Start of Summer Hike in Burr Pond State Park, Torrington

[David Ostafin]

Join us for an EASY-to-MODERATE hike around Burr Pond at Burr Pond State Park at 385 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington, CT, on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.  This hike acknowledges the first full day of the 2025 Summer Season.  The hike is about three miles in total, is mostly flat, and requires a little over two hours to complete.  The rain date is the following day, Sunday, June 22, 2025.  Meet at the trailhead of Walcott Trail, across from the parking lot and along the pond, at 10:30 a.m. for a prompt departure at 11:00 a.m.

ABOUT THE HIKE:  Across from the parking area we will access the blue-blazed Walcottt Trail, named for Frederic C. Walcott, US Senator from Connecticut from 1929 to 1935.  The plan is to hike around the Burr Pond counterclockwise on this blue-blazed trail.  This trail traverses the entire perimeter of the pond.  However, we will make one excursion off the blue-blazed trail, and onto the blue-yellow blazed trail,  to venture to the end of a peninsula that juts out into the pond.  The end point of this peninsula is the climax of the hike, and will provide stunning views of Burr Pond.  We will then return by the same blue-yellow blazed trail back to the blue-blazed trail, and then complete the circuit around Burr Pond.  Besides the peninsula, we will be visiting other points-of-interest along the trail, including BOB (acronym of Bounder-Over-Burr), a glacial erratum, formerly called "Indian Rock", which received its new (less controversial) name in 2017 and is a favorite for those wishing to go "boundering."  This area is littered with other interesting rocks and boulders, especially pink gneiss (pronounced like the word "nice"), a type of metamorphic rock.  Also along the trail is the Laurence Buttrick Plaque, named for a former Secretary of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, who died in 1945 and is buried in Burr Pond State Park.

ABOUT THE PARK:  Burr Pond State Park is within the Paugnut State Forest. The pond is man-made.  It was created in 1851 when Milo Burr dammed several streams to establish a water source for power generation.  One of the industrial buildings powered by Burr's water source was used by Gail Borden Jr., who operated the first successful condensed milk factory in the 19th century.  In 1856 Borden devised and patented a technique for condensing milk, thereby providing a great boon to the Union war effort during the American Civil War.  Although the original building was destroyed by fire in 1877, a bronze tablet marks the factory's original location (Borden Condensed Milk, under the "Eagle Brand," is still widely sold, with the motto "Quality You Trust Since 1856").  The Borden Family sold the land to the State in 1929, and it became part of the Paugnut State Forest.  In 1949 Burr Pond State Park was officially established.  Today the park is a public recreation area totalling 438 acres in the Town of Torrington, including the 85-acre man-made Burr Pond, with facilities for swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.  The two hiking trails in the park are the Walcott Trail around the pond, and the John Muir Trail (named for the famous preservationist and founder of the Sierra Club), which connects Burr Pond State Park to Sunny Brook State Park within the Paugnut State Forest.  Burr Pond State Park hosts a Winterfest every February, with ice-skating and ice-fishing.

IMPORTANT NOTES:  Bathroom facilities are available in the park.  Dogs on lease are welcome on the trails (but not in the designated beach area).  Bring a small snack (fruit, nuts, energy bar) for our mid-hike break, as well as sufficient water for ample hydration.  Dress appropriately for the hike (the park has a high elevation and always feels cooler than most other parts of Connecticut).  Remember to wear appropriate footwear for adequate traction on the hike.  As always, read our DISCLAIMER (our group disclaims all liability; responsibility is assumed by each participant for him/herself).  Parking is free for Connecticut-registered vehicles (out-of-state vehicles are asked to pay an online fee; $15 on weekends during the May to September season).  You may want to have your swimming attire available, in the event there is an opportunity to venture into the pond.  And plan to have your own picnic lunch in your vehicle.

DIRECTIONS: Burr Pond State Park is located in the Town of Torrington.  The address for the parking area is "385 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington, CT."  You can use this address in your GPS or in GOOGLE MAPS to ascertain detailed driving directions from your point of departure.  The GPS coordinates for the park are:  41 52' 8.12" N; -73 05" 37.68' W.

AFTER HIKE SOCIAL:  Since it is now officially the summer season, rather than going to a local restaurant, the decision was made to have a group picnic after the hike and within the park.  Plan to bring whatever foot/drink items you wish for your own picnic lunch.  The picnic area is near the parking lot.  You can therefore leave your lunch in your vehicle during the hike.  Alcohol is prohibited in the park.