The Dunbar Brook Trail in Monroe State Forest was our destination Saturday for a tour of an old growth hardwood tree stand by DCR Ranger Christian Drake. Parking at the southern end of the State Forest is on River Road across from the Dunbar Brook Picnic Area. The trailhead kiosk includes info on the hydro plant there, stay to the left heading up the power lines and then a quick right into the woods following Dunbar Brook. We went as far as the first bridge viewing glacial erratics and deep moss along the way before heading steeply uphill towards the Ridge Shelter. Christian’s wealth of knowledge of old growth forests educated us on how to spot old growth in any forest, plus frost cracks, tree characteristics and forest health. At the ridge shelter we turned back making this a 4.3 mile in and back, just a glimpse of the Monroe State Forest with its steep peaks and beautiful Dunbar Brook Valley. Bring a map and GPS, there is no cell service in this area at all.

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