This leg is a really nice walk in the woods, with a beautiful stroll along Bigelow Brook at the beginning.

Rules: Foot travel only: no vehicles, bicycles or horses. Dogs must be leashed. Blue trails sometimes pass through private property, so stay on the trail. Practice Leave No Trace principles on your outing.

Walkability: Fairly easy to moderate with muddy wet sections, crossing streams on rocks, and a climb that is mostly long and gentle, not steep.

Total distance: 1.6 miles.

Time: less than an hour.

Elevation change: 274 feet (up + down); gradual slopes, no steep hills. 

Environment: The trail begins at the road at the end of the guard rail on the bridge over Bigelow Brook. Stand at the guard rail and look upstream, then move to the left end of the guard rail, which has blue blazes painted on the end. Start down the trail and follow Bigelow Brook, which is on your right, going upstream for about 0.2 mile. The brook is quite picturesque here, wide and moving swiftly over rocks. You will have the opportunity to examine the root system of a large tree that fell over the brook, exposing its underside. The trail turns left (west) and begins to climb out of the valley. This climb is long but not steep. At about the 0.5 mile mark, you will reach the top and the walk is more or less level or downhill after that. There is a section with a lot of stones embedded in the trail, and going can be a little tough here, like walking on cobblestones. There are also wet muddy sections on the way up the slope and at the top. The trail takes a sharp right turn, then another left turn to bypass the Ashford Lake community. There is a sudden, brief appearance of a meadow, and even bleachers for viewing the meadow. Perhaps there are deer shows? Then the trail meanders through the woods, descending gradually to Moon Road. There is a short jog to the right on Moon Road to continue on the trail to its terminus should you choose to hike the two legs at the same time.

We saw many very long stone walls along this trail, more and longer than we've seen on any other trail in Ashford. We wondered if this was due to the type of agriculture practiced here, or if this section of town was endowed with many more stones in the soil. The walls are a wonder to behold.

Directions:  Turn south onto Ashford Road in Eastford from Eastford/Westford Road and go 0.2 mile. There are parking spots on both sides of road (not a formal parking lot). The trail begins across the brook from the parking, at the end of the guard rail. Look for the blue blazes painted on the guard rail. Turn right and begin your hike going upstream. 

Link to Connecticut Forest and Parks Association interactive trail map: https://ctwoodlands.org/explore-trails/interactive-map/ On a computer, type in "Natchaug" to see this section. On a phone, zoom in to locate area.

Back to Natchaug Trail Overview page. Link to the next Natchaug Trail leg, Moon Road to terminus.

November 2023