page_title: Housatonic Range Trail
section_title: Hiking the trail
hierarchical_section_title: Housatonic Range Trail / Hiking the trail
caption_attribution_description: Housatonic Range Blue-Blazed Trail. Blue-Blazed CFPA linear foot path from Candlewood Mountain in New Milford and to Gaylordsville Cemetary in Gaylordsville. Housatonic Range CFPA Blue-Blazed Trail in New Milford. Housatonic Range Trail (AKA Candlewood Mtn Trail). Cave under "Kelly's Slide" on side trail.
context_page_description: The Housatonic Range Trail is a 6.2-mile Blue-Blazed hiking trail in the Housatonic Valley Region of Litchfield County in the town of New Milford in the Candlewood Mountain and Gaylordsville Connecticut sections.The north-south axis of the trail parallels the Housatonic River through private land and land trust parcels.The Housatonic Range Trail is maintained largely through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, which provides online Blue Trail maps.
  The Housatonic Range Trail is primarily used as a through-hike or bird-watching. The trail consists of several quiet woodland segments, with terrain ranging from riparian valley to ridgeline escarpments; it is intersected in a handful of places by small country lanes where car-parking slots are very convenient but of limited size. Thus, the trail is taken as one through-hike, or a series of shorter hikes. The northern end of the trail veers slightly westward away from the Housatonic River.
context_section_description: The mainline Housatonic Range 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 just the climb up to the northern high point near the great Oak tree).
  Much of the Housatonic Range Trail is close to water and though some swamp areas inland are prone to flooding the trail along the lake shore is mostly on very high ground. There are no camping facilities along the trail and primitive camping is prohibited in most locations on the route. 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. This trail does not really have any exposed ridge tops or summits. 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 usually occurs 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.  Since some parts of the trail follow forest roads, ruts and tracks from ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles make be found.
  Biting insects can be bothersome during warm weather. Parasitic deer ticks (which are known to carry Lyme disease) are a potential hazard.
  Only the northern trail head and the middle of the trail are close to residential areas. There is one very short paved road walk—along CT-37 and Roads.  The northern half of the trail crosses two paved roads.
  Some parts of the trail is adjacent to, or are 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: View looking out from inside the "cave" under Kelly's Slide near Candlewood Mountain.
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