Barkhamsted - People's State Forest

Date Hiked:  Thursday, June 7, 2012
Number in Group:  9
Estimated distance round-trip:  2.5+ miles
Weather:  Sunny, 75°F
Website:  People's State Forest
Highlights of the trip: History of Barkhamsted Lighthouse community, tremendous views, Veeder Boulders



Looking at the trail map, we had agreed to meet at the Whittemore Grove parking area to begin our hike on the Jessie Gerard Trail.  However, when we arrived we found that there was a small parking area on East River Road just opposite the trail head.

The plan had been to hike up the Jessie Gerard Trail until it met the Robert Ross Trail, head north to the various lookouts, and then return via the Falls Cut-off Trail.  Part way up the Jessie Gerard Trail, we stopped to read about the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Cemetery.  We met a couple coming down the trail who suggested that we, instead, go up the Falls Cut-off Trail and down Jessie Gerard.  This turned out to be good advice as the Falls Cut-off Trail was much steeper and would have wreaked havoc on the knees on the way down.

Rather than backtracking, we were able to use the Lighthouse Trail (not shown on the trail map) to cut back over to the Falls Cut-Off Trail.  Along the way we got a little history lesson on the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village.  A strange name for a place in the middle of the woods, but it got its name because it was a beacon for travelers on the road below.  The light from the village served as a mile marker of sorts.  Rather than rewrite what has already been written about the Barkhamsted Lighthouse, I will direct you to Steve Wood's Connecticut Museum Quest website for more information.

Description of Lighthouse Cemetery with one of the stones to the left near the flag.

More gravestones.

The cellar hole at the base of the tree.

Quarry.

This grind stone was pretty cool.

Hard to see, but the slightly raised area in front of the sign was a charcoal kiln.

After taking the time to read about this settlement, we arrived at the Falls Cut-off Trail and started to climb.  In some areas, I had to use my hands to help me over a rock.  It was pretty steep, but we weren't in any hurry.  Plus, I have found that if you stop to take pictures for your blog, you can take a breather.  (By the way, on the trail map, the Falls Cut-off Trail is supposed to be blazed blue/red, but it is blazed blue/yellow like the Jessie Gerard Trail).

Going up, up, up.

Cliff on one side of the trail.

"X" marks the spot.  Buried treasure, Becca?
There is a little trickle of a stream, but it is hard to see.

Looking back down from the top.

Though the climb to the top was a bit of a workout, it was worth it.  The views were tremendous.  We really lucked out with the weather.  There had been rain predicted all week, but instead, we got fabulous cloud formations that added to the view.

Looking south along the West Branch of the Farmington River.

Along the river, across from the lookout,
was the bridge abutment we stood on during last week's hike.

At the next lookout, we could see north to Riverton.

The trail then left the ridge and headed off into the woods.  Before too long, we came upon the Veeder Boulders.  These large glacial erratics just seem so out of place in the middle of the woods (hence, the name erratic, I guess).  The kids tried to climb them, but didn't have any luck.  I teased them that I would be able to find pictures online of people on top of the boulders, but I stand corrected.

Veeder boulders.

We continued through the woods, toward Greenwoods Road, but with an eye out for an unmarked trail to the left.  Based upon the trail map, it appeared that this would connect to Kiwanis Road and that there would be another overlook at the end.  We found the trail.  It had snowmobile markers along it, which corresponds with the map, but it was overgrown and very wooded.  The trail started to curve back around to the right which made me think we had already connected to Kiwanis Road.  There did not appear to be any place that looked like it would offer an overlook, so we decided to turn back.  We returned the same way we had come until we got back to the Falls Cut-off Trail.  Instead of turning to go down here, we continued straight over a small log bridge on the Robert Ross Trail.  We followed this until we came to the Jessie Gerard Trail and headed back down to the cars.

We certainly got a workout on this hike, but it was a lot of fun, too.  I suspect we will be back to People's State Forest to check out some of the other trails.