4.5West Hartford Reservoir(211 reviews) - Pleasant walk around Reservoir No. 6 Hiking Trails
On an unseasonably warm sunny afternoon in March, we took a very nice stroll around the reservoir. The sun reflected off the water, the woods, it was very enjoyable. The trail is about 3 1/2 to 4 miles around. You can connect to the Matabasset trail up to Talcott Mountain. It is a very level, easy walk (unless you head up to Talcott Mountain). We started at the south end and walked around the west side first. I would suggest going the other way, as we had the sun in our eyes and the wind in our faces coming back around the east sideSee more..
Definitely avoid the Talcott Mountain Collective for food and drink. The music is much too loud and I would not recommend this venue to anyone. It's quite unfortunate that such a nice country setting is now being wasted on a place with booming and annoying noise some call music. The place totally lacks class . Everything else about this area is wonderful..See more..
4.5Tarrywile Park & Mansion(177 reviews) - My old stomping grounds❤️ Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Parks • Hiking Trails
First, I'm biased having grown up on what used to be my family's property. I likely could be one of Tarrywile's worst critics, that said, it is a great place to hike, trail run, picnic, dog walk, etc. Tarrywile Mansion (once my Great-great Grandmother's home) is a perfect venue for a wedding or really any type of party, celebration, large get together. There's plenty of parking, either in the lower lots or up top behind the Mansion. The saddest waste of a perfect place is the collapse of Hearthstone Castle (once my Great Grandmother's home, whom I am named after), tragically the City of Danbury did not seize the opportunity to maintain this beautiful building despite having many chances to do so. Overall it is a beautiful property that I love and enjoy!See more..
4.0Wadsworth Falls State Park(91 reviews) - Hiking To The Falls Spent More than 3 hours State Parks • Biking Trails • Hiking Trails
I was looking for things to see in the area, while on a day trip and I just love waterfalls. So when I saw there was a waterfalls we just had to stop and visit before making our way home. Little did we know at the time there was a long way and a short way to the falls, Lol. So we made the big hike right after lunch and just before sunset. Needless to say we burned off a few calories by the time we reached the falls. Just as we arrived at the falls, the park rangers asked if we made the hike because the park closed at dusk in about 45 minutes. We had no idea that there was a parking lot right next to the falls. So rule of thumb make sure if you are up for the hike, bring good walking shoes, a bottle of water, a use the facilities before you start out on your journey. Or if not have your GPS bring you to the closer parking lot. LolSee more..
4.5Lovers Leap State Park(68 reviews) - Great views of Lake Lillinona Spent 1-2 hours State Parks • Bodies of Water • Hiking Trails
My family and I had a hike here on 3/18. We hiked only on the east side of the lake where the hill overs the best view. I recommend getting to the cliff overlooking the lake and walking all the way to the summit. There are interesting ruins on the hill and we saw an immature bald eagle circling at the top of the hill.See more..
Around the parking lot area are benches, picnic tables, and bathrooms. The trail is great for biking, walking or inline skating along the river. Very Zen and peaceful. The trail going towards Windsor Locks is temporarily closed but is open l towards Enfield and Suffield. The trail is open between April and November.See more..
4.5Bear Mountain Reservation(30 reviews) - Really nice trails and great people Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
I retired last year and this is my 77th hike. I have traveled quite a bit and I have hiked A LOT. Today at Bear Mountain Reservation I saw the lake often. I saw a deer, a coyote, and some hikers told me of a momma bear and cub that was reported. AND - we got a photo of a bald eagle. So those who report nothing to see are not looking. Also, this is not something I am not able to say often, the hikers that I spoke to on the trails were AMAZING!!!! I cannot wait to return here. SERIOUSLY - a bald eagle.See more..
This is a wonderful trail to walk or bike. No extreme hills so it is good for all ages. It runs along the Hammonassatt beach state park marsh lands so the sights and smells along the trail are wonderful. Fresh sea air i just can't get enough of. I have only used the madison side of the trail although there are portions in other towns.See more..
4.5Flanders Nature Center(25 reviews) - Serene, peaceful nature center Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This calm, quiet, nature center is a great way to get out and enjoy nature, especially since this center is dedicated to fostering the appreciation of the outdoors. They have a wide variety of educational activities (although you should check the calendar, in case they change things due to COVID): they have trail hikes, photography sessions, beekeeping, and an assortment of children's activities. This is a wonderful place to connect to the outdoors and to learn something interesting at the same time.See more..
This is a great walk. Wide open space, never feels crowded..get breeze. Parking is rather small area.Across the street there are spots.See more..
4.5Pequonnock River Trail(16 reviews) - Great day for a Haloween day hike! Spent 1-2 hours Hiking Trails
Nice for a Fall hike on Halloween day, Oct 31, 2021. A bit wet underfoot due to recent rain and wet spots and standing water on the blue and white trails. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots a must when wet. A hiking stick will help when navigating stream crossings, which were several today. Some of the foliage had turned yellow on this day, but not a lot of red or blazing colors yet. Trails were uncrowded today, some mountain bikers and dog walkers but overall a quiet, serene hike of four miles, blue trail out and white trail back.See more..
4.5MDC Reservoir #6(16 reviews) - Beautiful walk Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
Paths provided great views of the reservoir. Well maintained. Adequate parking with two lots. Great place to enjoy a nice fall day.See more..
For the 2020 Covid season WalkAboutYoga has changed up bit. This season we are not hiking. I am offering a 60 minute all levels beach yoga class. We are able to maintain six feet between mats as we get all the benefits of outdoor yoga. BYOM please.See more..
Bring your bathing suit lots of water holes to swim in and a nice hiking area. Would recommend hiking shoes.See more..
5.0Norwalk River Valley Trail(12 reviews) - Tranquil walk in the Woods Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Hiking Trails
The trail is magical, weaving under a canopy of trees, over brooks and past ancient stone walls and formations. It is a place to exercise, breath in the natural air and lose yourself in nature. The trail is a combination of gravel and wood bridges, and is well maintained and safe.See more..
4.5Happy Landings Farm(12 reviews) - A Breath of Fresh Air Spent < 1 hour Hiking Trails
I recently took my two 5 month old puppies up to CT to visit family and needed a quiet place for them to walk. They are easily excited so this was the perfect place for that. Large, expansive paths guide you around the land. It is so serene, I found myself wanting to bring a book and sit for some relaxation. The parking is easy, though I will say on sunny days there isn't a whole lot of shade but there is some. I can see this being my go-to spot for walks with my dogs.See more..
4.5Vernon Rails-to-Trails(10 reviews) - Walking Rails to Trails Paths With a Dog Spent 2-3 hours Hiking Trails
I venture out on the Vernon Rails to Trails paths with my German Shepherd on a regular basis. There are good maps to show parking spots for starting your walk. Walkers, Joggers, and Bikers share the same paths so you need to keep a look over your shoulder for oncoming bicyclists and runners when walking a dog on an extendable leash. The paths are wide and plenty of room for all as long as you are observant to let others pass. They are kept clean and mowed so no worries about ticks and other insect problems that happen with tall grass. As the pandemic brought "Stay at Home" orders I noticed a lot more people out on the trails with baby carriages and kids so I recommend going very early in the morning to enjoy these beautiful pathways with a dog so as not to bother other people who don't appreciate a protective dog barking at them!See more..
We biked the 20-mile stretch between East Hampton and Willimantic. Here’s what you should know: - wide, flat, natural trail. Fairly easy though very slightly downhill most of the way to Willimantic and slightly uphill back. (you can’t really tell it until your trip back LOL) - very well maintained with lots of newish picnic tables and benches along the way - beautiful water features - ponds, swamps, streams, river - plus we saw turtles, a beaver and a larger than average blue heron - we had lunch in Willimantic at the Brew House which made for a nice break before heading back - there is one spot about 6.5 miles in where the trail ends in a parking lot right before the Rt 2. You have to bike on the main road for about 250 meters before getting back on the trail (same side of road) All in all great day trip. See more..
4.5Macricostas Preserve(8 reviews) - Steep Rock at its Best! Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
A good hike to the top, a fabulous view over Lake Waramaug, and a good hike back. Can't get any better.See more..
4.5New Canaan Nature Center(8 reviews) - Family friendly Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
The New Canaan Nature Center is an environmental education center and sanctuary dedicated to helping people of all ages better understand appreciate and care for the world of nature. With 40 acres of diverse habitats, over 2 miles of trails, wildflower & butterfly gardens, interactive exhibits, and more than 50 live animal ambassadors, there is so much to explore and discover!See more..
4.5The Lodge at Crandall Park(7 reviews) - Fantastic Lodge for an event Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails This Lodge is just beautiful. It is constructed to be a real wooden Lodge. It has a kitchen facility, the banquet area is very big. Its a nice setting in the woods to hold an event. See more..
I was dropped off by a driver at the Marriott hotel. What a great place to walk! Peace and quiet and maybe 15 different varieties of birds along the way. Cute river you walk alongside in places. A nice bit of heaven at the end of the day.See more..
Walking thought lots of history. Check local for all the things went on at the Shenipsit Lake, and how the trail was a lift blood.See more..
4.0Farm River State Park(7 reviews) - Small, overlooked park Spent 1-2 hours State Parks • Bodies of Water • Hiking Trails
This lovely park seems to be frequently forgotten, as it's fairly quiet despite its beauty. It has a small parking lot and a few trails of varying challenge levels that offer pretty views of the river and which run along the Long Island Sound. If you're lucky, you can catch views of several types of birds. I'd recommend bringing a nice lunch here.See more..
4.5Gurski Farm- Williams Park(6 reviews) - Nice Trails and country scenery at Gurski Farm Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Hiking Trails • Forests Peaceful, quiet, nature at its best when walking the trails thru the woods and farm land. You can park at the entrance at the bottom of the hill near the old Gurski barns and house, or proceed to the top of the dirt road. Parking is limited but usually does not present a problem as people come and go. You can see people planting their garden at the fenced in Lions Club community garden or walk your dog (please clean up after your dog does his/her job - thank you) or take the family for a leisurely walk thru the hills and grass covered trails.See more..
My wife and I have been here to hike twice and unwind. What a great place. Many options for terrain, routes, and distance. If you need a place to visit for some exercise or just piece and tranquility this is it.See more..
3.5Babcock Preserve(6 reviews) - Trail need better maintained and marked Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This preserve is close to Riverside where my son lives. . We were at the beautiful and well maintained Bartlett Gardens trail the day before . This one is nice but not as well maintained , a bit rougher , definitely need good hiking shoes. . Be sure to know your direction ( need your sixth sense ). If you first time hiking in this area, I recommend try the Bartlett Trail first .See more..
5.0Harry C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center(5 reviews) - Definitely worth visiting! Wednesday: Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests
Trails open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk. Visitor Center open Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10-4 & Sunday 12-4. New exhibits and activities, view our extensive collection of reptiles and amphibians, meet live birds of prey, try your hand at one of our many interactive exhibits, and by all means, explore our trails!See more..
4.5Hidden Valley Preserve(5 reviews) - Lovely way to spend a day Spent 2-3 hours Hiking Trails
Nice walk on All Trails Day. Trails are well-maintained and very inviting. Bring a map -- some of the intersections are not well-marked.See more..
4.0Paugussett State Forest(5 reviews) - Nice hiking trails Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails • Forests
This is such a beautiful state forest. There are plenty of hiking trails with beautiful views. The forest is well kept up. There was only one place we saw that you could tell kids hang out there. I suggest printing out a map of the forest so you don't get lost.See more..
5.0Peter's Rock Park(4 reviews) - Good Birding Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Parks • Hiking Trails
Hi Folks. I usually go to Peter's Rock in may to go bird watching with a group. You also get a wonderful view from the top. Regards, OldeBearSee more..
This is a beautiful forest.I know every inch of it my husband and I maintained it for 20 years.This forest demonstrates what good forestry is all about.See more..
4.0HRLPC: Laurel Marsh Trail(4 reviews) - Good spot for a walk Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails The trail is composed of a 3-mile loop and a shorter .75 mile loop. Both trails are pleasant walks. The trails follow along the Hockanum River through marsh land. Lots of birds, wildlife, and wild flowers. There are some spur trails off the main trail as well. The trail is situated by I-84 but only follows along side it closely for a short portion. The terrain is mostly flat. A unique and scenic piece of land and trail. Truly an experience and in the place you'd least expect it.See more..
4.5Mattabesett Trail(3 reviews) - Great exercise Spent 2-3 hours Hiking Trails A somewhat difficult trail to hike up but the views are incredible. There are two paths a difficult one which it is. Then an easier one you can hike for as many miles as you want . See more..
4.5Audubon Center Bent of the River(3 reviews) - A pleasant and enjoyable place to walk. Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Hiking Trails Numerous trails take you through trees, and a meadow where an alert watcher will see a vast array of birds and plants.See more..
4.5Shelton Lakes Recreation Path(3 reviews) - Wonderful hiking and walking trails and very dog friendly Hiking Trails
May 2021 - Took my rescue dog on a 5 mile hike through the lakes region. It was absolutely stunning, lovely, and the paths were so much fun. I recommend the turkey trot and the paths around the lakes. Just beautiful and not too hilly. The streams were beautiful and I had the best time running around with the pup. It's well marked and you can do 2 miles, 5 miles, or even more. Plenty of parking everywhere near the roads of the trails. You really can't beat it for a quick, dog-friendly route but they do advise to keep your dog on a leash. Hope you get to enjoy - I loved it.See more..
I literally stumbled upon this location for a walk during lunchtime. Set in the thick woods, there was a main well sculpted pathway with small offshoots —With the recent storms, there was a lot of debris In the woods themselves however, the walkways have been cleared for the most part and in some of the lower lying moist areas wooden plank type walkways have been prepared to keep the traveler dry. The peaceful walk is less than a mile until you hit the beautiful Lake Lillinonah — evidence of campers/campfires remain with a small amount of trash unfortunately left as evidence. Several hills with large boulders and stonewalls winding throughout the property keep things interesting. Great for a quick getaway stroll.See more..
4.5McCutcheon Park(3 reviews) - Peaceful, clean, nice place to walk Spent 2-3 hours Parks • Hiking Trails Takes a bit to get there, but a great place to take younger kids, go for a walk and enjoy the scenerySee more..
4.5Branford Trail(3 reviews) - A hike in the woods Hiking Trails You get to see nature beyond some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Branford.The sites are varied and stunning.See more..
4.5Boyd Woods Audubon Santuary(3 reviews) - Found it by accident Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails We were on a roadtrip on our way back from a flea market near Litchfield, CT and we happened to drive by it so we decided to turn around and explore. The sun was setting so we only hiked for about 45min. but it gave us a nice view of nature in this region and the trails were well maintained. We definitely want to go back when we have more daylight but we will probably wait until spring. At least we got some nice photos of the fall colors. This seems like a great place for birding so they do restrict people from bringing dogs on the property.See more..
3.5Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Management Area(2 reviews) - WOW these flies look really hungry Bodies of Water • Hiking Trails We stop by a couple times a year. During the winter it's a lovely quiet destination, in the summer twice we decided not to get out of the car because the deer flies looked ravenous. See more..
3.5Ives Trail Greenway(2 reviews) - A relatively easy 20 mile hiking trail in Western Connecticut Spent 2-3 hours Hiking Trails
The Ives Trail and Greenway is a 20-mile hiking trail in the Housatonic Valley Region. Its route connects Ridgefield, Danbury, Bethel and Redding. The Ives Trail is named after Charles Ives, a Danbury-born American modernist composer. We explored this trail last summer, following the basic route -- all pretty well developed although some sections could use some TLC. Parts are quite rugged so you need to be in pretty good shape to complete it in one day. Our route: The trail extends twenty miles, from Redding Open Space to Terre Haute in Bethel, northwesterly to Rogers Park in Danbury, past the Charles Ives Homestead, and then southerly thru Tarrywile Park. It then continues southwesterly across Route 7 and through Wooster Mountain State Park to the existing trail systems in Ridgefield’s Bennetts Pond Park and Pine Mountain Park.See more..
4.0Cheney Rail Trail(2 reviews) - Pleasant trail any time of the year Hiking Trails
This easy walking/running trail is good for all skill levels. It is kid stroller friendly but roller blades or scooters wouldn't work here as the terrain is flat, crushed stone and not paved. The trail starts at the north end of town behind CVS (Main and North Main Streets) and runs down to the south end. Built by the Cheney Brothers in the late 1800's, this former South Manchester railroad line has been transformed to a shaded and pleasant walking trail in the center of Manchester. Check out the large footbridge that gives you access to Center Springs Park. From there you can see the park area with a pretty water feature. I have experienced this trail in all the four seasons and have been delighted each time.See more..
Nice easy hike, good for kids (and handicap accessible). I’m sure it’s much more picturesque in summer or fall, but still fun in January. See more..
5.0Deer Pond Farm(1 review) - Hiking dawn to dusk with plenty of birding along the paths Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails Visiting this wonderland for my first visit was a delight. With 20 miles of well marked trails covering 800+ acres was a surprise. With so much naturalized forest to wander you could feel like you were 1,000 miles from anywhere yet it's just 90 minutes from NYC. 5 minutes from Sherman Town Center. The trails were wide and fairly well groomed. There was plenty of parking and with snow you can snowshoe.See more..
5.0Woodcock Nature Center(1 review) - Wonderful peaceful trails for hiking through nature! . Hiking Trails
My dog loves to hike through Woodcock daily if we have the time. The trails are well marked, rugged, natural, but fairly well maintained. It’s easy to take a short hike or do a few trails combined into a longer hike! Thank you Woodcock!!See more..
5.0Marion Wilcox Park(1 review) - Access to Metacomet Trail Parks • Hiking Trails Great during dry weather. In wet weather wear gaitors or high boots. A great place to start a one-way hike to Tariffville and other places..See more..
3.0Candlewood Trail(1 review) - This trail isn't marked very well Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails I have been wanting to do this hike for a while. The trailhead is located at the beginning of Candlewood Mountain Rd. It is a bit steep and there are some very rocky spots to hike. We did Kelly's Slide on the way down the mountain. The view from Kelly's Slide is nice. There is no view at the top of the mountain because of the trees. I would say this trail is moderate to moderately hard. There are definitely spots that you need to climb, I may recommend not doing this trail once the leaves have fallen. Makes it a bit more hazardous.See more..
5.0Dividend Pond(1 review) - Lovely Nature and Archeological Site - Rocky Hill's First Industrial Complex Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This park consists of two ponds, a marsh, a creek, a dam with a waterfall, and multiple archeological sites. The first water mill was built on the site in 1667. It is a state archeological preserve. The most interesting part of the park is the dam and waterfall close to the main entrance. It is a 30 to 40 foot drop from the upper pond to the lower one. The longest trail in the park is the loop trail around the two ponds and the marsh. It goes to both parking locations and covers 2.5 miles. The park is open to pets on a leash. Hiking difficulty if you stick to the main trails is easy. Some offshoot trails are more difficult, particularly if you try to follow the ridge on one side of the park. The trails are not well suited to mountain biking. since the park has many irregular stone stairways. The park has no facilities except a Porta-Pot at the entrance. It has parking at two locations. The main parking location is on Old Forge Road. Take Dividend Road to the end and take a right on Old Forge Road. The park is several hundred feet from the intersection. Note that the location did not show properly on my GPS.See more..
Located on the old site of Camp Francis, a summer retreat for Fairfield County Girl Scouts from the 1930s to the early 2000s, the East Kent Hamlet Nature Preserve hosts over 2.5 miles of roads and trails. To access most of the trails, follow Camelback Road south from the kiosk. After about 0.1 miles, go right for a short downhill hike to a lovely 50’ stepped waterfall. Another 0.2 miles down Camelback Road are the Girl Scout barn and former parade ground, now a meadow. From here, the Red Eft Trail follows a paved road to the left, leaves and reenters Kent while circling around a forested hilltop, and returns via the meadow. The green-blazed Barnum Loop begins near the south end of the meadow and explores a tranquil woodland in the southeast corner of the Preserve. The blue-blazed Bromica Trace runs from near the kiosk around Beaman Pond, crosses a stream, transects a small woodland, and ends near the intersection of Route 341 and Kent Hollow Road.See more..
