Blackberry River Walk

The Blackberry River Walk follows the cool, clear headwaters of the Blackberry River through the valley below Mohawk Mountain, providing a gentle streamside ramble through an exceptionally beautiful piece of the Litchfield Hills landscape. The Blackberry River rises near the base of Mohawk Mountain and flows north through the town of Norfolk before joining the Housatonic River system; this headwater section is among the cleanest and most productive wild brook trout streams in Connecticut, its cold, well-oxygenated water maintained by the high-elevation watershed and extensive riparian forest cover. The trail follows the stream closely through a gallery forest of hemlock, white ash, and sycamore, crossing the river on a historic covered bridge that is one of the last remaining examples of 19th-century covered bridge construction in Litchfield County. The bridge itself is a destination—a traditional Town-lattice truss structure with weathered board-and-batten siding that spans the Blackberry River in a single graceful arch. Downstream from the bridge, the river widens into productive pools where rainbow and brown trout supplement the native brook trout population. Mink, otter, and great blue heron work the stream margins throughout the year. The walk's modest length and flat terrain make it ideal for families with young children or hikers seeking a contemplative, unhurried riverside experience in an unspoiled rural Connecticut setting.