Mine Hill
located in Roxbury near the
Shepaug River is part of the
Roxbury Land Trust as well as a
national historic landmark.
Mine Hill at one time was a fully
functioning iron mine and it's not
hard to visualize the old mill in
action as you hike along a well
maintained trail system.
The trail system presents varying
degrees of difficulties.
You can park your car and take a
short walk right up to the old
giant furnaces and explore this
fascinating part of Mine Hill.
Or venture out on the challenging
4-mile round trip blue trail,
which loops around Mine Hill
preserve.
Along way the blue trail takes you
through dense woodlands, up rocky
terrain, over an old mule trail,
traverses a small marble bridge,
takes you past mine tunnels with
cave like structures, along a long
dirt utility road that abuts
farmland, and back to the old
furnaces and historical part of
Mine Hill.
There's also a nice short nature
trail off the blue trail that
isn't too far from the main
entrance area (go left at the
start of the blue trial).
The trail gives a hiker all the
natural beauty you'd want along
with an historic journey to the
past.
Mine Hill is a fascinating place
and good hiking destination if
you're looking for peace and
quiet.
This is a great place to bring
kids as they are sure to be
fascinated by the giant furnaces
and some of the cave like
structures.
But because of all the mining
activity that took place here
years ago, there are some
potentially dangerous spots.
The Land Trust has done a great
job of blocking off nearly all
tunnels entrances and preventing
people from venturing into
places that are extremely
dangerous to explore.
You'll notice steel gated covers
over quite a few of the tunnels
entrances.
On one hand it's a shame these
gates exist because it's hard to
see the cave like structures. On
the other hand, it obviously
makes sense to do this for
safety reasons and doing this
has saved numerous lives.
If you're in good shape and you
take on the 4 mile loop, you'll
see a nice New England hardwood
forest with those old mining
remnants scattered about. It feels
colonial in there and kind of
throws you back to another time
and place.
A website for Mine Hill and other
public access trails in Roxbury
can be found at www.roxburylandtrust.org/minehill.html.
This link has some nice background
information about Mine Hill as
well as other valuable resources.
Directions: Take
exit 14 off I-84 and at end of
ramp take a left.
Go up to the intersection
and go straight at the
intersection.
This is Rt. 172.
Stay on 172 until it meets
Rt. 67.
Take a left onto Rt. 67 and
follow it to Roxbury center (67
seems to end here but just take a
left and then quickly bear to the
right as 67 passes through
Roxbury).
2.5 miles out of Roxbury
center is River Rd.
Take a right onto River Rd. and
one-tenth of a mile up this dirt
road is the entrance to Mine Hill.
Printable
version of the Mine Hill
Roxbury
If you have any trail updates to
share or have feedback/questions
please click
here to send email or call
203.788.7665
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