Pachaug Backpacking Trip

Troop 54 made our first trip to the Pachaug State Forest. We had 10 Scouts and 4 leaders on the trip. Our trail was basically a loop, although on the second day, we made a navigating error and had to backtrack a bit.

The weather was cool but clear. This area was getting a variety of use - we saw people on horseback, on mountain bikes and on motor bikes. At one point, we even saw cows running across the path.

There was plenty of fallen wood in and around the camp site for our evening camp fire.

We hiked 7 miles the first day and 6 miles the second day. See our actual trail (GPS data recorded by ASM Keith MacNeal):

Nice overnight trip with Boy Scout Troop 54 through the Pachaug Forest in Voluntown, CT. Trails are actively used by horseback riders, mountainbikers, day hikers, and offroad motorcyclists. Wearing hunter orange is recommended, except on Sundays. Pachaug and Nehantic trails were well marked with blue blazes. Qunnebaug only seemed to be marked with red arrows at intersections. Map from Connecticut Walk Book East showed Quinnebaug/Pachaug crossover trail as marked with blue and red blazes. We only saw only the red arrows at some turns and one stretch with blue and no red. As a result, on Day 2 we headed north on Quinnebaug instead of continuing on the crossover. We got back to the cars without issue, however. We did cut off a small section of the Quinneboag at the end and opted to use Hell Hollow Road to save a little time.

Note that there is a gate across Hell Hollow Road at the parking area. This is closed and locked for the winter months so through access is not allowed. When driving to the parking location, be sure to enter Hell Hollow from the east or you will be on the wrong side of the gate (not sure if section from this point to Stonehill and Breakneck roads would be open).

If you area Geocacher, there are many caches along the way.