Prospect Mountain Preserve covers 340 acres and includes a network of trails of varying difficulty.
The Blue Trail (also known as the Dallett Hoopes Trail) is rated moderate/challenging as it includes a 400-foot gain to the summit, as well as some steep and rocky areas. This trail can be combined with the Yellow Trail to create a loop which crosses both the North and South summits.
The Yellow Trail also moderate/challenging, diverges from the Blue trail at 0.1 mi from its eastern trailhead crosses seasonal wetlands and ascends steeply to meet the Blue Trail near the 1350 ft. summit.
The Red Trail (also known as the Granniss Pond Trail) is located west of Prospect Mountain Road, is relatively easy. It passes along the south shore of Granniss Pond then turns north, crossing a footbridge, below the pond along its western shore on a boardwalk. This loop trail continues on through a pine plantation, old stone walls, an old farm road, an old high meadow, and back down towards the pond’s eastern side. The last feature before completion of the loop is an old horizontal mine shaft opening and a pond overlook.
The White Trail (also known as the Graham Thompson Trail) is of moderate difficulty, begins at Prospect Mountain Road, initially loops southeast, passing through wetlands and an old pine plantation, then recrossing the wetlands before turning sharply to the right and through barway. It continues in a northerly direction through mostly open forest of moderate inclines and descents. Finally, the trail bears more easterly, becoming steeper until it meets the Blue Trail near the South Summit.
The area was subject to significant nickel mining explorations in the 1800’s. Most of the Prospect Mountain Preserve was acquired in 1983, largely through the efforts of Dallett Hoopes, a founder of the Litchfield Land Trust. The Blue Trail is named for him. The White Trail is named in recognition of Graham Thompson, also an early leader of LLT. The entire Prospect Mountain trail system is part of Connecticut Forest and Park Association’s (CFPA) statewide system of trails, and is jointly administered by CFPA and LLT.
Coming from Litchfield, head west on Route 202 and turn north on either Cathole Road, or on Old Turnpike Road and then Prospect Mountain Road to access the various trails on Prospect Mountain
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