Menunkatuck Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Geological Significance · Lake · River/Creek

There is no parking area or road access at the northern terminus of this trail. This trail ends at a junction with the Mattabesett in the middle of the woods. The closest parking area is the one for Bluff Head on Route 77 which is approximately 1.5 miles to the west.

This trail begins on a boardwalk along the shores of Long Island Sound in Guilford's Chittenden Park. It then leaves this park and embarks on a road run (expect for an excursion through the grounds of the Henry Whitfield House State Museum) that totals about 4 miles about half of which has sidewalks.

After this road run, the trail enters the East River Preserve. Immediately upon entering the preserve the trail leads to a small overlook of exposed rocks that provides views of the East River. The trail continues on easy, if a bit rocky terrain, generally along the river. The trail then leaves this preserve and weaves together small parcels of land owned by the Guilford Land Conservation Trust between neighborhoods.

It then enters the Timberlands Preserve which has easily the best views of water in the Upper Guilford Lake and Iron Stream. After exiting the Timberlands and crossing Route 80 and enters a parcel of Cockaponset State Forest. At this point, it is possible that you might hear gunshots from the Guilford Sportsman Association.

Otherwise, both this parcel of Cockaponset and Genesee Recreations area alternates between wide forest roads and rocky ridges. The trail then ends at a junction of the Mattabesset Trail.