RWA's Big Gulph Recreation Area, Northford, CT

Regional Water Authority's (RWA) Big Gulph Recreation Area in Northford, CT is a great place for walking, hiking, running, observing birds and wildlife, and other outdoor activities. The recreation area contains a diversity of habitats including early successional, mature forest, meadows, riparian, ponds, intermittent streams, and vernal pools ascending the side of Totoket Mountain, a trap rock ridge contiguous with Bluff Head and the North Branford Quarry. Big Gulph offers excellent breeding and foraging habitats for wild turkeys, eastern bluebirds, thrush, warblers and waterthrush, raptors and others, and it is an excellent spot to look for spring and fall migrants. Big Gulph offers over 6 miles of trails ranging from a 2-mile level gravel walking track with river and pond views to steep trails that ascend to the ridgeline.

Access Big Gulph Recreation Area by parking at the Northford Playground Park on Route 17 between Reed's Gap Road and Woods Hill Road in Northford, CT. From the parking area, walk between the ball fields toward the woods. There is a gated entry at the edge of the woods behind the ball fields that marks the entry to RWA property.

Please note that access to RWA recreation areas requires a recreation permit. To obtain a recreation permit, contact RWA at www.rwater.com/recreation or 203-401-2654. Have a look at the field trips section of the newsletter for an upcoming walk at Big Gulph (using Menunkatuck's group permit, individual permit not required in this case). And check back with us after the walk at www.menunkatuck.org for photos and a list of sightings.

Submitted by Nina Levenduski

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