Naugatuck State Forest Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Cheshire, Hamden, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect & Seymour Naugatuck State Forest consists of five separate blocks in the towns listed above. They are not necessarily all connected either. Basically, when you drive up Route 8 through the valley south of Waterbury … [Read more...]
Seymour Land Conservation Trust Intro
Seymour Land Conservation Trust Seymour and Oxford I've become fairly adept at writing these trails orgs' intro pages. I can usually rip through putting one together in under ten minutes. Not so with Seymour's Land Conservation Trust. Their website in its current (September 2018) state is terri-- let's say, … [Read more...]
Black Hog Brewing Company
A Hog and Ox(ford) Black Hog Brewing Company, Oxford March 2018 When Black Hog burst onto the Connecticut beer scene in the summer of 2014, they did a lot of things right. This was likely due to the backgrounds of the guys who run the joint. Brothers Jason and Tom Sobocinski come from a Polish/Italian family … [Read more...]
Southford Falls Covered Bridge
In Oxford, Not Southford, Which is in Southbury Southford Falls Covered Bridge Multiple visits There’s a lot going on over at Southford Falls State Park which is almost entirely in Oxford (rather than Southbury). To wit: A waterfall! Trails! Trails again! A Watchtower! And this, a cute little … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Oxford
Everything Oxford I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Oxford CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. After all, that is the ultimate goal of … [Read more...]
3 Oxford Land Trust Trails
Three FailTrails Oxford March 2018 Geared up and ready to hit Oxford’s trails on a glorious early spring day... Just me and my son Damian. Fantastic. I drove out to route 188 and began searching for the trailheads. First, a slight detour to find Indian Rock on Punkup Road. Success! Off to a good start. From … [Read more...]
Indian Rock
Indian Rock Punkup Road, Oxford I have no recollection as to how I became aware of this roadside rock. It could have been a comment or an email or even a passing conversation with someone. I apologize to that someone for forgetting your important contribution to the CTMQ canon. That important contribution is... … [Read more...]
Oxford’s Town Trail Intro
Oxford’s Town Trail This is one of those weird ones. Oxford is a wealthy town with lots and lots of woods and some farms. And yet... only one town trail? Now, there are a handful of local land trust trails and some state park trails and the CFPA’s Pomperaug bumbles through the town, but still... only one town … [Read more...]
Oxford Land Trust Intro
Oxford Land Trust Oxford Whenever I’m in Oxford I like to drink beer at the breweries, drive the back roads and hike. Wait. Let’s try that again. Whenever I’m in Oxford, I like to drink beer at the breweries, drive the back roads, and hike. Ah yes, the ol’ Oxford comma argument. While I see value in … [Read more...]
TSTL’15.4: Southford Falls State Park
The Sky's the Limit 2015 Hiking Challenge #4 Southford Falls State Park Watchtower Southbury May 30, 2015 Yes, another full family adventure! I love when Hoang joins us on our little jaunts in the woods. As with the previous three TSTL Challenge spots, I’d already done this hike. In fact, I point to the … [Read more...]