Take a hike: Best spots to hike and walk in Southwestern Connecticut

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.

www.friendsofmianusriverpark.org

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.

www.westcog.org/ives-trail-greenway

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.

www.ctaudubon.org
http://greenwich.audubon.org

This Nature Conservancy, 1,700 acre preserve, offers 20 miles of trails for all ages and the opportunity to view a wide variety of wildflowers and terrain. For a map and more details.

www.nature.org

Located on the north shore of Lake Zoar, Kettletown offers hikes for all abilities and various loop hikes in addition to swimming, fishing and camping. From the Crest and Miller trails there are impressive views overlooking Lake Zoar. Along both trails are also charcoal hearth sites. For more information and map visit the CT DEEP site. A short distance away is Southford Falls State Park.

A portion of the Lillinonah loop trail in Upper Paugussett State Forest is part of the Al’s Trail Greenway in Newtown. I have hiked the loop trail and sections can be strenuous but the water views are worth the effort. For the blue-blazed Lillinonah loop, visit the CT DEEP site for a detailed map. Visit www.alstrail.org for Al’s trail history and trail maps for sections that go through Rocky Glen State Park and encircle McLaughlin Vineyards.

This 13.5-mile blue trail has grown over the years and now reaches from Buddington Road, in Shelton to East Village Road in Monroe, passing through Shelton Lakes, and continuing through Indian Well State Park and onwards through Webb Mountain Park and beyond. There is some street walking but for the most part it is through the woods.

www.ctwoodlands.org
www.sheltontrailscom.blogspot.com

This Park is wedged between Rt. 25 and the Pequonnock River and continues up to Wolf and Old Mine parks. The trails can be confusing because of all the mountain bike trails but it’s easy to follow the blue trail that for the most part follows the river shore. See the old earthen dam and walk through the area that used to be covered by a reservoir. The walk along the river is cool, even in summer. For non-residents of Monroe or Trumbull, park at the commuter parking lot on Park Street, off of Daniels Farm Road, Exit 9, Route 25. Walk to the end of road to start the hike. There is a small stream crossing at the beginning of the hike.

On the other side of the river, and visible from the blue trail is the Pequonnock River Trail, which is a greenway, mutil-use trail that extends from Bridgeport to Newtown. 

www.vizettes.com/pequonnockvalley/maps
www.pequonnockrivertrail.org

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