This very popular park offers views of New Haven and Long Island Sound. It also has many trails that crisscross the park, from the easier green trail to the difficult and rocky White Trail. Please have a map. The 1.5 mile-Tower Trail/Road takes you to a stone observation tower. www.sgpa.org
Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media
Mianus River Park, Greenwich and Stamford
This 991-acre nature preserve offers a wide variety of hikes of all distances. The yellow loop, 4.5 miles, takes you along the Mianus River.
The Ives Trail and Greenway including Tarrywile Park, Danbury
The Ives Trail meanders 20 miles from Redding up through Bethel and Danbury to Bennett’s Pond in Ridgefield. With so much to see hike along one of the sections, no need to do it all in one hike. Just this spring I hiked along Tarrywile’s wide and well-used trails and got an expansive view of Danbury from the Mootry Peak Lookout. The yellow trail to the view was steep and strenuous but there are easier hikes to be found with walks through fields and gentler woodlands.
Lake Zoar Trail, Lower Paugussett Sate Forest, Newtown
The whole blue-trail loop, 6.5 miles, may be too much for beginners but a good option is to follow the trail from the parking lot on Great Quarter Road to Prydden Falls, 1.6 miles. Even though the trail follows the shoreline it does have ups and down, and some rocky bits. The Falls can be found by taking a short but steep side trail down to the shore. It is a perfect place to have lunch or snack. See the CT DEEP site for a detailed map.
Brian A. Pounds
Connecticut Audubon Centers in Connecticut
For families and anyone who wants to learn more about birds and wildlife. The Roy and Margot Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary in Fairfield and Audubon Greenwich are just a few. Other locations to learn about nature and take short walks are the New Canaan Nature Center, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, and the Ansonia Nature Center & Recreation Center.
