Squaw Cave, Flag Rock and Mohegan Trail Loop – Bolton Notch State Park

August 25, 2024 – Bolton, Connecticut

Problem: Average

Size: Roughly 3 miles

Max elevation: 811 ft. – complete elevation acquire roughly 400 ft.

Map: Bolton Notch State Park Path Map

Parking: Bolton Notch State Park Entry Street, Bolton, CT 06043

Paved car parking zone – Transportable rest room on web site

Hours: Open Day by day, 8:00am – Sundown

There aren’t any admission or parking charges at this park.

Park Overview:

Bolton Notch State Park is situated about 15 miles east of Hartford, Connecticut and gives guests a variety of leisure actions. The park is house to a number of picturesque climbing trails, together with the Hop River Path, Shenipsit Path, and the Mohegan Path which winds by means of the forested hills of the park. Unfold out over 95 acres, the state park serves as a pleasant day journey for locals in addition to guests.

Bolton Notch State Park is a leisure hub that connects the north central and japanese components of Connecticut for hikers, walkers, cyclists and runners. From the park, there may be entry to the Shenipsit Path, Constitution Oak Greenway, Hop River Path, Freja Park, Valley Falls Park, and Field Mountain Forest.

The park is house to a number of distinctive factors of curiosity, together with an 800-ft, deserted railroad tunnel, Squaw Cave and Flag Rock.

Historical past:

Bolton was initially a part of the looking grounds of the Podunk Indians. The Podunks lived in what’s now East Hartford and South Windsor, alongside the Podunk River. Most early historians agree that Bolton Notch was the boundary between the Podunk territory to the west and the Mohegan territory to the east. The Indians referred to as it Saqumsketuck, which suggests land or place on the exhausting rock.

The Hop River Path that runs by means of Bolton from Valley Falls Park to Willimantic is an previous railroad mattress. From 1849 to the mid-1950’s the Hartford, Windfall and Fishkill Railroad traveled by means of this hall. It introduced prosperity to Bolton’s slate and grindstone quarries on the Notch. The rock was first quarried in the course of the Conflict of 1812, and all through the nineteenth century was despatched to main cities within the Northeast to pave streets.

Freight trains used the road all through the 1960’s. The final prepare ran on September 29, 1970, by which period the road was a part of the bankrupt Penn Central.

The railroad had a yard and a station on the Notch the place stone, lumber, hay, grain, and many others., was loaded and unloaded. Should you stroll the path, you’ll see remnants of ties and telegraph poles.

The State of Connecticut bought the primary 70 acres from the property of Albert H. Pitkin in 1918, for improvement of a Wayside Park.

Squaw Cave:

In accordance with legend, A Dutch cabin boy named Peter Hager was a part of a buying and selling social gathering with the native Podunk Nation. He fell in love with an area girl, Wunnee-Neetunah, they usually obtained married in the way in which of her nation. When Peter tried to return to his buying and selling social gathering, he was rejected and the couple spent their exile collectively within the cave.

Wunnee-Neetunah (additionally referred to as Wunnee), was the daughter of a Podunk Chief named Tantonimoh. Her household adopted Peter Hager, the cabin boy of a Dutch dealer named Captain Might. After Peter fell in love with Wunnee, the Captain inspired him to reside among the many Podunks to study their language and customs.

After a couple of years, Peter and Wunnee traveled to Boston with Wunnee’s mom to get married, however discovered that there was a regulation towards intermarriage. Whereas they stayed exterior town, Peter was seen gathering wooden on the Sabbath and was arrested and whipped. Earlier than he was imprisoned, Wunnee and her mom rescued Peter they usually fled again to Connecticut. Alongside the way in which, they have been attacked, presumably by Massachusetts colonists, and one died within the combat. Peter was accused of killing the person. Peter and Wunnee didn’t return to Wunnee’s house, however have been married in one other Podunk group in Connecticut. Bailiffs from Boston have been despatched to seize or kill Peter, however the Podunks warned Peter and Wunnee.

As they sought security from the bailiffs and different teams attacking the Podunks, Peter and Wunnee moved farther east to a cave on the south aspect of a rocky mountain generally known as Wiashguagwumsuck. After about 30 years, Peter and Wunnee deliberate to maneuver north to a settlement in an space with out European colonists or hostile native teams. Nonetheless, a gaggle of Mohegan males discovered Peter, the outlaw, residing along with his Indian spouse within the cave. The Mohegans reported them to the native bailiffs who shot Peter. He reached the cave, and Wunnee was despatched in after him. They remained within the cave for a couple of days, and when when the bailiffs went into the cave, they discovered it empty. Wunnee had both snuck out the cave entrance with Peter’s physique or discovered a deeper passage within the cave by means of the mountain. Peter was reportedly buried within the royal burying floor of the Podunk Tribe, and Wunnee was reportedly taken in by a Windsor couple and was reportedly buried in Windsor.

It’s unknown how a lot of the legend is fact or fiction.

The Bolton Board of Selectmen felt that “Squaw Cave” was a derogatory title and determined to vary the title to Wunnee-Neetunah Collapse 2023.

Parking:

On the junction of Route 44 and Route 6 in Bolton. Heading west on I-384 from Bolton Notch, flip proper on the finish of the guardrail and go downhill to the car parking zone.

Bolton Notch State Park is situated off the west-bound lane of I-384 about 1/3 of a mile from the start of I-384 (on the junction of US-6 and US-44). Though there’s a signal on the entrance it’s troublesome to identify and never marketed upfront. It’s a sharp proper flip into the car parking zone and in case of fast-paced site visitors, it’s suggested that guests park within the Bolton Park & Experience Lot, which is 0.4 mile west. The primary space of the park will be safely accessed from the commuter car parking zone through the Constitution Oak Greenway Path, a brief 5 minute stroll to the primary part of the park.

The signal under shouldn’t be seen till you get to the flip. The Constitution Oak Greenway, the paved path behind the signal, connects the commuter car parking zone with the parking space of the park.

The car parking zone has room for about 18 autos. Once I arrived on the trailhead at roughly 9am, I obtained the final remaining spot. Upon completion of the hike (picture under) the lot was nonetheless full and there have been a couple of autos ready for a spot to park as others left.

Trails Overview:

There are roughly 5 miles of trails within the park, from straightforward to average stage. The Constitution Oak Greenway, Hop River State Park Path and the Shenipsit Path can be utilized to entry adjoining public lands.

The marked trails that have been used on this hike, are pretty effectively blazed and simple to comply with.

The “Cave Path,” so named for the aim of this writing, is considerably overgrown, however discernible if the place to look. The Mohegan Path is effectively shaded.

Hike Overview:

This hike pertains to the southern part of the park solely. Using the Hop River State Park Path, Cave Path (unmarked), Garnet Path and the Mohegan Path.

The hike was completed counterclockwise as soon as on the Mohegan Path.

The Hike:

From the car parking zone, flip proper on the Hop River Path and head east, previous a health station and interpretive signage that explains a number of the web site’s historical past.

In a brief distance, you’ll arrive on the western portal of the previous prepare tunnel. Don’t enter the tunnel. As an alternative flip left by the opening and comply with the unmarked path.

The Cave Path begins between the western portal and a big boulder. Comply with this slender and considerably overgrown footpath because it bears to the appropriate and rises alongside the tunnel.

Whenever you attain the guard rail, stroll alongside it till you attain the top of the guard rail.

Search for this pole and comply with this faint footpath steeply uphill for a brief distance because it bends to the appropriate.

The cave will seem as you method the cliff. I might advise those that wish to enter the cave to convey a headlamp or a flashlight. It’s fairly darkish in there and you might wish to shine a lightweight inside to make it possible for there aren’t any critters lurking round inside.

Wunnee-Neetunah Cave is a real cave, that means it was attributable to water erosion of Limestone.

The cave consists of a ten foot chamber, adopted by a 3 foot large tunnel that continues for roughly 40 ft earlier than narrowing to some extent that’s unsafe to cross by means of, however continues for an unknown variety of ft to a second chamber containing operating water.

The ceiling of the cave could have some spiders.

If you find yourself completed exploring this distinctive historic characteristic, retrace your steps alongside the Cave Path, again to the west portal of the tunnel.

I did an out-and-back by means of the tunnel simply to test it out. The tunnel is curved, so the opposite aspect typically can’t be seen clearly by these getting into. Train warning when strolling by means of the darkish tunnel.

With tracks laid and rocks blasted out within the mid-1800’s for a rail line, the 30-foot tall, 800-foot-long tunnel was inbuilt 1955 because of the above development of an advanced interchange as I-384 transitions to Route 6 and Route 44.

The Bolton Tunnel is a part of the Hop River State Park Path, a former railroad line. This path winds 24.8 miles by means of the cities of Manchester, Vernon, Bolton, Coventry, Andover, Columbia, and Windham. The Hop River Path is a part of the East Coast Greenway, a bicycle and pedestrian pathway that winds by means of 15 states and 450 communities, spanning 3,000 miles from Florida to Maine.

On the japanese finish of the tunnel, I circled and walked again by means of it, heading west.

Now retracing my steps, I walked previous the parking space for a brief distance to choose up the joint Mohegan/Garnet trails which is on the appropriate.

I adopted the yellow/crimson blazes a brief distance till the 2 trails break up.

The yellow-blazed Mohegan Path turns left, however I continued straight on the Crimson Path. I might come again to this junction a short time later after visiting Flag Rock.

The Crimson Path forks left, however both means that you simply go will lead you to Flag Rock. I took the left fork to Flag Rock and returned on the appropriate fork.

In a brief distance, the red-blazed Garnet Path useless ends at a rock outcrop that’s lined in graffiti.

Should you stroll as much as the excessive level of the rock outcrop (far left within the picture under), you’re going to get a view southwest over I-384 and the encircling space.

This view is extra intensive throughout leaf-off season.

Should you stroll alongside the rock outcrop because it descends, there’s a path that results in the entrance of Flag Rock that gives a pleasant view of this characteristic. It’s possible you’ll wish to take a break on this space, simply be careful for damaged glass.

For perspective, the picture under is of me standing on Flag Rock (on the viewpoint). Flag Rock was painted shortly after September 11, 2001 and has been maintained by unknown individuals since that point.

If you find yourself able to proceed, descend again to the Crimson Path, which is a brief distance down the hill.

Whenever you return to the junction with the yellow-blazed Mohegan Path, flip proper.

The Mohegan Path does an enormous loop across the southern part of the park. Mountain climbing counter-clockwise, the path climbs the hill on a average grade. The Mohegan Path doesn’t climb to the summit, however slightly below it. As soon as reaching the peak of land, the path descends progressively by means of the luxurious inexperienced forest.

The Mohegan path, is rumored to be haunted by the Sachem of the Rhode Island Narrangassett Tribe, Miantonomoh, who was executed by the Mohegan Tribe after the Battle of The Nice Plains in 1644. The physique of Miantonomoh, with a hatchet buried behind his head, was by no means discovered and it’s stated that his spirit nonetheless wanders alone and misplaced alongside the Mohegan trails by means of Bolton.

This path doesn’t appear to get quite a lot of foot site visitors. I blew by means of a numerous quantity of spiderwebs with my face.

After about 1.3 miles, the path makes a tough proper flip onto a woods street. This junction shouldn’t be effectively marked. Should you come to a concrete freeway barrier, you went too far.

In a couple of ft, the Yellow Path veers left, leaving the woods street and descends to its terminus on the Hop River Path.

Whenever you attain the Hop River Path, flip left and stroll previous the yellow automobile obstacles, heading east. You at the moment are on the Hop River Path.

This final stretch of the hike makes for a pleasing stroll on the sleek floor of the path.

The Hop River Path passes by means of deep rock cuts and relying on the climate, you will notice quite a lot of walkers, cyclists and runners all through this part.

In about 0.3 mile (from the yellow automobile obstacles), the Hop River Path will depart you proper again on the parking space, the place the hike started.

Evaluate:

This was an incredible hike. The factors of curiosity are sufficient to warrant an hour and forty minute experience from the Tappan Zee Bridge. Other than the Hop River Path, I didn’t see anybody else on the opposite trails. I undoubtedly advocate this average loop hike for these which can be in search of one thing out of the unusual.

Professionals:

Wunnee-Neetunah Cave, Flag Rock, Bolton Tunnel, effectively marked trails, not a lot foot site visitors within the inside of the park.

Cons:

Signage is insufficient on the entrance to the park, street noise will be heard just about all through the hike.

Take a hike!

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