Mostly November 10, 2023
I made quick visits to a ton of sites, mostly on November 10 but the first two on November 7 and 8. Had great fun driving about northern CT.
Lower Farmington & Salmon Brook National Wild & Scenic Rivers. I went to three different spots, the last was along the New England Trail and brought back pleasant memories.
Deadman’s Swamp Unit of Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge This large forested flood plain is accessible by river only, but I got as close as I could on foot without trespassing and took a photo toward its direction –
Bingham Pond Bog National Natural Landmark. There are no trails to the bog, and since it is a rare example of an undisturbed northern spruce bog, I did not try to bushwhack toward it. This photo is from a narrow, crumbling, and remote public road that one should not drive on unless one has high clearance.
West Cornwall Covered Bridge (Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area). One of the last covered bridges in CT, the original was built in 1762. The current bridge was built in 1864 and modernized in 1968. This bridge stretches over the Housatonic River, which is an NPS Wild & Scenic River
Cathedral Pines National Natural Landmark. This old-growth white pine and hemlock forest suffered heavy damage from high winds in 1989. A short hiking trail leads a wanderer among some of the remaining trees.
Beckley Bog National Natural Landmark. This is the southernmost sphagnum heath bog in New England. There are no trails to it, but I got a glimpse of the bog through the trees off a narrow and crumbling public road.
West Branch Farmington National Wild & Scenic River
