Watch our video and then read about our trip in more detail
I'm not sure where I first heard about the Spruce Brook Trail but after seeing photos of it I knew I had to put it on my map of places to visit. Located in Naugatuck State Forest instead of a state park makes this one of the less visited locations on my list. It took a few weeks for us to find our way down here, and we went on a 90 degree day, but we managed to have the trail to ourselves for almost the entire time. When we were leaving a number of locals had shown up to dip into the various pools and I can see why, this place is great and about ten degrees cooler by the brook.
Our car couldn't really handle the entry road to this place so we parked in the lot just outside the gates. There were a bunch of cars leaving on this same road so if you're willing to drive it then you can save about .7 miles in each direction by foot. There were plenty of people walking in and out though so we didn't feel out of place not risking the car. You'll find at least 3 trail heads at the end of the second parking lot, left of the fork in the road. Be aware the trails are poorly marked.
The blue trail itself is a tight ravine with multiple cascades and tiny little water falls emptying into many pools. There are a number of small man made stone barriers to make these pools bigger and the locals definitely love coming here. That said, we didn't see any trash which was a huge relief from some other hikes we've taken! There are a number of areas with small scrambles or large steps, and a few sections with very slippery rocks you need to be careful on.
After you finally cross the brook you have several options where to go. The simplest way is to follow the white trail for a few hundred feet, cross the sketchiest bridge I've been on in a while, and cross back over and back onto the blue trail. You'll take a short walk on the ridge above where you hike previously before coming back onto the path by the brook and simply hike back down. It's possible to take the red trail in a full loop but online reviews say that the red and red/white trail are not of particular interest.
This is definitely a place worth visiting, especially if you're willing to get into the water and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the ravine. This is certainly a place that more people should know about and I'm happy to share it!
P.S. -We had a small scare as my peak design camera clip somehow failed and my DSLR dunked right into a pool of water. While the camera was rescued in ten seconds flat, we will have to wait a week while it dries in some rice. This is to say that the photos for this trail were taken with phone cameras this time! --
I put in about 100 hours of work in 2015-16 blazing and clearing the trails and had assistance from other volunteers who contributed about another 50 hours. The trails should be clearly marked. At the end of Spruce Brook Gorge, the trail turns left and ascends over the rocks to a higher trail and does not cross the brook. The footbridge along the woods road was replaced by a Boy Scout in 2020. The Red Trail goes nowhere near Spruce Brook Gorge, but has lovely views of four reservoirs. The Orange Trail makes for a good loop with the Blue Trail. The stae map shows all the trail colors. This webpage that I created goes into further detail and includes…