top of page
Camp Hadley Trail
Description
The Camp Hadley Trail is a peaceful woodland path that winds through tall pines and mixed hardwoods, offering a quiet and shaded hike. The trail follows gentle terrain with a few gradual slopes, making it great for a casual walk or a quick nature escape. Along the way, you’ll pass mossy stone walls, seasonal wetlands, and sections of dense forest that give it a secluded feel. It also connects to the Lowry Woods trail system, giving you options to explore further.
Trail Map
Map Credit: Madison Land Conservation Trust
Difficulty
Easy
The trail is very flat, wide, and mostly made up of dirt. The historic structures are also very easy to walk up to and view, as they're pretty much all on flat ground. Just be careful because there are some decently deep divots that are off the trail, but could get in the way of exploring the structures.
History
Camp Hadley was established in 1935 as one of 23 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps across Connecticut. Built by men stationed at nearby Chatfield Hollow, it housed around 200 young men, mostly between the ages of 18 and 25, along with their supervisors. The camp was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression, aiming to provide jobs while improving public lands. Camp Hadley focused on conservation work and forest management throughout the surrounding area.
Image Credit: CT Insider
Image Credit: Connecticut Public
The camp featured a full range of military-style buildings, including barracks, a mess hall, recreation hall, and a vehicle maintenance garage. You can still find traces of this setup today—stone chimneys, foundations, and the remains of water systems are visible along the trail. Arborvitae and yews, once used to decorate walkways and building corners, still mark the layout of the camp. The men stationed here contributed to forest cleanup and trail building, and even helped clear Madison after the destructive 1938 hurricane.
The CCC was a cornerstone program of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), offering hope and opportunity to thousands during the economic hardship of the 1930s. At Camp Hadley, young men gained valuable skills while helping to shape and preserve Connecticut’s public lands. The program came to an end with the onset of World War II in 1941, and the camp was eventually decommissioned. Today, the trails and ruins at Camp Hadley serve as a quiet tribute to the work and resilience of the CCC era.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Recommended Routes
Map Credit: Madison Land Conservation Trust
This is a nice scenic route that allows you to experience all of the history. The historic sites are all within the yellow box and contain structures of barracks, a mess hall, a class room, and more! You'll get to do the whole trail, and will walk back to the parking lot along Warpas Rd which isn't a busy street.
Easy
Recommended By
Trevor Cash
Pictures
1/8
bottom of page