page_title: Paugussett Trail
section_title: Hiking the trail
hierarchical_section_title: Paugussett Trail / Hiking the trail
caption_attribution_description: English: Railroad tracks from spur trail to CT Route 34 at Lake Zoar, off Paugussett Trail, Monroe, CT.
context_page_description: The Paugussett Trail is a 9.2-mile Blue-Blazed hiking trail "system" in the lower Housatonic River valley in Fairfield County and, today, is entirely in Shelton and Monroe, Connecticut. Much of the trail is in Indian Well State Park and the Town of Monroe's Webb Mountain Park. The mainline trail is primarily southeast to northwest with three short side or spur trails.
  The Paugussett Trail today is composed of four trails of which one is the upside-down V-shaped Southeast-to-North-to-SouthWest mainline trail plus three shorter side or access spur trails. The northernmost point on the trail is at Connecticut Route 34 and Lake Zoar's southern shore.
  Notable features include the initial steep climb near the Indian Well waterfall, a steep climb with stairs at Princess Wenonah Drive and semi-obscured scenic views of the Housatonic River. The Paugussett Trail is maintained largely through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.
  The Paugussett Trail was a much larger trail in the 1930s and 1940s but it has been one of the Blue-Blazed Trails most drastically shrunk by post-World War 2 housing developments.
context_section_description: The mainline Paugussett trail is blazed with blue rectangles. It is regularly maintained, and is considered easy hiking, with very few sections of rugged and moderately difficult hiking (notably the initial steep climb near the Indian Well waterfall and the steep climb using "stairs" between two suburban houses at Princess Wenonah Drive in Shelton).
  Much of the Paugussett Trail is close to public roads.  There are limited camping facilities in Webb Mountain Park (reservations required) along the trail and camping is prohibited in Indian Well State Park. Trail descriptions are available from a number of commercial and non-commercial sources, and a complete guidebook is published by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association
  Weather along the route is typical of Connecticut. Conditions on exposed ridge tops and summits may be harsher during cold or stormy weather. Lightning is a hazard on exposed summits and ledges during thunderstorms. Snow is common in the winter and may necessitate the use of snowshoes. Ice can form on exposed ledges and summits, making hiking dangerous without special equipment.
  Extensive flooding in ponds, puddles and streams may occur in the late winter or early spring, overflowing into the trail and causing very muddy conditions.  In this case fairly high waterproof boots are recommended.  Some parts of the trail follow forest roads which often contain ruts from ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles.
  Biting insects can be bothersome during warm weather. Parasitic deer ticks (which are known to carry Lyme disease) are a potential hazard.
  The mainline trailheads are very close to civilization (and state highways).  Parts of the trail are very suburban, traveling on streets, cutting between yards or running behind back yards.
  A very small part of the trail is adjacent to, or is on lands where hunting and the use of firearms are permitted.  Wearing bright orange clothing during the hunting season (Fall through December) is recommended.
caption: The Paugussett Trail access spur crosses railroad tracks near CT Route 34 and Lake Zoar, Monroe, CT.
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