Upper Paugussett State Forest

Newton, Fairfield County, CT

Source: Connecticut Forest and Park Association; Connecticut Walk Book

The forest is located along Lake Lillinonah (Housatonic River).

Directions:

US 84 to exit 10; left turn onto Church Hill Road; right turn onto The Boulevard, which becomes Hanover Road after going under US 84. Set odometer at 0. Pass Echo Valley Road (where there is also parking) at 1.6 miles. At 4.4 miles turn right into the Pond Brook Boat Launch (state owned).

Facilities:

Hunting is available in season.

History:

Lillinonah, daughter of Chief Waramaug, fell in love with a white man who then stayed on with the Indians. But when winter came, the white man left for home saying he would return in the spring. His return was delayed and Chief Waramaug asked his daughter to marry the young brave Eagle Feather. But at the wedding ceremony, Lillinonah fled to the Housatonic River in New Milford and got into her carefully hidden canoe to escape. The story goes that the white man returned just in time to see that Lillinonah was head over a set of falls. He dove into the water from the cliff he was on and the two reunited as they went over the falls to their deaths.

Habitats:

hemlock grove, mixed forest, lake

Trails:

The Lillinonah Trail is a circular trail of 6.3 miles in length.

Follow the blue-blazed Lillinonah Trail parallel to the brook through the mixed forest and then climb slightly. This part of the trail is a designated scenic trail because of its lake views. (It is closed Dec. 15 to March 15 to protect the nesting bald eagles.)

Heading clockwise the trail heads northeast to near Lake Lillinonah, bending southeast and east to bend again this time going slightly southwest; the final leg heads northwest away from Lake Lillinonah, goes past the parking area at Echo Valley Road, and comes back to the parking area.

PLANT LIST:

Dr. Patrick L. Cooney (just a look around at the parking area, February 16, 2002)

Betula populifolia (gray birch)

Prunus serotina (black cherry)

Quercus alba (white oak)

Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock)

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