Bogus Mountain
The land lies partially in the town of Bethel and partially in the adjoining city of Danbury
Over 630 acres

Directions:

From Route 53 South (Danbury/Bethel) continue south past Route 302 intersection approximately 2 miles. Turn right into Francis Clarke Circle (Business Park). Turn left at the "T" and follow the circle to a Left turn onto Trowbridge Drive. Continue to the cul de sac at the end of Trowbridge Drive and the main trail head.

Habitats:

lowland marshes, high ridgelines and slopes, vernal pools and mature hardwood forest

History:

The area was one a dwelling place for Native Americans. Many artifacts have been found in the area including arrowheads, stone tools, milling stones, and other common objects.

Workers draining Mountain Pond during a drought in 1911 uncovered a fully-intact pre-revolutionary dugout canoe.

Trails:

I climbed up Bogus Mountain and came back the way I came up.

The trials are a bit of a mess because there is evidence of the ATV everywhere on the trails. And there are a lot of unnecessary extra trails that don‘t really lead anywhere. There is no gate blocking access to the area, which certainly encourages ATV use. The trails were a little muddy because of the many ruts caused by the vehicles.

You can follow the blue blazes (although they are very faded and not too clear at all) up to the top. The far east trail puts you on the cliff overlooking the railway and Sympaug Pond.

The main trail goes pretty straight south and then turn right to begin a zig-zag path up to the top.

You can use the trails to make a circular walk coming down on Rocky Road, but check the maps.

PLANT LIST:
Dr. Patrick L. Cooney

February 21, 2002

Trees:
Betula lenta (black birch)
Carpinus caroliniana (musclewood)
Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)
Carya tomentosa (mockernut hickory)
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Juniperus virginiana (red cedar)
Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree)
Prunus serotina (black cherry)
Quercus alba (white oak)
Quercus prinus (chestnut oak)
Quercus rubra (red oak)
Quercus velutina (black oak)
Sassafras albidum (sassafras)
Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock)

Shrubs:
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)
Chimaphila maculata (spotted wintergreen)
Euonymus alatus (winged euonymus)
Fagus grandifolia (American beech)
Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)
Ligustrum sp. (privet)
Lindera benzoin (spicebush)
Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle)
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry)
Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)
Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)
Rubus sp. (dewberry -- prickles on both stem and runner)
Staphylea trifolia (bladdernut)
Vaccinium sp. (a low-bush blueberry type)
Viburnum acerifolium (maple-leaf viburnum)
Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw viburnum)

Vines:
Celastrus orbiculatus (Asiatic bittersweet)
Vincetoxicum nigrum (black swallowwort)
Vitis sp. (grape)

Herbs:
Artemisia vulgaris (common mugwort)
Daucus carota (Queen Anne’s lace)
Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe)
Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)
Potentilla sp. (cinquefoil)
Prunella vulgaris (self-heal)

Sedges:
Carex laxiflora type (sedge)

Ferns:
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)

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