When it comes to hiking, Connecticut has seemingly endless trails. Ranging in distance, difficulty, and terrain, exploring Connecticut by trail is maybe the best way to experience the splendor of the state. We searched far and wide to compile the following 10 hiking spots in Connecticut that really capture the beauty of The Constitution State. Happy hiking!
- Bigelow Hollow State Park
Ravee T/Google Local Bigelow Hollow State Park, located in Union, is 516 acres of beautifully preserved nature with an abundance of trails for all skill levels. Most notably, however is the sublime swimming hole here.
- Bear Mountain Trail
Pete Hermann/AllTrails You’ll be met with spectacular views at Mount Riga State Park, a 276-acre preserve that’s home to the tallest mountain in the state. While beautiful all year round, the wildflowers that bloom along this trail during the spring and summer months will have you swooning.
- Mattatuck Trail
Alyssa Kolessar/AllTrails This section of the 32-mile hiking trail is just off the 69, and will take you to Buttermilk Falls. At 5.7 miles long, it’s a great introduction to what the Mattatuck trail has to offer.
- Mount Frissell Loop
Robert Gullo/AllTrails The tallest hiking trail in the state , the Mount Frissell Loop makes for a delightful day trek through the Connecticut wilds.
- Appalachian Trail - Bull’s Bridge to Kent
Kaitlyn Walsh/AllTrails The Appalachian Trail is a bucket list hike for any outdoor enthusiast, and this small section in Kent will take you up Schaghticoke Mountain, crossing the New York border twice.
- Ragged Mountain Preserve Trail
Joanne Britton/AllTrails A four-mile loop, this Metacomet Trail Loop located within Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve offers some of the most sweeping panoramas in the state.
- Zoar Trail
Lilia Wills/AllTrails Located within Paugussett State Forest, this Zoar Trail is a waterfall hike that’s truly breathtaking.
- Metacomet Trail
Miosotis Hernández/Google Local This is a long one! The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail is a 114-mile-long hiking route that offers spectacular scenery and breathtaking views. You absolutely don’t have to hike it all; instead, plan a little hike along the trail – there are many options.
- Quinebaug River Trail
Cathy Cline/Wikimedia This trail runs six miles when connected with the larger Putnam River Trail, allowing you the chance to see two rivers and two towns in a single hike!
- Shenipsit Trail
Gdisanto/Wikimedia Catch this view from Great Hill after a vigorous hike in the Meshomasic State Forest.
What are some of your favorite hiking spots in Connecticut? Have you gone on any of these hikes before? If so, what did you think? Share your hiking experiences in Connecticut with us in the comments section below!
Ravee T/Google Local
Bigelow Hollow State Park, located in Union, is 516 acres of beautifully preserved nature with an abundance of trails for all skill levels. Most notably, however is the sublime swimming hole here.
Pete Hermann/AllTrails
You’ll be met with spectacular views at Mount Riga State Park, a 276-acre preserve that’s home to the tallest mountain in the state. While beautiful all year round, the wildflowers that bloom along this trail during the spring and summer months will have you swooning.
Alyssa Kolessar/AllTrails
This section of the 32-mile hiking trail is just off the 69, and will take you to Buttermilk Falls. At 5.7 miles long, it’s a great introduction to what the Mattatuck trail has to offer.
Robert Gullo/AllTrails
The tallest hiking trail in the state , the Mount Frissell Loop makes for a delightful day trek through the Connecticut wilds.
Kaitlyn Walsh/AllTrails
The Appalachian Trail is a bucket list hike for any outdoor enthusiast, and this small section in Kent will take you up Schaghticoke Mountain, crossing the New York border twice.
Joanne Britton/AllTrails
A four-mile loop, this Metacomet Trail Loop located within Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve offers some of the most sweeping panoramas in the state.
Lilia Wills/AllTrails
Located within Paugussett State Forest, this Zoar Trail is a waterfall hike that’s truly breathtaking.
Miosotis Hernández/Google Local
This is a long one! The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail is a 114-mile-long hiking route that offers spectacular scenery and breathtaking views. You absolutely don’t have to hike it all; instead, plan a little hike along the trail – there are many options.
Cathy Cline/Wikimedia
This trail runs six miles when connected with the larger Putnam River Trail, allowing you the chance to see two rivers and two towns in a single hike!
Gdisanto/Wikimedia
Catch this view from Great Hill after a vigorous hike in the Meshomasic State Forest.
And for more breathtaking outdoor adventures in The Constitution State, be sure to check out these 12 Connecticut hiking towns that truly are an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. You may never want to leave!
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Address: Bigelow Hollow State Park, 298 Bigelow Hollow Rd, Union, CT 06076, USAAddress: Mount Riga State Park, Undermountain Trailhead Parking Area, Under Mountain Rd, Salisbury, CT 06068, USAAddress: Mattatuck State Forest, Watertown, CT 06795, USAAddress: Mount Frissell, Mt Frissell, Mt Washington, MA 01258, USAAddress: Bulls Covered Bridge, 248 Bulls Bridge Rd, South Kent, CT 06785, USAAddress: Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve, Ragged Mtn, Berlin, CT 06037, USAAddress: Zoar Rd, Newtown, CT 06482, USAAddress: 175 Hartford Rd, Simsbury, CT 06070, USAAddress: Quinebaug River Trail, Killingly, CT, USAAddress: Shenipsit Lake Rd, Tolland, CT 06084, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hiking Spots In Connecticut April 17, 2021 Sarah What are some of the most popular hiking spots in Connecticut? There are so many wonderful places to hike in The Constitution State! Some of our favorites include Millington Trail, 2.7-mile loop that offers stunning views and a cascading waterfall; the trails at Farm River State Park in East Haven; and Indian Council Caves Trail in Barkhamsted, an out-and-back trail that meanders through Enders State Forest. The trail leads to Indian Caves, local wildlife, and beautiful views. Does Connecticut have any waterfall hikes? You don’t have to search very long or hard to encounter some of Connecticut’s most spectacular natural wonders: its waterfalls. Some epic waterfall hikes in Connecticut include those at Enders State Forest; here you’ll get to chase five waterfalls on just one 3/4-mile hike! This quintuple natural wonder is a photographer’s dream, with each waterfall seemingly more stunning than the next. Another stunning waterfall hike is the Great Falls of the Housatonic. Known as the Niagara Falls of Connecticut, Great Falls of the Housatonic is a wide and impressive waterfall. During the spring thaw, after a rainstorm, or during a dam release, the water roars over its 50-foot drop. It’s magnificent! Where are some scenic places to hike in Connecticut? Pretty much every hike in Connecticut is guaranteed to be absolutely gorgeous. Our advice? Check out these hikes under five miles and these treks with spectacular scenic trails – and then start planning your next adventure!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hiking Spots In Connecticut
April 17, 2021
Sarah
What are some of the most popular hiking spots in Connecticut? There are so many wonderful places to hike in The Constitution State! Some of our favorites include Millington Trail, 2.7-mile loop that offers stunning views and a cascading waterfall; the trails at Farm River State Park in East Haven; and Indian Council Caves Trail in Barkhamsted, an out-and-back trail that meanders through Enders State Forest. The trail leads to Indian Caves, local wildlife, and beautiful views. Does Connecticut have any waterfall hikes? You don’t have to search very long or hard to encounter some of Connecticut’s most spectacular natural wonders: its waterfalls. Some epic waterfall hikes in Connecticut include those at Enders State Forest; here you’ll get to chase five waterfalls on just one 3/4-mile hike! This quintuple natural wonder is a photographer’s dream, with each waterfall seemingly more stunning than the next. Another stunning waterfall hike is the Great Falls of the Housatonic. Known as the Niagara Falls of Connecticut, Great Falls of the Housatonic is a wide and impressive waterfall. During the spring thaw, after a rainstorm, or during a dam release, the water roars over its 50-foot drop. It’s magnificent! Where are some scenic places to hike in Connecticut? Pretty much every hike in Connecticut is guaranteed to be absolutely gorgeous. Our advice? Check out these hikes under five miles and these treks with spectacular scenic trails – and then start planning your next adventure!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are so many wonderful places to hike in The Constitution State! Some of our favorites include Millington Trail, 2.7-mile loop that offers stunning views and a cascading waterfall; the trails at Farm River State Park in East Haven; and Indian Council Caves Trail in Barkhamsted, an out-and-back trail that meanders through Enders State Forest. The trail leads to Indian Caves, local wildlife, and beautiful views.
Does Connecticut have any waterfall hikes?
You don’t have to search very long or hard to encounter some of Connecticut’s most spectacular natural wonders: its waterfalls. Some epic waterfall hikes in Connecticut include those at Enders State Forest; here you’ll get to chase five waterfalls on just one 3/4-mile hike! This quintuple natural wonder is a photographer’s dream, with each waterfall seemingly more stunning than the next. Another stunning waterfall hike is the Great Falls of the Housatonic. Known as the Niagara Falls of Connecticut, Great Falls of the Housatonic is a wide and impressive waterfall. During the spring thaw, after a rainstorm, or during a dam release, the water roars over its 50-foot drop. It’s magnificent!
Where are some scenic places to hike in Connecticut?
Pretty much every hike in Connecticut is guaranteed to be absolutely gorgeous. Our advice? Check out these hikes under five miles and these treks with spectacular scenic trails – and then start planning your next adventure!
