete trail is 24 miles and travels from North Haven to Cheshire. Along its way it passes through two State Parks: The Quinnipiac River State Park and Sleeping Giant State Park.In the third section of the hike the Regicides trail joins the Quinnipiac. The fourth section offers a side trail to Roaring Brook Falls Park.

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Section 1 - Quinnipiac River State Park

Quinnipiac River State Park

Every trail has its challenges. The first section of the Quinnipiac Blue Blazed trail is 4-5 miles of difficult stream crossings and hacking through dense underbrush. The Quinnipiac is the original Blue Blazed Trail. The complete trail is 24 miles and travels from North Haven to Cheshire. Along its way it passes through two State Parks: The Quinnipiac River State Park and Sleeping Giant State Park. Section 1 is contained within the former.

The elevation is constant; so the challenge is not in the climbs. But, because the entire length of Section 1 lies with in a flood plain, the geography of the river changes so frequently that it becomes difficult to provide bridges to cross streams and oxbows. The vegetation here is rapid growing and weedy. If it is not hacked clean weekly the path becomes overgrown with thorny thistles. Your best bet for completing this section is to go in high winter; particularly after a week of deep freeze when streams are frozen and able to be crossed. A summer hike here is a battle against undergrowth, mosquitoes, and flies.

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Section 2 - Sleeping Giant State Park

Sleeping Giant State Park is one of Connecticut's most popular state parks. The Quinnipiac Trail is one of the original - no, the original - Blue Blazed Trail. The rocky hills that create Sleeping Giant are a traprock ridge that from afar (say, from Castle Craig) appears to be the form of a giant man sleeping on his back. Children love the hike up to the summit because there is a lookout tower that resembles a castle - with arches and turrets. The views of New Haven are grand. And, the picnic areas are alive with weekend revelers.
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Quinnipiac Blue Blazed Trail

COUNTY: New Haven
COMMUNITIES: North Haven, Wallingford, Hamden, Bethany, Prospect, Chesire

TOTAL MILES:24 Miles

POINTS OF INTEREST: Quinnipiac River State Park, Pine Brook, Sleeping Giant State Park, Mt Carmel, Giants Chin, RockyTop, York Mountain, Roaring Brook Falls, Mount Sanford

Quinnipiac Blue Blazed Trail Map

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