Hiking Spruce Brook Ravine
It’s arguably one of the most scenic hiking trails and series of waterfalls in Connecticut, yet it seems like hardly anyone outside of Beacon Falls has ever even heard about Spruce Brook Ravine (aka High Rock Park). The trail’s towering trees, deep ravine and multiple waterfalls makes it feel more like a mountain side in New Hampshire than it does the Naugatuck Valley.
To get to the trail, you need to follow a bumpy dirt road which runs parallel to a railroad track. You’ll want to park in the first parking area you find as the primary parking area has been closed off due to an unsafe bridge.
The area is a part of the Naugatuck State Forest, which covers almost 5,000 acres and is spread across Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Oxford, Bethany, Hamden, Cheshire, Ansonia, and Seymour.
The Forest originated with Harris Whittemore, an industrialist and member of the State Forest and Park Commission. In 1921, Mr. Whittemore began buying parcels of land in the Naugatuck Valley, intending to donate them to the State. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to realize his dream, but after his death in 1928, his family continued to acquire land, and in 1931, almost 2,000 acres were donated in his memory.
Category: Things To Do
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I go hiking there once a week because I live in Beacon Falls. Awesome tourist attraction!
We tried to find this based on direction in New England Waterfalls (Parsons & Watson) but the directions didn’t seem to make sense, nor did they mention having to drive along a narrow rocky railway bed! We got spooked at such a drive, and didn’t finish. How long does one have to travel alongside the train track, and is there any other entrance to the park, and the falls, especially the one that you can walk behind?
Hi Daniella. Access to this trail is getting increasingly difficult. The dirt road extends about .7 miles before you get to the trail. The road conditions have gotten increasingly bad and you can no longer drive to the parking area that some other websites might direct you to. I would suggest parking somewhere on the paved part of the road and walk the rest of the way. It will only take you about 15 minutes. Here’s a link with walking directions: http://g.co/maps/d59va