Mohawk State Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mohawk State Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park |
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A vista at Mohawk State Forest
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 Mohawk State Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Cornwall, Goshen & Litchfield, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 4,016 acres (16.25 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,178 ft (359 m) |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1921 |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Mohawk State Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park |
Mohawk State Forest, also known as Mohawk State Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park, is a large natural area in Connecticut. It covers over 4,000 acres. You can find it in the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, and Litchfield. This beautiful forest is part of the southern Berkshires in Litchfield County.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection looks after the forest. People visit it for hiking, picnicking, and winter sports. The forest is also actively managed to produce timber and other forest products.
Contents
History of the Forest
A Name from the Past
The forest gets its name from the Mohawk Indians. However, the Mohawk tribe did not actually live in this specific area. Historians believe that other tribes, like the Tunxis and Paugussett, used the mountain peak. They would light signal fires there. These fires warned nearby communities to the south that Mohawks might be coming from the northwest.
How the Forest Grew
Mohawk State Forest is the sixth oldest forest in the Connecticut state forest system. The first part of the forest, five acres of woodland, was given to the state in 1917. Andrew Clark donated this land. It was first known as Mohawk Mountain Park.
In 1921, Alain C. White donated another 250 acres. The White Memorial Foundation also helped a lot. They contributed more than 2,900 acres of land in total.
Building with the CCC
During the 1930s, crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked in the forest. The CCC was a program that put young men to work during the Great Depression. They built roads that are still used today. They also planted hundreds of acres of trees. The CCC crews also created special breaks in the forest to help control fires.
Cool Places to See
Black Spruce Bog
The Black Spruce Bog is a special wetland area. It is one of the few bogs in Connecticut. This 19-acre bog is a great example of a late-stage peat bog. A peat bog is a type of wetland where dead plant material builds up.
You can find unique plants here, such as sheep laurel, leatherleaf, sphagnum moss, sundew, and pitcher plant. Taller trees like white pine, black spruce, eastern hemlock, and tamarack grow above them. There is a boardwalk that lets visitors explore the bog without harming the delicate plants.
Cunningham Tower
An old stone tower stands along a trail in the northern part of the forest. It looks like a castle tower, but it's empty inside. A man named Seymour Cunningham built it. He bought land on Mohawk Mountain in 1912 to raise sheep.
Mohawk Mountain
Mohawk Mountain is 1,683 feet tall. It is the highest point on the blue-marked Mattatuck Trail. From the top, you can see amazing views. You can look out over the Taconic Mountains and Berkshire Mountains to the north and northwest. You might spot Bear Mountain, Canaan Mountain, and Cream Hill in Connecticut. On clear days, you can even see peaks in Massachusetts and the eastern Catskills in New York State.
Mohawk Pond
The southern part of the state forest includes Mohawk Pond. This is a 16-acre kettle pond. A kettle pond is a lake formed by melting glaciers. The pond is stocked with trout and is also known for its largemouth bass. It is about 26 feet deep at its deepest point. There is a boat launch on the southern shore for people who want to go fishing.
Red Mountain
You can reach Red Mountain by walking on the blue-marked Mohawk Trail. This trail used to be part of the famous Appalachian Trail. Red Mountain is 1,652 feet tall and is in the northernmost part of the forest.
On its eastern side, you will find the Red Mountain Shelter. This is a log cabin built by the CCC crews. Because the mountain has shallow bedrock, the higher parts have small, shrubby oak trees. These areas also offer great views in the distance.
Things to Do and Enjoy
Mohawk State Forest offers many fun activities for visitors.
- Hiking: There are many trails to explore on foot.
- Picnicking: You can enjoy a meal outdoors with your family and friends.
- Fishing: Mohawk Pond is a great spot to try and catch some fish.
- Youth Group Camping: Organized youth groups can camp here.
- Leaf Color Viewing: In the fall, the trees turn beautiful colors, which is a popular sight.
- Cross-Country Skiing: In winter, you can glide through the snow on skis.
Next to the forest is the privately run Mohawk Mountain Ski Area. This is where skiers and snowboarders go for downhill fun.
