Pre-Halloween Hike to Devil's Hopyard State Park on October 14, 2023

[David Ostafin]

Join us for a pre-Halloween, Fall hike at Devil's Hopyard State Park, located on Hopyard Road in East Haddam, Connecticut, on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.  This ia a two-hour hike of moderate intensity.  Our group last did this hike on June 18, 2017 as an early summer hike.  We decided to try this hike for a Fall hike during the Halloween season.  Wear orange, if you have it, and get into the spirit of the Devil and Halloween.

ABOUT THE PARK: The Devil's Hopyard State Park is composed of 860 acres of land.  It is a popular hiking destination for visitors throughout the year, offering a variety of trail options for all levels of experience.  It has a rich history that is attributed to its lavish geological structures (resulting from glacial rock movements during the last Ice Age) and its abundant water, including Chapman Falls, with a 60-foot drop.  The falls were used to power Beebe's Mill in the 1800's.  The water supply and the rock shelters made the area popular with Native Americans.  The rock is predominately gneiss and schist, two metamorphic varieties. 

ABOUT THE NAME:  This is the area where a man named Dibble cultivated hops in the 18th century, and "Dibble's Hopyard" may have morphed into "Devil's Hopyard."  That's just one theory.  Local legend claims that the name is derived from when the Devil was spotted playing his fiddle on a boulder in Chapman Falls, and then he hopped around, angered when his tail got wet in the falls, and left the prints of his cloven hooves in the rocks around the area. 

ABOUT THE TRIAL:  We will hike the popular orange-blazed loop, called the Orange Vista Trail, that is 2.9 miles (4.67 km) in length.  We will begin our hike at the Covered Bridge inside the park (consult the park map to be sure you find the Covered Bridge, which is marked on the map) and head South along the orange-blazed trail, which is a loop that will eventually return us back to the Covered Bridge.  As we walk on the trail, we will first encounter the Devil's Oven, which is a little off the trail.  This a small cavern in the schist that gets its name from its resemblance to an old bread oven.  From the Devil's Oven we will return to the trail and continue to the Scenic Overlook, where there are numerous photo opportunities with the background vista.  Upon leaving the Scenic Overlook, the next geological landmark we will encounter is the Rock Overhang, which was used as a shelter by Native Americans.  We will then return North on the Orange Trail back to the Covered Bridge.  From here the plan is to walk to Chapman Falls for a view of the 60-foot cascade.  There is a shortcut path to the Chapman Falls from the Covered Bridge, for those who are up for a bit a of climb (there are few boulders to negotiate).  Otherwise, the less formidable walk to Chapman Falls will be through the parking lot area.  At Chapman Falls we will look for the "pot holes" in the rock that were made, according to legend, by the Devil's cloven hooves when he became maddened because of his wet tail.  These are actually geological erosions caused by fragments of rocks swirling  around in crevices due to the vigorous movement of the running water from the falls.  We will also see the giant bounder near the top of the falls, where it is said the Devil played his fiddle while witches stirred their cauldrons.

The hike will require about two hours of walking, and is of an intermediate intensity.  The total distance is relatively short (the loop itself it 2.9 miles), but there are few climbs.  Wear proper footwear to prevent slipping.  Dress appropriately for the season and bring ample water. Read the Disclaimer in the ABOUT US section.  For more information about the part (and to find a trail map) go to the ct.gov/DEEP webto site for Devil's Hopyard State Park

PARKING AND MEETING:  It is important that you NOT park in the small parking area in the North of the park where people park just to view Chapman Falls, and not go hiking.  If you use the GPS address listed for the park (352 Hopyard Road, East Haddam, CT) your GPS will take you to the wrong parking lot.  Go past the first parking lot along Hoyyard Road, and look for the park entrance on the right (where you will see a flag pole).  There is ample parking inside the park.  Once you are in the park, drive a little and look for the Covered Bridge.  Check the park map, on which the Covered Bridge is marked.  We will meet at the Covered Bridge.

AFTER HIKE SOCIAL: There is an optional after-hike gathering for lunch at a local restaurant, for those who are interested.  At this time we are planning to go to Village Pizza at 26 Falls Road in Moodus, CT.  This plan could change if there are other suggestions for a restaurant near the park, that is not too pricey and open past mid afternoon on Saturdays. 

DIRECTIONS:  Remember if you use the park's posted  "352 Hopyard Road, East Haddam, CT" address for your GPS, don't park in the first parking lot in the North of the park next to Chapman Falls.  Go past that first parking area to enter into the park itself, and then find the Covered Bridge.

Take Route 91 to 9 South (in Middletown).  Then take Exit 7 on to CT 82 toward East Haddam/Moodus.  Travel for about 2.8 miles and bear left on CT 82 (Bridge Road).  Then turn left, staying on 82 (Town Street).  Take the first left onto Parnassus Road, which becomes Millington Road.  Then turn right onto Hopyard Road.  The signs will lead you to the park entrance where there is a flag.  Again, drive into the park, and don't turn into the Chapman Falls parking area.  We are NOT meeting at Chapman Falls, but at the Covered Bridge. 

David Ostafin & Giovani Querido