Public places offer lots of walking and hiking in Mystic and eastern CT

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Riverside Park

Riverside Drive, Route 12 North Grosvenordale, CT

A half mile looping trail by the French River. Lit for evening walks.

Rock Spring Wildlife Refuge

Route 97 Scotland, CT

Walking trails, hiking trails and cross-country skiing along the Little River.

Rocky Neck State Park

244 West Main Street (Route 156) East Lyme, CT Phone: 860-739-5471

The large stone pavilion, diverse trail systems, and gently sloping beach make this park ideal for families. Try crabbing or fishing. Look for hawks, cranes, and herons. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, saltwater fishing, interpretive programs, saltwater swimming. Facilities include bathrooms, food concession, pavilion, and picnic tables. Rocky Neck Campground offers 160 sites in both open and wooded settings. The camping season begins in May and ends September 30.
From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day there are separate weekend/holiday and weekday parking fees. On weekends from April 17 through May 23 and again from September 11 through September 26, the weekday rate for parking will be in effect. There is also a camping fee at Rocky Neck State Park.

Roseland Park

Roseland Park, off Route 169 Woodstock, CT Phone: 860-963-7690

This park has been an area favorite almost since it was opened in 1876. Hiking trails run through the park, which has an admission fee on the weekends.

Schoolhouse Brook Park

Clover Mill Road, off Route 195 Mansfield, CT

18 trails (for walking or cross-country skiing) around Bicentennial Pond. The park is maintained by the town of Mansfield.

Shelter Falls Park

Birch Road Mansfield, CT

This wooded trail takes a somewhat rocky path that meanders past two waterfalls.

Trail Wood

Kenyon Road Hampton, CT

This farm was owned by naturalist and author Edwin Way Teale. There are many nature programs held at the site, as well as three miles of trails for walking.

Trolley Trail and Two Rivers Trail

Cady Lane Plainfield, CT

These one mile trails are terrific locales for bird watching. The trails are on the site of the Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery.

West Thompson Dam Recreation Area

Route 12 Thompson, CT

Fishing, hiking, boating and hunting are all a popular attraction for this federally maintained reservoir.

Wolf Den Trail

Mashamoquet Brook State Park, Route 44 Pomfret, CT

These trails have a historic significance: They lead to the spot where it is believed Revolutionary hero General Israel Putnam killed the last wolf in Connecticut.

Yale Forest

Route 197 Union, CT

Yale University uses this forest for study and field work. Fishing is available in the forest. The blue-marked Nipmuck trail runs through the forest for hiking.
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Albert E. Moss Forest

Junction of Routes 195 and 275 Mansfield, CT

This wildlife sanctuary is used as an outdoor laboratory by the University of Connecticut. Open to the general public.

Barn Island State Wildlife Management Area

Palmer Neck Road Stonington, CT

The 1,013-acre Barn Island Wildlife Management Area is the State's single largest coastal property managed for wildlife conservation. The property provides a diversity of ecoysystem and habitats including hilly uplands, agricultural/open fields, mixed hardwood forests and salt, brackish and freshwater tidal wetlands. The site is a popular hiking, wildlife observation and hunting area. Deer hunting is allowed in-season at this site. Nearly 4 miles of trails are available at this site.

Bigelow Hollow State Park

Route 171 Union, CT Phone: 860-684-3430

Bigelow Hollow State Park and the adjoining Nipmuck State Forest offer over 9,000 acres of recreation opportunities including miles of hiking trails and an 18-acre pond in Eastern Connecticut. Activities include boating, picnicking, cross country skiing, pond fishing, hiking, scuba diving, hunting (forest only), and snowmobiling. There are boat launches at Bigelow Pond and Mashapaug Lake. There is a parking fee of $9 to $15 weekends and holidays in season.

Bluff Point Coastal Reserve / Bluff Point State Park

Depot Road, off US Route 1 Groton, CT Phone: 860-444-7591

Bluff Point Coastal Reserve offers the visitor a delightful mixture of wooded hiking and biking trails coupled with spectacular wildlife viewing on Long Island Sound. Activities include hiking, saltwater fishing, mountain biking, shell fishing. A permit is required for shell fishing. Permits are issued by the Town of Groton. Town offices are located at Route 1 and Depot Road. Telephone: 860-441-6600. No fee to park.

Connecticut College Arboretum

270 Mohegan Avenue New London, CT 06320 Phone: 860-439-5020

Over 750 acres of beautifully preserved open space

Connecticut College Arboretum's 750 acres include the college campus, plant collections, natural areas, and managed areas. Its three major plants collections for public enjoyment are the Campus Landscape with 120 acres of trees and shrubs from around the world; the Native Plant collection, with 20 acres of woody plants and wildflowers indigenous to North America with a pond, and walking trails; Caroline Black Garden with an exquisite display of diverse woody plants in a garden setting. Open every day from sunrise to sunset. Free public guided tours every Sunday afternoon May - October at 2 p.m. Call 860-439-5060 for more information. Private group tours can be arranged upon request.
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Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

109 Pequotsepos Road Mystic, CT 06355 Phone: 860-536-1216

Open: Year-round, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed January 1, Easter, Christmas

Discover live owls, turtles, frogs, and snakes in new natural history exhibits. Experience "A Night in the Meadow" theatre, hike up to 8 miles of trails on beautiful 300-acre sanctuary, and view birds of prey in outdoor flight enclosures. Excellent birding; picnic areas; wildflowers; gift shop. Open daily. Adults $6, Children $4.

Dennis Farm

Dennis Road Pomfret, CT

The Nature Conservancy maintains this 2 mile trail, available for hiking or skiing.

Fenton-Ruby Park and Wildlife Preserve

Burma Road Willington, CT

This nature preserve and park offers ample opportunity for wildlife observation and bird-watching. A one mile, marked trail runs through the preserve.
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Harkness Memorial State Park

275 Great Neck Road / State Route 213 Waterford, CT 06385 Phone: 860-443-5725

This beachfront park on Long Island Sound, site of a former mansion is home to an unusual historic and beautiful experience. Enjoy a garden of heliotropes, bred from the plants grown on the site over a century ago.
Hours: 8 a.m.-sunset. Mansion is open for tours weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day. The first tour starts at 10 a.m. and the last at 2:15 p.m. Fees for parking.

James L. Goodwin Forest

Route 6 Hampton, CT

2002 acre conservation center with displays representing different types of woodlands. The conservancy also has fishing areas, cross-country skiing, hiking trails and a rest area.
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Laurel Sanctuary

Route 190 Union, CT

Leisurely walking trails wind through the laurel. This is best in June and July, when the laurel is in bloom.

Lester B. Williams Memorial Forest

Herrick Road Brooklyn, CT

1.5 mile trail, marked and maintained by the Eastern CT Forest Landowners Association. A map for this circular route is available in the mailbox at the start of the trail.

Mansfield Hollow Park

Bassetts Bridge Road Mansfield, CT

Small park set on a 500 acre lake. Boating and fishing are allowed. The park is also available for hiking and cross-country skiing.

Mashamoquet Brook State Park

147 Wolf Den Drive Pomfret Center, CT Phone: 860-928-6121

Popular state park with facilities for camping, swimming, boating and a rest area with a food concession. Hiking trails and fishing areas are also available. There is a weekend/holiday parking fee of $9 to $15 and a campsite fee at Mashamoquet State Park.
Wolf Den Campground, 35 open sites. Bathrooms, showers, dumping station. Fishing, hiking, swimming nearby. No pets.
Mashamoquet Brook Campground, 20 wooded sites. Dumping station nearby. Fishing, hiking, swimming nearby. No pets. Open April through September.

Milo Appley Showcase Nature Trail

Wolf Den Road, off Route 6 Brooklyn, CT

This 1.5 mile trail wends its way through a nature conservancy at an easy pace.

Mohegan State Forest

Route 97 Scotland, CT

395 acre forest with hiking trails and hunting.

Moosup Valley State Park Trail

River Street, off Route 14 Plainfield, CT

This trail runs for 8 miles along the bed of an old railroad. The walk will take you to the Rhode Island border.

Natchaug State Forest

Pilfershire Road Eastford, CT Phone: 860-928-6121

Natchaug State Forest on Natchaug River is popular for its horse trails, outstanding fishing, and riverfront picnic sites. Of historic interest is a large stone fireplace and chimney that are the remains of the birthplace of General Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the Civil War. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, hunting, backpack camping, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. The Natchaug River is a designated trout park fishing area. Facilities include picnic tables and pit toilets.

Nathan Hale Forest

South Street, off Route 31 Coventry, CT

This state forest sits on 1219 acres close to the homestead of the legendary Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hall. Hiking, fishing and hunting are available there.

Nipmuck State Forest

Route 190 Union, CT

This forest is farmed for products. Hiking trails with hunting permitted.

Old Furnace State Park

Route 6 East Killingly, CT

This small state park sits on the site of an iron mill built in the 18th century. Fishing is available in nearby Ross Pond, as well as several hiking trails.

Pomfret Farms

220 Day Road Pomfret, CT

Maintained by the Audobon Society. Designated trails run throughout the property. The Audobon Society sponsors guided birdwalks and workshops on gardening and area wildlife.

Pudding Hill Wildlife Area

Route 97 Scotland, CT

Wildlife area with fishing, hiking and small game hunting.

Quaddick State Park

East Putnam Road Thompson, CT Phone: 860-928-9200

Popular fishing and swimming area also features boating, hiking trails, and a rest area with food concession. Admission fee on weekends and holidays.

Quinebaug's 5 Mile River Trail

Route 6, Main Street Killingly, CT

Take a one mile trail that winds along two rivers.
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