NEPAUG RESERVOIR TRAILS;
CANTON, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 04, 2025
Length: Nepaug Reservoir; North Trail; 1 mile
Nepaug Reservoir; South Trail; 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Nepaug Reservoir; North Trail. Easy. Flat, paved old road.
Nepaug Reservoir; South Trail. Moderate. Old, hilly paved road (broken up in places).
Directions:
Take exit 39 off of I-84 to Route 4 west. Follow Route 4 to the intersection of Route 179, the head north along Route 179.
For the Nepaug Reservoir; South Trail; Just a short distance up Route 179 will be a left hand turn for Ford Rd. Follow Ford Rd to where it intersects with Barnes Hill Rd. This is just below the Phelps Dam. Turn left up Barnes Hill Rd and then a quick right up Clear Brook Rd to the yellow gate. Park here at the Eastern End.
For the Nepaug Reservoir; North Trail; Take Route 179 north through Collinsville to the intersection of Maple Ave & River Rd. Continue north on River Rd (Route 179) 0.8 miles to Town Bridge Rd;
To start from the Eastern End; Turn left onto Town Bridge Rd and follow to Torrington Ave. Turn right which brings you to a yellow gate. Park here.
To start from the Western End; Continue north up Route 179 to Route 202 and turn left. The trailhead is less then 1 ½ miles on your left just before the road crosses the reservoir.
The Nepaug Reservoir; South Trail follows the old Clear Brook Road East-West, along the Southern End of the Nepaug Reservoir. The Nepaug Reservoir; North Trail follows an old road East-West, along the Northern End of the reservoir past the Nepaug Dam. The Nepaug Reservoir was constructed between 1911 and 1916 and is managed by the Metropolitan District Commission to supply water for the Hartford area. The tributary waters of the Nepaug River, Clear Brook and Phelps Brook supply the reservoir with spring-fed run-off from the bordering hills. The village of Nepaug was forced to relocate as it was in the new flood zone.
Nepaug Reservoir; South Trail:
Starting from Clear Brook Road [Eastern
End]; As you head past the yellow gate, you'll be going slightly downhill to start.
The Nepaug Reservoir;
South Trail
follows the old Clear Brook Road, West,
that is broken up in spots. As you head down the road
keep an eye to your right to spot some tall Larch
trees. These conifers are the only type that looses their needles in the fall,
the same way deciduous trees loose their leaves every fall. Just past the Larch trees will be some Norway
Spruce trees. You can distinguish these trees from other Spruce/Fir
trees by looking at the way the branches hang down. It looks as though the
branches are raining down on you. The road levels off and follows the Southern
End of the reservoir. After about ¾ of a mile you'll pass by 3 old posts on
your left where a stone culvert passes below. Just past these poles on your
right you'll spot a large quartz boulder. From this boulder you can see the Nepaug
Dam at the Northern Tip of the reservoir. The road pulls away from the
reservoir and starts up a steep hill at the 1 mile mark. Clear Brook
flows down alongside the road and feeds into the reservoir. There is a stream
gauging station located here. The road ends at another yellow gate after 1.9
miles.
The climb is steep, but the stream is very scenic along the route.
Nepaug Reservoir; North Trail:
Starting from the Torrington Ave parking lot [Eastern End]; Pass through the yellow gate where the Nepaug Reservoir; North Trail travels Northwest, down an old road. It's broken up in spots, but is nice and level. This road follows the Northern End of the reservoir. A ½ mile will bring you to the Nepaug Dam. I was impressed with the height of the dam and having visited it after heavy rains, I got quite a show as the water cascaded over the spillway. After admiring the great views, cross over the dam. The road continues South, alongside the reservoir, ending after 1 mile next to another gate and the Route 202 parking lot.
HH
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT