Home › Connecticut › Sandy Hook › Paugussett State Forest
Paugussett State Forest
4.8 ★★★★★ 123 Google reviews · Running trail in Sandy Hook, Connecticut · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 4 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Paugussett State Forest's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
State park offering hiking & biking trails, fishing & a launch for boating activities.
What runners say about Paugussett State Forest
“A short ride from Shelton, the ride was wonderfully bucolic backroads in some areas officially designated as scenic by our constitution state.”
“Nice moderate hike on well marked trail.”
We hiked the trail clockwise from the parking lot. If you go out blue and take a right on the blue/white trail and back on blue to make a loop it was about 5 miles. 1300 ft of elevation gain and I would say a moderate hike with several inclines.
Nice long hiking trail through a beautiful forest. There is a waterfall further a long the trail as well. The trail full trail is around 7 miles long so it is a good place to go for a day hike.
Great hike. Option of a 4 mile loop (2 miles to the falls and 2 back) or keep going for the 6-7 mile loop. 👍
East of town locale in the sandy hook section of town on the border with the Stevenson section of the town of Monroe across the housatonic river from the town of Southbury. This place is well hidden, a mile and a half down a dead end road ( great quarter road) off of Berkshire road (state route 34).
Trail conditions & character
“A short ride from Shelton, the ride was wonderfully bucolic backroads in some areas officially designated as scenic by our constitution state.”
“If you go out blue and take a right on the blue/white trail and back on blue to make a loop it was about 5 miles.”
“A number of hiking trails and some single track mountain biking trails.”
“There were portions of the trail where the markings were hard to find (if they existed at all) but you were able to figure out where to go and eventually found trail markers ahead.”
Plan your run at Paugussett State Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance4 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- Websitect.gov
- Phone+1 860-424-3000
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Sandy Hook
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Kettletown State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 588 reviews
Swimming & fishing in the Housatonic River, plus hiking & 63 camp sites in open or wooded settings.
Newtown Halfway River Trail
3.8 ★★★★☆ 4 reviews
Webb Mountain Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 209 reviews
Green space with camping in a former Christmas tree farm plus a sawmill, a pond & a scenic overlook.
Webb Mountain Discovery Zone
4.7 ★★★★★ 60 reviews
Park with hiking trails, picnic tables, and educational programs for children.
Southford Falls State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,216 reviews
Park, with ponds and waterfalls plus trails, a watchtower and a covered bridge.