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The Chatfield Trail travels from Chatfield Hollow State Park south through portions of the Cockaponset State Forest and Forster Pond State Park as well as through private lands and Deer Lake Camp. The easy-to-moderate forested hiking trail passes through rock formations and near cliffs, caves, boulders, and streams. Rocky ledges and uneven terrain present unique challenges along the way.
About one mile south from the starting point in Chatfield Hollow State Park, trail users will find a small lookout with glacial erratic boulders.
Some sections pass through caves formed by overlapping rock cliffs and boulders. The most famous rock feature, known as Fat Mans Squeeze, is a narrow opening through a cliff about halfway down the trail.
Continuing south, the trail joins and follows Chatfield Hollow Brook and ends at River Road.
Notice a trail problem? Report it to CFPA.
Take Exit 15 for CT-81 toward Killingworth/Clinton. Turn right onto CT-81 South/Killingworth Road. Follow CT-81 South for 8 miles.
For north parking, at the traffic circle, take the first exit onto Route 80 West. In 1.4 miles, the parking area will be on the left.
For south parking, at the traffic circle, take the second exit to stay on CT-81 South. In half a mile, turn right onto Green Hill Road and follow for 2 miles. Turn right on River Road. In 0.3 miles, turn right on Paper Mill Road and follow for 0.4 miles to one parking area on the left, or continue on River Road for an additional 0.4 miles to the other parking area on the left.
Take Exit 8 for CT-80/CT-17/Middletown Avenue toward North Branford. If exiting I-91 North, merge onto CT-80 East. If exiting I-91 South, turn left onto CT-17 North and follow for 0.1 miles. Then, continue onto CT-80 East and follow for 14 miles.
For north parking, at the traffic circle, take the second exit to stay on CT-80 East. In 2.7 miles, the parking area is on the right.
For south parking, at the traffic circle, take the first exit onto CT-79 South and follow for 3 miles. Then turn left onto Chestnut Hill Road. Follow for one mile and turn right onto River Road. After 0.5 miles, turn right into one parking area on the right, or follow River Road for an additional 0.1 miles and then make a sharp left onto Paper Mill Road. Follow for 0.4 miles to the other parking area, on the left.
At the north end of the trail, there is a small gravel parking lot on North Branford Road in Chatfield Hollow State Park. At the south end, there are two small off-road parking areas at Deer Camp Lake.
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