Hiking Devil’s Den Nature Preserve in Connecticut
Deanna and I actually hiked around Devil’s Den Nature Preserve last year around the same time but only did a small portion of it near the pond. This year we decided to go back (now that we are documenting our adventures) and film the nature preserve so you all could see it!
TONS OF FUN TRAILS
Rather than taking the same route we did last year around the beautiful pond and miniature waterfall, we decided to hike the western portion of the preserve. Just like much of Connecticut, there are cool rock formations all along the trail.
NOT MANY TRUE VISTAS
–> Devil’s Den Nature Preserve Trail Map <–
We were slightly disappointed in the “vistas” located between junction 44 and 46 on the trail map. As I said in the video, there probably were vistas at one point in time.
However, due to trees doing what trees do, they have overgrown the two areas labeled vistas on that map. We didn’t hike to the other vistas, but maybe they have some better views. Please tell us in the comments if you have visited those other vistas! 🙂
Our favorite aspects of this nature preserve were the various water features along the trails we took. I originally started filming every single junction we took to truly document our journey throughout the preserve, but it turns out there are a heck of a lot of junctions. Here is the run down though and I’ll use the letter J for junction so you all don’t have that word stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
(Red path above was the start of the video, then the blue path was what we ended the video with)
ROUTE WE TOOK
We started at the parking lot, went to the Pent Trail head then left on J3, left on J17, left on J14, left on J12, right on J46, right/south on Den Trail at J44, stayed on Den and merged into Pent trail near J10/J9, and took Pent all the way back to the parking lot. Then we retraced our foot steps via our previous year’s journey on Laurel Trail.
Not sure this will help you because some of the junctions aren’t mentioned on this map. However, we took J22, to J23, to J24, then to J25. Honestly if you stay on Laurel trail and take a left at J31 it would be a lot less confusing…so just do that. 🙂 On your left you will eventually see the little waterfall from the video and the pond we took a time-lapse at.
There was also a really cool turbine of sorts leftover from the old saw mill. Neat stuff!
SUMMARY
We will have to head back sometime and bring you some footage from the northern end of the park! Just remember, no dogs allowed unfortunately. I’m sure Blaze would have loved the trail if it were dog friendly.
OTHER NEARBY HIKES
Centennial Watershed State Forest
Weir Farm National Historic Site
NOTE FROM WRITER
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Also be sure to check out Deanna’s food blog when you get the chance! A lot of awesome and healthy recipes to use there!
Adventure On!
