Pine Mountain LbNA #17814
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Add Location| Owner: | phynstar   |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 2, 2005 |
| Location: | Tunxis State Forest |
| City: | Barkhamsted |
| County: | Litchfield |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 3 |
| Planted by: | The Bird Stamper |
|---|---|
| Found by: | phynstar (3) |
| Last found: | Mar 15, 2020 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFOFF |
| Last edited: | Sep 2, 2005 |
Pine Mountain
Location: Tunxis State Forest, Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., Connecticut.
Planted: 9/2/2005 by The Bird Stamper.
Letterboxes: 3
Time: 3 hours
Length: 4.5 mile round trip. 670 foot climb.
Difficulty:
Hill climbing. A stream crossing. Not recommended in wet or freezing weather. There are several rock faces to cross. Hunting is allowed, so wear orange clothing in season.
Description:
The Pine Mountain block of Tunxis State Forest has a lookout with a great view. It also has the Indian Council Caves. This is an area of large rocks with openings between them. It is believed that this was a meeting place for Native Americans. The blue blazed Tunxis Trail traverses the forest.
Directions:
From route 44 in New Hartford, take either route 181 or 318 to their junction at Pleasant Valley. Go east over the Farmington River, and follow the combined routes. Where 181 and 318 divide, turn right to follow route 318. Cross over the Saville Dam and see Barkhamsted Reservoir on your left. At the end of the dam, bear left and go to route 219 north. At the intersection with route 179, go straight to continue on route 179 north. In 1.9 miles, turn left into Tunxis State Forest, across from Pine Mountain Circle. There is a small parking area just inside the entrance.
The maps show this road is named Pine Mountain Rd, but there are no signs. Depending on the weather conditions and the vehicle you are driving, the road may be passable, but I will leave that to your judgment.
The Clues:
Follow Pine Mt Rd. It will curve to the right and go uphill. There are several trails and roads that branch off to the right. Stay to the left at all turns. The road will make a wide curve to the left and go up and down several slopes.
Eventually you will come to the place where the blue blazed Tunxis Trail crosses. The blazes and signs will be on both sides of the road. Turn left onto the trail and go up Pine Mountain. Be sure to take the trail at 145°, not the logging road. At the top, the trail will level out and come to an overlook with a fire ring. Climb down the rock to the east and it will open out to a larger view.
To continue on the Tunxis Trail, go back to the fire ring and take a bearing of 180°. The entrance to the trail is at the side of a forest road, behind the overgrowth.
Follow the trail to an open rock face that is ringed with trees. After passing a hemlock tree on the left, another fire ring is on the left. Take a sighting of 90° and walk 22 steps. Behind a three sister tree and under some logs, you will find Pine Mountain.
From the fire ring the trail continues at 185°. It will go down hill and come back out on Pine Mt Rd. Across the road the DEP has posted a sign explaining the Regeneration Harvest they did of the trees in this area.
Turn left and continue on the trail on Pine Mt Rd. The road ends in a turn around, and the trail continues on a narrower old road down slope. The old road ends in a drainage path to the left. The trail goes straight, then turns right, crosses a stream bed, and turns left again. The trail splits just before a log lying in the path, bear left. You will go by a pond and old beaver dam on the left, as well as the broken remains of a bridge. Continue on the trail to a stream crossing of Roaring Brook.
The trail will turn left to follow an old road. Then it bears right to avoid a seasonal wet spot. In a few steps, turn left off the trail, cross a dry stream, and follow a short path to see the Beaver Meadow. The beavers abandoned it prior to 1970, and it has been reverting to a grassy meadow. Eventually it will return to forest.
Return across the dry stream to the trail. Take a sighting at 180° and walk 40 steps to a group of five trees, oaks and maples. Check the pile of stones.
Continue on the trail that is to the right of the dry stream. Cross the dry stream and continue on an old road. The stone walls on each side speak of former pasture lands. You will come to a place where the old road splits, and there is a triangular area enclosed with stone walls. Bear to the right of this and join a wider forest road. There is a pond and old cellar holes on the left. The trail bears left to pass one of the holes. 54 steps further on, the trail turns to the right and goes to the Indian Council Caves.
These large rocks form interesting openings to explore. If you have ambition, you can climb up the rocks to the top and see a nice view. This is a well visited place.
After you have explored to your heart’s content, return to where the trail meets the first large rock. This rock has a point on it on the left, about head high, in the opposite direction from the cave. From this point sight 230° and go 18 steps. Here the trail starts to climb up the rocks. Instead, head left around the base of the rocks at 165°, and go 38 steps down a slight slope. You will see two twin sister trees. The one on the left has a pile of rocks at the base. Move one rock. Be sure to hide this carefully, as the area is well used.
Now return on the trail to the triangular stone wall place. If you want to avoid walking on the side of the main road, or you drove in Pine Mt Rd, go to the left and return on the trail you came on. Once you reach Pine Mt Rd, you can follow it back to your car. No need to climb the mountain again.
The shorter route is to go to the right and follow a forest road. This comes out on route 179 at the corner of Legeyt Rd. From there turn left and walk route 179 back to your car.
I hope you enjoyed your visit.
Location: Tunxis State Forest, Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., Connecticut.
Planted: 9/2/2005 by The Bird Stamper.
Letterboxes: 3
Time: 3 hours
Length: 4.5 mile round trip. 670 foot climb.
Difficulty:
Hill climbing. A stream crossing. Not recommended in wet or freezing weather. There are several rock faces to cross. Hunting is allowed, so wear orange clothing in season.
Description:
The Pine Mountain block of Tunxis State Forest has a lookout with a great view. It also has the Indian Council Caves. This is an area of large rocks with openings between them. It is believed that this was a meeting place for Native Americans. The blue blazed Tunxis Trail traverses the forest.
Directions:
From route 44 in New Hartford, take either route 181 or 318 to their junction at Pleasant Valley. Go east over the Farmington River, and follow the combined routes. Where 181 and 318 divide, turn right to follow route 318. Cross over the Saville Dam and see Barkhamsted Reservoir on your left. At the end of the dam, bear left and go to route 219 north. At the intersection with route 179, go straight to continue on route 179 north. In 1.9 miles, turn left into Tunxis State Forest, across from Pine Mountain Circle. There is a small parking area just inside the entrance.
The maps show this road is named Pine Mountain Rd, but there are no signs. Depending on the weather conditions and the vehicle you are driving, the road may be passable, but I will leave that to your judgment.
The Clues:
Follow Pine Mt Rd. It will curve to the right and go uphill. There are several trails and roads that branch off to the right. Stay to the left at all turns. The road will make a wide curve to the left and go up and down several slopes.
Eventually you will come to the place where the blue blazed Tunxis Trail crosses. The blazes and signs will be on both sides of the road. Turn left onto the trail and go up Pine Mountain. Be sure to take the trail at 145°, not the logging road. At the top, the trail will level out and come to an overlook with a fire ring. Climb down the rock to the east and it will open out to a larger view.
To continue on the Tunxis Trail, go back to the fire ring and take a bearing of 180°. The entrance to the trail is at the side of a forest road, behind the overgrowth.
Follow the trail to an open rock face that is ringed with trees. After passing a hemlock tree on the left, another fire ring is on the left. Take a sighting of 90° and walk 22 steps. Behind a three sister tree and under some logs, you will find Pine Mountain.
From the fire ring the trail continues at 185°. It will go down hill and come back out on Pine Mt Rd. Across the road the DEP has posted a sign explaining the Regeneration Harvest they did of the trees in this area.
Turn left and continue on the trail on Pine Mt Rd. The road ends in a turn around, and the trail continues on a narrower old road down slope. The old road ends in a drainage path to the left. The trail goes straight, then turns right, crosses a stream bed, and turns left again. The trail splits just before a log lying in the path, bear left. You will go by a pond and old beaver dam on the left, as well as the broken remains of a bridge. Continue on the trail to a stream crossing of Roaring Brook.
The trail will turn left to follow an old road. Then it bears right to avoid a seasonal wet spot. In a few steps, turn left off the trail, cross a dry stream, and follow a short path to see the Beaver Meadow. The beavers abandoned it prior to 1970, and it has been reverting to a grassy meadow. Eventually it will return to forest.
Return across the dry stream to the trail. Take a sighting at 180° and walk 40 steps to a group of five trees, oaks and maples. Check the pile of stones.
Continue on the trail that is to the right of the dry stream. Cross the dry stream and continue on an old road. The stone walls on each side speak of former pasture lands. You will come to a place where the old road splits, and there is a triangular area enclosed with stone walls. Bear to the right of this and join a wider forest road. There is a pond and old cellar holes on the left. The trail bears left to pass one of the holes. 54 steps further on, the trail turns to the right and goes to the Indian Council Caves.
These large rocks form interesting openings to explore. If you have ambition, you can climb up the rocks to the top and see a nice view. This is a well visited place.
After you have explored to your heart’s content, return to where the trail meets the first large rock. This rock has a point on it on the left, about head high, in the opposite direction from the cave. From this point sight 230° and go 18 steps. Here the trail starts to climb up the rocks. Instead, head left around the base of the rocks at 165°, and go 38 steps down a slight slope. You will see two twin sister trees. The one on the left has a pile of rocks at the base. Move one rock. Be sure to hide this carefully, as the area is well used.
Now return on the trail to the triangular stone wall place. If you want to avoid walking on the side of the main road, or you drove in Pine Mt Rd, go to the left and return on the trail you came on. Once you reach Pine Mt Rd, you can follow it back to your car. No need to climb the mountain again.
The shorter route is to go to the right and follow a forest road. This comes out on route 179 at the corner of Legeyt Rd. From there turn left and walk route 179 back to your car.
I hope you enjoyed your visit.