Trails

Trails

Jessie Gerard

Observe Hiking Safety Tips on the trails during hunting season.

Trail Guide

Trail Guide for
American Legion and Peoples State Forests.

Erik Landgraf, walking and photographing the trails in American Legion and Peoples State Forest, has written this brochure with the hiker in mind. Including detailed trail descriptions, a trail map, and color photos, he describes the natural history, forest uses, as well as the historical utilization of these forests for each trail area. Contact Walt Landgraf for details. Cost $8 + postage.

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Trail Conditions

Timber harvest has been completed in the area where Agnes Bowen trail crosses Greenwoods Road, above Beaver Brook Rd. and near the intersection with Robert Ross trail.

Jessie Gerard

The Jessie Gerard trail begins on the East River Road, between Pleasant Valley and Riverton. The trail length from East River Road to Greenwoods Road is 1.3 miles.

This trail can be a loop by going either to the left or to the right at the split. The beginning of the trails pass by a foundation hole from the Barkhamsted lighthouse community. Shortly after this, the trail will split, and join again about .3 miles later by the bridge at the top of the waterfall.

The trail to the right, a good alternative in the winter, is an easier grade that winds through the hemlock forest, crosses the Barkhamsted lighthouse cemetery, then climbs the ridge through several switchbacks.

The trail to the left begins with a gentle slope and will climb steeply up along a waterfall, which is particularly beautiful in the spring or after heavy rains

In winter, many people come to ice climb along this part of the trail. Large flows of ice cascade off the cliffs toward the trail. Use caution through here, for the trail can be covered by ice, and chunks of ice often fall from above.

The climb is well worth it for you come to an overlook which looks south along the Farmington River valley. A quarter mile further along the ridge, you come to a second overlook that looks down over the town of Riverton.

The end of the trail is .25 miles at Greenwoods Rd.

To return to your car, retrace your steps, down the trail to East River Rd.

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Agnes Bowen ...named for a resident of Barkhamsted who was instrumental in the formation of Peoples State Forest

The Agnes Bowen trail starts at the Stone Museum and wanders gently upward through a grove of large pines. In late May there are many lady slippers here. After crossing Greenwoods Road, you will come upon a small stream, then continue upwards to cross the James Stocking trail. There is an outhouse here (the only one on this trail).

Use caution – the trail makes a hard right here and re-enters the woods following an old charcoal road and passing many hearths where charcoal was made. At the junction with the Charles Pack trail, go straight across, follow the shoreline of Beaver swamp, cross Greenwoods Road a couple more times and you will come to a junction with the Robert Ross trail. At this point you have the option of returning to the Stone Museum by taking a left and following the Robert Ross trail to make a total hike of 3.5 miles.

Option 2: The Agnes Bowen trail continues straight ahead on an old woods road to East River Road. To return to the Stone Museum turn left and follow East River Road for .75 miles until reaching the blue trail leading from main picnic area to the Stone Museum. Turn left on blue trail for .25 miles to the Stone Museum Total mileage for this hike is 3.7 Mlles.

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Henry Buck Trail ...named for a CCC civil engineer who was killed in a car accident in 1930s

Henry Buck Trail is 2 miles long. It climbs steadily up from the road and winds through an old growth forest, past many spring wildflowers. After the first .5 miles, a stream cascades down along the trail.

After approximately .75 miles you will see the foundation of a cheese box factory that was in production in 1800. You are near the high point of the trail where you will see the Buck Memorial plaque on a ledge above the stone terrace. Views open up to the south from the top of the "tremendous cliffs" and one more steep climb leads to the top of the ridge.

The trail descends, crossing a charcoal hearth, and ends on West River Road a total distance of about 2 miles. Turn right along West River Road for less than .25 miles to return to your starting point.

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Charles Pack

The Charles Pack Trail leaves the right side of Green Woods Rd. at 1.4 miles from East River Rd. Marked with a yellow dot in a blue blaze, this trail offers hikers the least amount of hill climbing of any trail in the forest. Distance is 2.1 miles to the Green Woods Rd. at Big Spring.

You will reach the junction with the Agnes Bowen trail (orange blaze) in .1 miles. At this point it is well worth turning left (north) on the Agnes Bowen Trail for less than .1 miles to get a view of Beaver Swamp. At the end of the Ice Age, this area was a small glacial lake. From 2,000 to 600 years ago, many seasonal Indian camps were established around its edges.

From the 1800s to about 1920s, this was a wetland meadow where local farmers harvested hay. In the 1930s the forest and later the beaver returned to again create a swamp.

Return to the Charles Pack Trail and turn left, crossing Beaver Brook on a YCC bridge and climb the glacial terrace on the east side. Shortly, you will pass two large charcoal hearths on the left. These flat areas are outlined by a ditch and berm, which provided the earth to cover the 30 cords of wood being burned to form charcoal.

Next you will pass the Jabez Bacon foundation on your right. This home, made of local brick, was built after the Revolutionary War and was no longer standing by the end of the 1800s. A chamber for smoking meat can be seen in the bottom of the chimney and the large foundation stones may have been moved into place by slaves owned by Mr. Bacon.

After crossing the Pack Rd. you will reach Beaver Brook Rd. and picnic area, you may elect to follow the road left .7 miles to the Agnes Bowen Trail and follow it left again to the Charles Pack Trail and return to your car, making a 3 mile loop. If you continue on the Charles Pack Trail from Beaver Brook Rd., you will come to Big Spring pool on your right and reach Green woods Rd.

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Robert Ross

Starting from the Stone Museum, the Robert Ross Trail provides the most direct route to the lookouts, which are about 2.2 miles and an elevation gain of 520 feet to the north.

During the last 2 weeks of May there is a good display of pink lady’s slippers along the Robert Ross Trail just above the museum parking lot.

The Robert Ross and Agnes Bowen trails leave the museum parking lot together and in a short distance the Agnes Bowen Trail turns off to the right and crosses Greenwoods Road. The Ross Trail continues up hill to an old woods road where it turns right to come out in the dirt turn-around at the end of King Road at .9 miles from the museum. As you enter the turn-around, the Ross Trail (blue) continues out of the left (north) side of the turn around and reaches the Agnes Bowen Trail (orange) at 1.4 miles from the museum. Turn right on the Agnes Bowen Trial for about 150 feet then left on the blue-blazed Ross Trail. You will cross a small stream and climb to the top of a ridge, where to the right once stood the Rose Quartz shelter built by the CCC in the 1930s and was removed more than 30 years ago.

Continue around the base of a ledge on steps built by the CCC and travel north to where the Jessie Gerard Trail (yellow) comes in on the left to join the Ross Trail at 1.8 miles from the museum. Moving north on the 2 trails a second very steep branch of the Jessie Gerard Trail comes up the side of a seasonal waterfall from East River Road, which is about 350 feet below you at this point. The Lighthouse Community site is located on the Jessie Gerard trail next to East River Road.

Continue north on both trails to where the Ross trail turns right at 2.1 miles and reaches Warner Road (dirt) in about 500 feet.

To reach the first lookout, continue up hill on the Jessie Gerard Trail for about .1 mile and in another .3 mile you will reach a second lookout with a view of Riverton.