View Full Version : Connecticut Camp Sites
My brother and I hiked most of the Connecticut section in early October and used two of the numerous camp sites along the Trail. Silver Hill camp site was great. It had a pump, covered "dining pavillion" with three picnic tables, benches and a composting privy. Lots of flat ground and a view to the east catches the sunrise. Belter's camp site, on the other hand, was not as "improved." A few flat spots, a tiny spring (that was very low, but usable) and a phantom privy. The map at the entrance to the camp site indicated a privy, but we never found it. Plus, it was noisy -- trains, cars and, in the distance, Lime Rock race track.
We also spent the night at the Mt. Algo lean-to site, just not in the lean-to itself. Plenty of tent space around the site. The brook was very low, but we were able to dip enough water for our needs. Lots of trash around, which was disappointing and unusual since the Trail in Connecticut was almost completely free of garbage.
Stopped for lunch at the Pine Swamp Brook lean-to, which also has a brook as a water source. Water was plentiful, but someone had dumped their dinner leftovers right in the stream! Didn't seem to be much room for tents around the shelter. I have read accounts of how buggy this site is in the summer.
All the shelters were in good repair and all the shelters have metal roofs that amplify the noise of mouse activity and made falling acorns sound like gunshots!
We also saw the Plateau camp site just north of Salisbury, which was small, un-level and the spring was dry.
In June the pump at Silver Hill was broken. Good to hear that it's been fixed. We also stayed at the Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite. It's fairly primitive - the outhouse is just a box with a toilet seat on top (good views from the throne :D ).
At Pine Swamp Brook lean-to, the tent-sites are off on side trails. There were 3 parties camped there while we stayed in the shelter.
texashiker
03-07-2004, 20:40
Anyone have any good info on Caesar Brook campsite? Is it a good place to stay?
Cookerhiker
01-18-2006, 21:08
...for winter camping. We had to pack in water but it was worth it. Nice level tent sites under thin forest cover (with leaves and pine needles underfoot), openness (with views of the Housatonic River) ensured longer daylight on an early January night, plenty of tables and "counter space" in the pavilion. Highly recommended! :)
gsingjane
01-18-2006, 23:16
Caesar Brook is fine but nothing special in my book. Plus, if you are in that area, you would probably much prefer staying at Silver Hill which is not too far south of Caesar Brook. C.B. campsite is very near Caesar Brook itself, which has some cool frogs and when it's high is sort of pretty and nice, although the site itself is a bit buggy also in the summer. Pine Knob is near there which is nice.
I guess over our section hike of CT last summer, I concluded that I liked the northern end the best, the southern end the second best, and found the middle section (where C.B. is located) the least interesting. But that's just me, YMMV of course!
Jane in CT
Does anybody know if this pump has been fixed?
I have not been up that way since last year and I am just wondering.
troglobil
03-21-2008, 18:54
Silver Hill camp site was great. It had a pump,
In June the pump at Silver Hill was broken. Good to hear that it's been fixed. .
Does anybody know if this pump has been fixed?
I have not been up that way since last year and I am just wondering.
Does this answer your question? :-?:D
Does this answer your question? :-?:D
I will answer my question myself, yes the pump has been fixed and with only five or six pumps you get water.
I decided to go for an overnight there last night. Beautiful full moon.
Undershaft
03-22-2008, 16:34
Silver Hill campsite is pretty cool. I had some great entertainment watching the inner city kids that were staying there. The pump was not working in July, glad to hear it's been fixed. If you walk past the privy a little way and then up the hill, you will find several mysterious metal tanks and pipes. They don't seem to serve any purpose and the pipes don't lead anywhere. I've always wondered what they were for or what they were left over from. Belters campsite does not have a true privy. Its just a box with a toilet seat mounted on the top, no walls. If you go all the way to the end of the clearing at Belters and turn left, there is an old (50 years?) car abandoned in the woods. I always enjoy finding old relics like that in the woods. Pine Swamp Brook is a lousy water source to begin with. Probably the worst in all of CT. If you approach the shelter and turn right down the small herd paths you will come to a big level camping area about a hundred feet from the shelter. I never saw a reason for the Plateau campsite. It's right near the road, and Riga lean-to is only a short distance away.
7/10/08 - hiked from West Cornwall, North, to Salisbury.
Pine Swamp Brook water is orange/brown - skip it. (Get water from stream at Sharon Mtn Campsite, 2.4 mi North) Lot's of mosquitoes around this shelter.
Sharon Mtn Campsite is just that, but with decent water.
Belter's Bump Campsite has a spring, but the flow was getting low.
Limestone Spring Shelter. Sorry, I blew right by it.
Hydroelectric Plant - gotta love that shower!
Plateau Campsite stinks and it's so close to the trailhead.
Riga Shelter has great view of sunrise. Spent a night here. I can't wait until they upgrade the privy. I slept in and the trail maintainer arrived to tidy up. He said that they're going to helecopter in all of the materials for the privy and upgrading the shelter. I can't wait.
The Ball Brook Campsite was just that, with a small stream.
The Bond Shelter at Brassie Brook was nice. The brook was flowing strong.
what do you mean of this Connecticut Camp Sites i can not get it??
wystiria
03-24-2009, 11:54
stopped in at silver hill on 3/21 out on a day hike - everything looked good and no trash. We didn't investigate the pump becasue we had just started out and had plenty of water.....now I wish I did for reporting purposes!
Captain K-man
03-24-2009, 13:42
I was told that there was once a very neat shelter there. The guy said it burned down, and thats all he knew. Does anyone know the history or have photos of the shelter?
stopped in at silver hill on 3/21 out on a day hike - everything looked good and no trash. We didn't investigate the pump becasue we had just started out and had plenty of water.....now I wish I did for reporting purposes!
the CT ridgerunners and maintainers do a great job picking up after dumbass folks
the CT ridgerunners and maintainers do a great job picking up after dumbass folks
NY too, from what i've seen
wystiria
04-06-2009, 15:54
if there had been trash we woul dhave hiked it out - being on a day hike means we weren't concerned with weight ;) but there were no good samaratin opportunities for us that day!
***BTW Tinman I tried to PM you did you get it?
NEPilgrim
04-13-2009, 22:19
Riga Shelter has great view of sunrise. Spent a night here. I can't wait until they upgrade the privy. I slept in and the trail maintainer arrived to tidy up. He said that they're going to helecopter in all of the materials for the privy and upgrading the shelter. I can't wait.
Saturday, April 11th my girlfriend & I hiked up to Riga from the Rte 41 parking lot, Undermountain trail side. The privy has been redone, also new steps up to the shelter itself. We set up our tent on one of the new platforms. The maintainers did a gr8 job.
We hiked north on the AT over Bear Mountain and down to Paradise Lane, ending up at Rte 41. It was a good overnight stay, cold on Sat night, nice sunrise Easter morning.
Still some downed trees on the north side of Bear Mt, but the maintainers did a gr8 job clearing much of the trail on the other side. My hat's off to all you who take time keeping the trail lookin' good!
Steve.
if there had been trash we woul dhave hiked it out - being on a day hike means we weren't concerned with weight ;) but there were no good samaratin opportunities for us that day!
***BTW Tinman I tried to PM you did you get it?
nada... try again :)
Old Grouse
04-14-2009, 19:05
I was at Silver Hill campsite last week and tried the pump. After sixty pumps, nothing. So I'd advise bringing water with you.
wystiria
04-30-2009, 11:04
Friday 4/24/09 Slept at Platue Campsite. worked perfectly after work on a friday to get out to the trail. We did bring water and left it at the car for the morning. found a perfect little tent spot past the Privy and up a bit.
Saturday 4/25/09 Stayed at Sharon Mountain Campsite. Nice site, lots of level tent spots. great water. Supposedly there is a "view" but it has long since grown in. heh thought the view from the pot was better. Water source was running well.
wystiria
04-30-2009, 11:11
Oh and about Lime Rock speedway - there was no race Saturday NIGHT - there was during the day but it wasn't terribly loud except at the Hang gliders view. So it was quite pleasant at Sharon Mnt. CS.
wystiria
04-30-2009, 11:13
And becasue I can't seem to get my thoughts all together today - the Pump at Silver Hill Campsite is NOT functioning. it is posted going SOBO at road crossing prior to Silver Hill. So Hike in water!
Old Grouse
04-30-2009, 12:20
By the way, local blue laws prohibit racing on Sundays at Lime Rock.
Friday 4/24/09 Slept at Platue Campsite. worked perfectly after work on a friday to get out to the trail. We did bring water and left it at the car for the morning. found a perfect little tent spot past the Privy and up a bit.
Saturday 4/25/09 Stayed at Sharon Mountain Campsite. Nice site, lots of level tent spots. great water. Supposedly there is a "view" but it has long since grown in. heh thought the view from the pot was better. Water source was running well.
sounds like y'all had a great hike. did you get in all your miles?
wystiria
05-01-2009, 10:34
Yep! My DH now has CT complete! though I am sure we will still head out on the CT trail since its so close and some weekend we just want to get out in to the woods!
***a side note we really saw almost no trash! just picked up a couple of canister plastic caps and that was about it
I seem to be one of the few that likes "race" noise. As a former motorcycle road racer I was able to take my bike out on Lime Rock during testing sessions years ago. I dont know if they allow bikes on any more, but it holds great memories. But nothing beats the scream of an F1 V8 revving at 18rpms!!!
madizazzo
06-18-2009, 13:44
I'm not sure if it was Silver Hill, but one campsite in CT was an old house. It burned down almost 20 years ago.
Does anyone have any pictures of the old shelter at Silverhill? I thought I read someplace that it was struck by lightning and burned down. Can anyone confirm this?
Snowleopard
06-18-2009, 14:14
7/10/08 - hiked from West Cornwall, North, to Salisbury.
Pine Swamp Brook water is orange/brown - skip it. (Get water from stream at Sharon Mtn Campsite, 2.4 mi North) Lot's of mosquitoes around this shelter.
Sharon Mtn Campsite is just that, but with decent water.
Belter's Bump Campsite has a spring, but the flow was getting low.
Limestone Spring Shelter. Sorry, I blew right by it.
Hydroelectric Plant - gotta love that shower!
Plateau Campsite stinks and it's so close to the trailhead.
Riga Shelter has great view of sunrise. Spent a night here. I can't wait until they upgrade the privy. I slept in and the trail maintainer arrived to tidy up. He said that they're going to helecopter in all of the materials for the privy and upgrading the shelter. I can't wait.
The Ball Brook Campsite was just that, with a small stream.
The Bond Shelter at Brassie Brook was nice. The brook was flowing strong.
Is there water at the Riga Shelter and the next couple of shelters to the north?
Is there water at the Riga Shelter and the next couple of shelters to the north?
if you are talking now, you don't need treking poles, you need oars
ShoelessWanderer
06-18-2009, 22:10
Anyone know if there is water at the Plateau Campsite, right now?
Alaskanhkr23
06-18-2009, 22:26
I want Ct to allow campfires on the trail,but i highly doubt that will happen.
Oh...there is water!!! Its been raining for ever.
Anyone know if there is water at the Plateau Campsite, right now?
i wouldn't trust the rust pump there, but town ain't far
Oh...there is water!!! Its been raining for ever.
yeah, no kiddin'
wystiria
03-23-2010, 12:07
Racebrook Campsite? between Race and Everett
I haven't stayed there since I was a kid, is this still there? Planning a shakedown hike for some friends who want to tag along with us in NH and this would be the perfect spot for us.
thanks!
Racebrook Campsite? between Race and Everett
I haven't stayed there since I was a kid, is this still there? Planning a shakedown hike for some friends who want to tag along with us in NH and this would be the perfect spot for us.
thanks!
Race Brook Falls Campsite is about 0.5 miles east of the AT between Race and Everett. Yes, it is still there. I have been there 3 times in the past 1.5 years. Taking the Scouts there next month... so pm me for dates.
wystiria
03-23-2010, 13:44
good to know it is still there :) PM sent!
Silver Hill used to be a private getaway cabin, which is why you can see parts of the foundation outside the kitchen pavilion. The tanks and piping were to provide water to it. When the ATC bought the land, I think the cabin had already burnt down or been destroyed in some other incident.
The reason for no fires on the CT AT is that much of AT corridor is very narrow --- in some cases only 10 or so feet wide and the private landowners surrounding it would not appreciate having their property set on fire because of an errant campfire.
It is nice to have a campfire, but its a small sacrifice and it also keeps the area around the campsites from getting firewood "browsed"....
Monkeywrench
06-03-2011, 20:58
Silver Hill used to be a private getaway cabin, which is why you can see parts of the foundation outside the kitchen pavilion. The tanks and piping were to provide water to it. When the ATC bought the land, I think the cabin had already burnt down or been destroyed in some other incident.
The cabin was still there when the AMC took it over. Part of it was partitioned off as a kitchen for use by trail crews, the rest was open for hikers to use. Downstairs there was a couch and a big fireplace, with a loft above the partitioned off kitchen area for sleeping. I stayed there several times before it burned down due to an out of control chimney fire one winter.
When my daughter was young I used to bring her and friends there for weekend 'hikes' and campouts. They loved the swing and the squeaky water pump. Many fond memories there!
Barryalkar
07-04-2019, 17:42
Would it be worth creating a special camp just for players with good connections? You know, using a command line.
Traveler
07-05-2019, 07:07
Wouldn't that be Windsor castle?
Does anyone know if there are bear boxes at the CT campsites?
LazyLightning
08-17-2023, 20:30
From memory I am pretty sure all CT camp sites and shelters have bear boxes... I can't speak of the condition as a lot along the trail had rusted out bottoms, bugs, food scraps left behind in them and stuff like that.
liptackj
08-17-2023, 20:37
From memory I am pretty sure all CT camp sites and shelters have bear boxes... I can't speak of the condition as a lot along the trail had rusted out bottoms, bugs, food scraps left behind in them and stuff like that.
All campsites and shelters in CT have bear boxes. The only one experiencing rust issues is one of the two in Sages Ravine CS
Thank you both for the updates.