Douglas State Forest - September 10, 2026

On the shore of Whitin Reservoir

This week’s hike with the "Old Guy's Thursday Hiking Society" was at the Douglas State Forest.

Douglas State Forest was established in 1934 and now includes over 5,000 acres with lots of great hikes including an 8-mile section of the Midstate Trail and a 5-mile section of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail. At the southwest end of the park, there is a tri-state marker where the borders of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island meet. It can be reached by a short offshoot of the Mid-State Trail. Maybe we will check that out another time.

Down the Mid-state Trail

We met at the Ridge Trailhead and headed out on the Mid-state Trail. From there, we followed the Ridge Trail to the Sassafras Pond Trail to the Wallis Pond Trail to the Reservoir Trail before retuning to the Mid-state Trail. The hike was about 4-miles and took us through woodlands, marshland and along the shores of Wallis Pond and the Whitin Reservoir.

I had a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon, so I had to skip lunch.

The rest of the crew - Danny, Bill, Mike and Al

Links:
My Pictures
Douglas State Forest Trail Map
Douglas State Forest Suggested Hikes
Mid-state Trail Map