Trails / Connecticut / Northwest Connecticut

Appalachian Trail: St. Johns Ledges and the Housatonic River (CT 341 to CT 4)

Appalachian National Scenic Trail, northwestern Connecticut (Kent to Cornwall Bridge)

North of Kent, the Appalachian Trail climbs over St. Johns Ledges and Caleb’s Peak, then drops to the Housatonic River for a long riverside walk. CNY Hiking describes this 11.1-mile section from CT 341 to CT 4 as featuring a long, scenic stretch along the Housatonic, with one shelter and two designated campsites.

As on the rest of the Connecticut AT, camping is only at shelters and designated sites, and campfires aren’t allowed.

The hike

The section starts where the AT crosses CT 341 near Kent. CNY Hiking’s guide to this section highlights St. Johns Ledges and Caleb’s Peak along with the river. CTvisit includes both Caleb’s Peak and St. Johns Ledges on its list of landmarks along the Connecticut AT, along with Indian Rocks to the south and Pine Knob to the north.

After the ledges, the trail descends to the river. CNY Hiking calls the riverside walk a long stretch of the AT traveling along the scenic Housatonic River. Its mileage table puts River Road at about mile 1467.6 from Springer Mountain, at 480 feet.

The shelter comes at 7.0 miles. CNY Hiking says the trail crosses Stewart Hollow Brook there, with the Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter close by. The shelter was built by AMC volunteers in 1987, sleeps six, and has a privy and tent sites nearby.

Just beyond, at 7.4 miles, the trail crosses Stony Brook, with designated campsites just before the crossing. The AMC’s Connecticut Chapter lists the Stony Brook group site with two hardened tent sites, water from the brook, and a bear box. Berkshire Hiking notes that group sites are available there.

The trail then leaves the river. CNY Hiking says it crosses dirt River Road at 9.4 miles and paved Dawn Hill Road at 9.6 miles. At 10.2 miles, a blue-blazed side trail leads to the Silver Hill Campsite, with a good view southeast over the Housatonic River Valley. CNY Hiking says the designated campsites on Silver Hill include an eating pavilion, a water pump, and a privy. Berkshire Hiking says group sites are available there too.

At 11.0 miles, the trail reaches an overlook on the north side of Silver Hill, and at 11.1 miles it crosses CT 4, the end of the section. Early Bird on the Trail divides this part of the Connecticut AT into its Macedonia Road to River Road and River Road to Pine Knob Loop legs.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s compendium for Connecticut lists the rules: no campfires, camping only at shelters and designated sites, no reservations, and no fees. Berkshire Hiking counts Stewart Hollow Brook, Stony Brook, and Silver Hill among the 15 campsites along Connecticut’s roughly 52 miles of the AT.

Berkshire Hiking points out that most camping in the region requires reservations, which makes the Connecticut AT’s no-reservation sites unusual. The ATC recommends that all overnight hikers carry a tent or other lightweight shelter, in case a shelter is full.

For the section to the south, see Ten Mile Hill to Mount Algo. Heading north, the next section is Sharon Mountain and Pine Swamp.

Tips

• Pick your camp by facilities. Silver Hill has a pavilion, pump, and privy; Stony Brook has a bear box.
• No campfires. They’re not allowed on the Connecticut AT.
• Plan for river walking. Much of the middle of this section follows the Housatonic.
• Bring a tent. Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter sleeps six.
• Arrange a shuttle. This is a point-to-point section.

Camping

The ATC says camping on the Connecticut AT is allowed only at shelters and designated sites, with no reservations or fees. This section has the Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter (sleeps six, privy, tent sites), the Stony Brook campsite (two hardened tent sites and a bear box, per the AMC), and the Silver Hill Campsite (pavilion, water pump, and privy, per CNY Hiking).

Inside Intel: Silver Hill is the comfortable choice. CNY Hiking describes an eating pavilion, a water pump, and a privy there, plus a good view southeast over the Housatonic River Valley from the side trail. For a riverside night, the Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter and the Stony Brook sites sit within half a mile of each other along the Housatonic.

Trail facts

• Distance: About 11.1 miles, CT 341 to CT 4
• Route type: Point to point
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation: River Road about 480 feet; Silver Hill about 1,000 feet (CNY Hiking)
• Campsites: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter, Stony Brook, Silver Hill
• Water: Housatonic River tributaries and a pump at Silver Hill (confirm). Treat all water.
• Permits: None; no reservations
• Fires: Not allowed
• Trailheads: CT 341 near Kent; CT 4 near Cornwall Bridge
• Last verified: October 2, 2026

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: camping regulations by state
• AMC Connecticut Chapter: Appalachian Trail campsites
• CNY Hiking: AT in Connecticut, CT 341 to CT 4
• CNY Hiking: Appalachian Trail in Connecticut
• Berkshire Hiking: Camping
• CTvisit: Connecticut’s Long Hiking Trails
• Early Bird on the Trail: Section hike the AT in Connecticut

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.