Mattatuck State Forest | |
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Location | Connecticut, United States |
Coordinates | 41°38′34″N 73°06′02″W / 41.64278°N 73.10056°W [1] |
Area | 4,673 acres (18.91 km2) [2] |
Elevation | 594 ft (181 m) [1] |
Established | 1926 [3] |
Governing body | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
Website | Mattatuck State Forest |
Mattatuck State Forest is a Connecticut state forest spread over twenty parcels in the towns of Waterbury, Plymouth, Thomaston, Watertown, Litchfield, and Harwinton. [4] The Naugatuck River runs through a portion of the forest. The largest section of the forest is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Waterbury. The Leatherman's Cave, named after the vagabond Leatherman of the late 19th century, is located in Thomaston near the Mattatuck Trail, 1/4 mile west of the junction with the Jericho Trail. [3]
The forest is crossed by several Blue-Blazed Trails including the Jericho Trail, Hancock Brook Trail, and Whitestone Cliffs Trail.
Trails in the forest on the west side of Connecticut Route 8 include the following:
Trails in the forest on the east side of Route 8 include the following:
The following trails are located on both sides of Connecticut Route 8:
The Mattatuck Trail traverses several blocks of the forest:
The Whitestone rock climbing area is within the largest section of forest just east of the Naugatuck River. Top-roping techniques are used for heights of about 50 feet (15 m). Trail access is from South Street.