POOTATUCK STATE FOREST northeast
New Fairfield, Fairfield County, CT

History:

Members of the Mohican tribe moved from the Berkshire Mountains into western Connecticut along the Housatonic River that they named Pootatuck or "River of Falls". The white settlers gave the name of the river to the Indians who lived near the river.

There was a lot of charcoal-making in the area and there are remains still to be found.

1926 -- The State of Connecticut started purchasing land to form the Pootatuck State Forest (at $10.00 per acre of land).

1929 -- by this date the state had acquired 960 acres.

Today -- the Pootatuck State Forest contains approximately 1,155 acres (of which Squantz pond has 850 acres).

Trails:

Trails follow old charcoal wagon roads.

There are trails in the northern Pootatuck State Forest that connect up with those of Squantz Pond, so see that park for trail details.

At the southern Pootatuck State Forest, took a short circular by constantly turning left. It brings you back to the northern side of the parking lot. (March 5, 2002)

PLANT LIST:
Dr. Patrick L. Cooney, February 27, 2002 -- pit stop only at southern Pootatuck; brief stop again March 5, 2002

Trees:
Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven)
Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)
Betula lenta (black birch)
Carpinus caroliniana (musclewood)
Fagus grandifolia (American beech)
Larix sp. (larch) quite a few
Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree)
Pinus sp. (Scots pine?)
Pinus strobus (white pine)
Quercus rubra (red oak)
Quercus spp. (oak)
Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock)

Shrubs:
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)
Euonymus alatus (winged euonymus)
Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)
Rubus sp. (blackberry)

Vines:
Celastrus orbiculatus (Asiatic bittersweet)

Herbs:
Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
Artemesia vulgaris (common mugwort)
Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed)
Prunella vulgaris (self-heal)
Solidago spp. (goldenrods)

Sedges:
Carex laxiflora type (sedge)

Ferns and Fern Allies:
Lycopodium obscurum (ground pine clubmoss)
Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)
Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern)

 Directions:

US 84 east; Exit 5 off 84; set odometer to 0 as you exit; at 7.1 miles turn right onto Beaver Bog Road; follow directions below for the three areas of Pootatuck Forest.

western Pootatuck:
at 8.0 miles there is a Connecticut State Land diamond-shaped sign; followed by a gate blocking a woods road and then follow by another miniature parking area, if you can call it that.

southern Pootatuck:
at 8.4 miles turn left onto Woods Road; drive 0.1 of a mile and turn left into a parking area.

northern Pootatuck (adjacent to Squantz Pond):
instead of getting off at Beaver Bog Road go .2 of a mile farther north on Route 37 and turn right onto Pine Hill Road; travel a total of 1.7 miles (turning right where there seems to be a strange fork in Pine Hill Road and it goes two ways?) to a dead-end parking area.