Wolf Den

Difficulty: Family Hike

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 2.5 to 3 hours

Another wonderful weekend, another family hiking trip. This time I let my wife pick the place. Mrs. Agent K likes places with intriguing sights. That’s how we found ourselves headed to Mashamoquet Brook Start Park in CT. This park is known infamously as the spot where Connecticut’s last wolf was killed.

With a total elevation gain of under 400 feet and with multiple options to lengthen or shorten a hike, this a great option to get out with the family. This park seems rather forgotten. On a summer Sunday afternoon we only passed two other hikers (and another couple just starting out when we got back.) The trail starts at the ranger station on Wolf Den Road. The trailhead is behind the parking lot to the left. At the trailhead and each trail intersection there is a posted map.

The trail starts with a small incline and then passes through an old rock wall. At the top of the incline (hill is too strong a word), the trail tips down, and then goes back up again. It repeats this pattern for the majority of the hike. Throughout, there are a variety of spots where the kiddos will want to climb the rock formations and find spots to snack.

Slightly over a mile in you will come to the first named attraction: Indian Chair. This rock looks very much like a king’s throne and overlooks the nearby valley. Careful though: when we were there poison ivy was all around the edge of the clearing. Actually, poison ivy was in most places along the side of the trail.

Continuing on and past the intersection with Horse Trail, the rock ledges start having small caves. After a rather long climb up a particularly rocky ledge, you’ll reach the Wolf’s Den. There is a plaque detailing the actions of that fateful day. The cave is rather small, perhaps only 15 feet deep. A tenth of a mile later and up some rock stairs is Table Rock. Long, flat, and square this piece of granite encourages hikers to stop and rest.

Eventually the trail continues on through remnants of the former farms that dotted the landscape. We passed numerous rock walls and an old well. The trail loops around a kid’s campground then ends at the driveway to the ranger’s station.

Having never been there before it was worth the hour drive. I would recommend this State Park to any family looking for a hiking day trip. The entire trip was within the tree-line so no viewpoints. For experienced hikers, the ledges will seem more a warm up than an actual challenge. But young ones will enjoy climbing on and in the rocks.

Overall rating: B.

~Agent K