View Full Version : Parking for section hike near MA/CT border?
plodalong
03-01-2016, 16:27
We are planning to hike CT/NY line to the MA line this April. We can get a ride to the starting point and are looking for a secure place to leave our car. We had thought the AT western center at the Kellogg Center would be a likely spot but was told no hiker parking is allowed. We saw a couple of road side spots but wondered if there was a more secure area nearby. Any ideas? Thanks
GoldenBear
03-01-2016, 16:37
http://rohland.homedns.org:8008/at/state/state_detail/AT_state_detail.aspx?stateID=8%20§ionID=53
http://rohland.homedns.org:8008/at/state/state_detail/AT_state_detail.aspx?stateID=9%20§ionID=174
Note that this site measures mileage from north to south. Thus, Mile Zero of a section is the most NORTHERN part.
You might try the Quality Inn in Great Barrington. You'd need to extend your hike for another day, and hitch or call for a shuttle. I would not recommend any of the smaller trailheads for that long a period.
Cosmo
Migrating Bird
03-02-2016, 08:56
Here is a link to my trip report from April, 2015. http://whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/110814-Conn-AT-Trail-Conditions?highlight=Ct+trip+report
Personally, I wouldn't be concerned with leaving a car at the Undermountian Trailhead on RT. 41. It does see a lot of use by weekend, day hikers but is rather large lot. Have a great trip, I really enjoyed that section. Enjoy your hike.
Traveler
03-02-2016, 10:55
Hiking from the NY/CT line to the MA line is a wonderful trek, you'll enjoy it a lot. The MA/CT line is at Sages Ravine, north of bear mountain. It really depends where you want to leave the trail. If you want to hike over Bear and down into the Ravine, touch the state line, and return back up to the Paradise Lane trail (to link to the Undermountain Access Trail), leaving a car at the under mountain trail head on Rt 41 would be a fairly safe place. I have never had a problem at that parking area and have used it a lot.
However, if you want to travel past the MA/CT State line to the next access trail, that would require going over Race Mountain and taking the Racebrook Falls trail down to the Rt 41 trailhead (several miles north of the Undermountain trail head on Rt 41). That parking area is also fairly safe. I don't think there are problems with leaving a car at the Jug End road trail crossing, though there is only room for a few cars there, I have never had problems there either, but it may be a comfort level issue.
I believe that all of the above sections are going to have you doing a bunch of extra walking past the CT/MA border. If you don't want to do more climbing in MA, just park at the spot listed as "Northwest Road" at this site: http://rohland.homedns.org:8008/at/state/state_detail/AT_state_detail.aspx?stateID=8+§ionID=129
Easy flat hike from that lot to the AT. I believe that the turnoff for the parking lot is a couple of hundred yards south of the MA state line.
Traveler
03-02-2016, 17:30
I believe that all of the above sections are going to have you doing a bunch of extra walking past the CT/MA border. If you don't want to do more climbing in MA, just park at the spot listed as "Northwest Road" at this site: http://rohland.homedns.org:8008/at/state/state_detail/AT_state_detail.aspx?stateID=8+§ionID=129
Easy flat hike from that lot to the AT. I believe that the turnoff for the parking lot is a couple of hundred yards south of the MA state line.
ARgh, forgot about the back road in! That would be a great place to park, not at all difficult to walk down to the Ravine touch the border and return.
ARgh, forgot about the back road in! That would be a great place to park, not at all difficult to walk down to the Ravine touch the border and return.
Nope, the ravine bottom is not the border. The state is somewhere on the slope south of the ravine. It's actually not very far down at all from the trail intersection to the border.
Nope, the ravine bottom is not the border. The state is somewhere on the slope south of the ravine. It's actually not very far down at all from the trail intersection to the border.
Is it still there? Seems like the last time we were in the area, you didn't see a welcome to MA sign until you went through the ravine and crossed the water (past the campsite area). I remember there being a sign on the way into the ravine (coming from the south) in the past but didn't see it more recently.
Is it still there? Seems like the last time we were in the area, you didn't see a welcome to MA sign until you went through the ravine and crossed the water (past the campsite area). I remember there being a sign on the way into the ravine (coming from the south) in the past but didn't see it more recently.
The sign isn't on the border. Check any map--the bottom of the ravine is well into Massachusetts.
Traveler
03-04-2016, 07:39
Is it still there? Seems like the last time we were in the area, you didn't see a welcome to MA sign until you went through the ravine and crossed the water (past the campsite area). I remember there being a sign on the way into the ravine (coming from the south) in the past but didn't see it more recently.
Burger is right, the MA/CT line is just south of the Paradise Lane trail, though I too think of the sign further down in the Ravine as the marker.
the CT/MA border is perhaps the best example of something that come sup every so often and perplexes me-
why would anyone worry so much about hiking to a geopolitical boundary? ie, why do a hike that involves a backtrack, several miles of a side trail, and parking at a hard to get to trail head just to hike to a border? makes no sense to me at all. either stop in salisbury and save the taconics for next time or continue on to jug end and end there. to me, if youre section hiking the AT, jumping through hoops to hike to the border and only to the border is a waste of energy better spent doing something else.
Rain Man
03-04-2016, 14:19
Thanks for the thread, Plodalong! I plan to go back in May and pick up in Kent, CT and hike north a week or two. At least complete Connecticut, I hope. So, this is timely stuff for me to read.
Migrating Bird
03-04-2016, 21:55
I believe that all of the above sections are going to have you doing a bunch of extra walking past the CT/MA border. If you don't want to do more climbing in MA, just park at the spot listed as "Northwest Road" at this site: http://rohland.homedns.org:8008/at/state/state_detail/AT_state_detail.aspx?stateID=8+§ionID=129
Easy flat hike from that lot to the AT. I believe that the turnoff for the parking lot is a couple of hundred yards south of the MA state line.
If you wish to park on East st. (dirt road), as described in the link above, access is only from the north. East St. at the MA/CT line is blocked with jersey barriers until after mud season, (sometime in May). This would require you to drive all the way around past Jug End. Also there is only room for 3 cars at best, most often 2 due to the way people park and is heavily used by folks staying at the cabin and/or day hikers. Do not block the gate as it is needed for access to the AMC cabin. There is a small pull off on the opposite side of the road, at the Mt Frissel trailhead, but it is not well defined. While it is a fairly level walk out from the north side of Bear Mt. to East St., Paradise Lane is also has very little elevation gain/loss and is beautiful trail. You could do an out and back into the Ravine if time permits. As mentioned above the state line, if it matters at all, is near the intersection of the AT and Paradise Lane. There is a small MA/CT sign on the north side of the brook at the lower end of the Ravine about a mile north of the intersection of PLT and the AT.
Migrating Bird
03-04-2016, 22:17
the CT/MA border is perhaps the best example of something that come sup every so often and perplexes me-
why would anyone worry so much about hiking to a geopolitical boundary? ie, why do a hike that involves a backtrack, several miles of a side trail, and parking at a hard to get to trail head just to hike to a border? makes no sense to me at all. either stop in salisbury and save the taconics for next time or continue on to jug end and end there. to me, if youre section hiking the AT, jumping through hoops to hike to the border and only to the border is a waste of energy better spent doing something else.
First of all, the Undermountian Trailhead is not hard to get to and offers plenty of parking for upwards of 10 cars answers the OP question. Jug End road (dirt road, secluded) maybe 3 on the side of the road. Secondly, if one is to hike this section, Lions Head, Bear Mt and Sages Ravine are the crown jewels of the trail. Access to the AT near the MA/CT line requires either a hike of 1 mile from/to East St. or exiting at Riga Junction, via the Undermountian Trail (about 1.3 miles down hill to RT 41) south of Bear Mt or Paradise Lane Trail/Undermountian Trail, about 2.5 miles of very easy walking.
There is no backtracking involved unless one only wanted to go down into Sages Ravine and come back out heading south. After all it's walking, no big deal, no hoops.
First of all, the Undermountian Trailhead is not hard to get to and offers plenty of parking for upwards of 10 cars answers the OP question. Jug End road (dirt road, secluded) maybe 3 on the side of the road. Secondly, if one is to hike this section, Lions Head, Bear Mt and Sages Ravine are the crown jewels of the trail. Access to the AT near the MA/CT line requires either a hike of 1 mile from/to East St. or exiting at Riga Junction, via the Undermountian Trail (about 1.3 miles down hill to RT 41) south of Bear Mt or Paradise Lane Trail/Undermountian Trail, about 2.5 miles of very easy walking.
There is no backtracking involved unless one only wanted to go down into Sages Ravine and come back out heading south. After all it's walking, no big deal, no hoops.
plenty of "crown jewels" north of the ravine too, no?
i still dont see the point. is someone giving out "i hiked all of CT, but none of MA" certificates or something?
"2.5 miles of very easy walking" means that when you factor in repeating it when you move on to the next section, its an extra 5 miles. i really just dont get why anyone would want to do this. no one would would be likely to choose something like that if not for the fact that its how you hike to the CT/MA border and i just dont see how the border of 2 states that occurs smack in the middle of a mountain ridge is somehow a destination.
plenty of "crown jewels" north of the ravine too, no?
i still dont see the point. is someone giving out "i hiked all of CT, but none of MA" certificates or something?
"2.5 miles of very easy walking" means that when you factor in repeating it when you move on to the next section, its an extra 5 miles. i really just dont get why anyone would want to do this. no one would would be likely to choose something like that if not for the fact that its how you hike to the CT/MA border and i just dont see how the border of 2 states that occurs smack in the middle of a mountain ridge is somehow a destination.
And I don't see why Katahdin is somehow a destination. Or Springer Moutain. Or Campo, California. Or Glacier National Park.
All hiking trails are arbitrary. Let the OP start and stop where they want. It doesn't affect you or anyone else.
And I don't see why Katahdin is somehow a destination. Or Springer Moutain. Or Campo, California. Or Glacier National Park.
All hiking trails are arbitrary. Let the OP start and stop where they want. It doesn't affect you or anyone else.
katahdin and springer are the ends of the trail. little different.
yes, the OP can do whatever they want. but anytime someone asks a question about hiking MA or CT a bunch if people chime in with all these different ways to hike to the border and only to the border. is that what the OP even asked? i dont see it at all.
my advice to the OP- hiking to the border is silly, just end before or after the taconics. that advice is just as valid as yours.
Traveler
03-05-2016, 07:45
plenty of "crown jewels" north of the ravine too, no?
i still dont see the point. is someone giving out "i hiked all of CT, but none of MA" certificates or something?
"2.5 miles of very easy walking" means that when you factor in repeating it when you move on to the next section, its an extra 5 miles. i really just dont get why anyone would want to do this. no one would would be likely to choose something like that if not for the fact that its how you hike to the CT/MA border and i just dont see how the border of 2 states that occurs smack in the middle of a mountain ridge is somehow a destination.
Some people hike State line to State line regardless where it falls, others hike from access trail to access trail, others from road crossing to road crossing. Not all plans or methods work for everyone or make sense to anyone outside of those doing it.
Burger is right, the MA/CT line is just south of the Paradise Lane trail, though I too think of the sign further down in the Ravine as the marker.
The stream in Sages Ravine is the "management border" between the Mass and CT clubs. It just seems to make good sense to use the physical features rather than a political boundary. It does sometimes get a bit wonky, as the CT club needs to make sure the Mass state park folks know what's going on.
The same is not true of the VT border, which has no physical features (except a really great rock for a lunch stop). It does have a clearly visible steel survey pin in the ground for the purists.
Cosmo
Some people hike State line to State line regardless where it falls, others hike from access trail to access trail, others from road crossing to road crossing. Not all plans or methods work for everyone or make sense to anyone outside of those doing it.
fine, and maybe someone like the OP will read about how to actually hike to the border versus the idea of just stopping a hike at a place where it makes sense to stop with regards to setting up their next section hike and change their mind, one way or the other.
to me, their original concept of where they were considering parking their car tells me they were planning on hiking to jug end. then you all started with this stuff about hiking to just the border, going so far as to debate where the actual border (as opposed to the sign) really is. can someone who cares about this explain to me why hiking in this manner makes sense? convince me. maybe ill change my ways. what is the significance of a geopolitical boundary to how someone plans a hike?
Traveler
03-05-2016, 10:42
To your point, there were suggestions of ending their trek both slightly south or north of the official State line. Like the Undermountain access trail south of Bear Mountain, the parking area on East Road in Mt Washington, Paradise Lane trail north of Bear, continuing over Race Mountain and dismounting the plateau at Race Brook Falls, and even on to the Jug End Road crossing. All of these places are where a car could be waiting.
Since the OP initially cited the CT/MA line as the objective, thats where the conversation centered around, along with some conversation about where the State line actually falls in that section of trail. There are some confusing physical features and signage that are in play there and are topics of discussion. Minutiae of the trail, or trail trivia are part of most any conversation regarding trail sections. For example, Bear Mountain is the highest summit in CT, but not the highest point in the State, or passing the site of Shays rebellion can temper ones consideration of post revolution American history. Life is in the details, border markings can be accurate or approximate, which is fun for some to figure out for any number of reasons, geocaching would find this of interest for example. Distances to obscure water sources, camping spots away from shelters, and if anyone has seen any game are endlessly discussed, ad infinitum.
To some, hiking to a State line may sound arbitrary or silly. To the OP however, that objective may have significance in a plan they have not shared. It doesn't make it right or wrong, just different. Convincing you their plan makes sense, when clearly hiking to a boundary line on a map like a state line is not something you would consider doing would not make sense. You have different parameters of what a section hike should include, I have my own as well. This is one of those instances where hiking ones own hike applies.
To your point, there were suggestions of ending their trek both slightly south or north of the official State line. Like the Undermountain access trail south of Bear Mountain, the parking area on East Road in Mt Washington, Paradise Lane trail north of Bear, continuing over Race Mountain and dismounting the plateau at Race Brook Falls, and even on to the Jug End Road crossing. All of these places are where a car could be waiting.
Since the OP initially cited the CT/MA line as the objective, thats where the conversation centered around, along with some conversation about where the State line actually falls in that section of trail. There are some confusing physical features and signage that are in play there and are topics of discussion. Minutiae of the trail, or trail trivia are part of most any conversation regarding trail sections. For example, Bear Mountain is the highest summit in CT, but not the highest point in the State, or passing the site of Shays rebellion can temper ones consideration of post revolution American history. Life is in the details, border markings can be accurate or approximate, which is fun for some to figure out for any number of reasons, geocaching would find this of interest for example. Distances to obscure water sources, camping spots away from shelters, and if anyone has seen any game are endlessly discussed, ad infinitum.
To some, hiking to a State line may sound arbitrary or silly. To the OP however, that objective may have significance in a plan they have not shared. It doesn't make it right or wrong, just different. Convincing you their plan makes sense, when clearly hiking to a boundary line on a map like a state line is not something you would consider doing would not make sense. You have different parameters of what a section hike should include, I have my own as well. This is one of those instances where hiking ones own hike applies.
the OP's original post, while mentioning the state line, also mentioned where their initial idea to leave a car was. do you know where this place is? because i do, and it is telling as to what their intent is. this idea of hiking to and only to the exact precise state line and no further is something the rest of you came up with. what i havent seen is anyone make any suggestions as to another place to park a car that is truly a good alternative to the OP's original, not allowed idea. HYOH indeed.
Another Kevin
03-05-2016, 16:25
Since the OP initially cited the CT/MA line as the objective, thats where the conversation centered around, along with some conversation about where the State line actually falls in that section of trail. There are some confusing physical features and signage that are in play there and are topics of discussion. Minutiae of the trail, or trail trivia are part of most any conversation regarding trail sections. For example, Bear Mountain is the highest summit in CT, but not the highest point in the State, or passing the site of Shays rebellion can temper ones consideration of post revolution American history. Life is in the details, border markings can be accurate or approximate, which is fun for some to figure out for any number of reasons, geocaching would find this of interest for example. Distances to obscure water sources, camping spots away from shelters, and if anyone has seen any game are endlessly discussed, ad infinitum.
To some, hiking to a State line may sound arbitrary or silly. To the OP however, that objective may have significance in a plan they have not shared. It doesn't make it right or wrong, just different. Convincing you their plan makes sense, when clearly hiking to a boundary line on a map like a state line is not something you would consider doing would not make sense. You have different parameters of what a section hike should include, I have my own as well. This is one of those instances where hiking ones own hike applies.
Bear Mountain's not being the high point reminds me: Mt Frissell, on whose shoulder the actual Connecticut high point lies, is near one corner of the triangle of land that New York won from Massachusetts in a prizefight (https://sportslifer.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/19th-century-prizefight-brought-fame-change-to-obscure-hamlet-of-boston-corners/). Who says that state lines don't have stories to tell?
Madpaddy
03-05-2016, 19:54
katahdin and springer are the ends of the trail. little different.
yes, the OP can do whatever they want. but anytime someone asks a question about hiking MA or CT a bunch if people chime in with all these different ways to hike to the border and only to the border. is that what the OP even asked? i dont see it at all.
Next time ai want to Chime in on anything any OP says or questions
my advice to the OP- hiking to the border is silly, just end before or after the taconics. that advice is just as valid as yours.
Next time I want to chime in on anything even if it doesn't just refer to my own home states section, then I will be sure to check with you first to make sure I have your ok and it isint causing you frustration.
Next time I want to chime in on anything even if it doesn't just refer to my own home states section, then I will be sure to check with you first to make sure I have your ok and it isint causing you frustration.
technically, since we seemed to be fixated on stopping at the CT border, it isnt your home states section.
sorry, i couldnt resist.
now in actual answer to the OP's question (though he/she probably figured this out for themselves long ago based on the one helpful link a couple people supplied) - there is a large parking area 1.8 easy trail miles further north from where you were originally planning on parking.
Traveler
03-06-2016, 08:35
technically, since we seemed to be fixated on stopping at the CT border, it isnt your home states section.
sorry, i couldnt resist.
now in actual answer to the OP's question (though he/she probably figured this out for themselves long ago based on the one helpful link a couple people supplied) - there is a large parking area 1.8 easy trail miles further north from where you were originally planning on parking.
Glad you repeated what others have said. Perhaps now you will be able to get some well earned sleep :D
Glad you repeated what others have said. Perhaps now you will be able to get some well earned sleep :D
someone else mentioned the lot at the shay's rebellion monument? dont think i see that. its listed on the link a few people gave but no one who gave it was even suggesting it. you all read "state line" and completely missed that theyre planning on hiking to 41.
was at shays last fall and there is indeed an AT lot there with a kiosk, should fit many cars if people park efficiently
in fact thats where im planning on finishing and leaving a car when we section hike up from sages in june. prob hike in from washington rd to skip the additional climb up from 41 since we have limited time.