page_title: Naugatuck Trail
section_title: Hiking the trail
hierarchical_section_title: Naugatuck Trail / Hiking the trail
caption_attribution_description: English: Whittemore side trail of Naugatuck Blue-Blazed hiking trail. Blazed Blue-White. Bethany, CT in Naugatuck State Forest.
context_page_description: The Naugatuck Trail is a 6.8-mile Blue-Blazed hiking trail "system" in the eastern central-lower Naugatuck River Valley in New Haven County, Connecticut, USA and is today almost entirely contained in the Naugatuck State Forest. The mainline trail is primarily east to west with three short side or spur trails.
  The Naugatuck Trail today is composed of four trails including the primarily East-to-West mainline trail plus three shorter side trails. At its western end the trail ends with a section alongside Route 8 and the Naugatuck River.
  Notable features include the summits of Beacon Cap and Spruce Knoll. The trail goes near, but does not summit Beacon Hill. The Naugatuck Trail is maintained largely through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.
  The Naugatuck Trail was a much larger trail in the 1930s and 1940s but it has been one of the trail systems most drastically shrunk by post–World War II housing developments of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trails.
context_section_description: The mainline Naugatuck 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.  Much of the Naugatuck Trail is close to public roads.  There are no camping facilities along the trail and camping is generally prohibited in Naugatuck State Forest. 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 trail heads are close to civilization (suburban homes, streets and highways). Much of the trail is adjacent to, or is on lands where hunting and the use of firearms are permitted (particularly Connecticut State Forest land).  Wearing bright orange clothing during the hunting season (Fall through December) is recommended.
caption: The Whittemore Trail following a forest road through dense mountain laurel.
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