Starting from the Five Points Art Center towards the John Brown property, there are two boardwalks and a small farm pond and dam on the 5 Points section and a 360-foot bog walk on the John Brown property just before getting to the Loop Trail.
The Loop Trail is 0.8 miles and crosses two additional boardwalks. There is a total of 722 feet of black locust boardwalk that was built recently plus approximately 80 feet of pressure treated boardwalk that was built by the Boy Scouts. The hike then returns back to 5 Points by way of the 0.5 mile John Brown-5 Points Connector Trail.
The Loop Trail is 0.7 miles and the Boardwalk Trail is 0.5 miles. Starting and ending at the Five Points Arts Center is a 1.7-mile trek.
The John Brown Birthplace site offers a leisurely hike around the 50 acre homestead where the fiery abolitionist was born. A newly built spur connects the loop to the Five Points Art Center. The birthplace was restored to its 18th century appearance in 1901 as one of the first house museums in Connecticut, but burnt down in 1918. The site has since been maintained as a clearing in the forest and in 1932 a granite monument was erected. Further historical recognition was secured in 1997 when the birthplace of John Brown became a Connecticut African-American Freedom Trail Site.
Additional information about John Brown is available on the Torrington Historical Society website and at their headquarters on 192 Main Street in Torrington.
From Route 4, turn north onto University Drive. Turn left onto John Brown Road and the parking area is at the John Brown Birthplace site which is on the right along with the trailhead.
Alternatively, parking is available at Five Points Arts Center (a former UConn campus at 855 University Drive in Torrington). Continue straight on University Drive to the Arts Center. The trailhead is on the western end of the property, between the two brick buildings.
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