Thursday, May 2, 2013

Macedonia Brook State Park


places where you won't be able to wipe the wag off your dog's tail - Kent CT


The Park
The Scatacook Indians were the first to settle in the hills around the confluence of the Housatonic and Ten Mile rivers. Not much changed when the British founded Kent in 1738. In fact, when the American Revolution broke out in 1775, Scatacook volunteers operated a signal system up on the ridgetops. The valley around Macedonia evolved into an important early American iron center. Every tree for miles around was cut to fee the hungry forges of the Kent Iron Company. By 1848 there were none left. Not that it mattered since more productive iron mines were putting eastern forges out of business. Kent survived to the end of the Civil War before its forge went cold. The core lands for the state park came to Connecticut in 1918 from siblings Alain and May White, dispersing a family fortune made when Danbury was the fur hat capital of the world. Federal Conservation Corps workers during the Great Depression of the 1930s reforested and built the park.

The Walks
Any level of canine hiker will delight in Macedonia Brook State Park. Dogs looking for a ramble down a shady country lane can set out on dirt roads and grassy paths that run along and across Macedonia Brook. You can spend over an hour hiking in the valley and past the campground. The prize for adventurous dogs is Cobble Mountain with its splendid views to the west across the Hudson River to the Catskill Mountains. From the center of the park a short, rugged boulder scramble - maybe the state’s harshest - leads to the Cobble Mountain summit. If your dog can’t make it or you can’t lift him, retreat and access the blue-blazed Macedonia Ridge Trail that circles the park. This spirited route covers more than six miles and crosses four hilltops in a very rewarding circuit but can be shortened with connector trails if you notice your dog flagging.

Where The Paw Meets The Earth: The trails are well-marked and signed.
Workout For Your Dog - A sporty hour or so of hiking.
Swimming - Don’t bother the fly fishermen and your dog can cool off in Macedonia Brook.
Restrictions On Dogs - Dogs are allowed to hike the park trails and snack in the sreamside picnic areas but can not stay in the campground.

Something Extra
Just north of the town of Kent on Route 7 is Kent Falls, a series of water cascades tumbling 250 feet over a quarter-mile. The tallest single drop is 70 feet, just ten feet from being the state’s highest. A short trail leads up and over the falls. Make it a stop-off on your trip to Macedonia Brook; there are multiple plunge pools where your dog can play.

Phone - (860) 927-3238
Admission Fee - None
Directions - Kent; from Route 7 in the center of town take Route 341 west to Macedonia Brook Road. Turn right and stay left to the park.



The Hiking With Dogs group on Facebook is the place to post photos and info on your favorite canine hikes. Also get questions answered and find advice from members: join now

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