Public places offer lots of walking and hiking in New Haven and south central CT
10 Deerfield Lane
Ansonia, CT 06401
Phone: 203-736-1053
Once a small family-owned dairy farm, the park is laced with two and one-half miles of nature trails. The land encompasses 104 acres of wooded hills and grassy fields bisected by streams, a two acre pond, wet meadows, and an upland swamp. The site is a microcosm of a typical Connecticut landscape, providing sanctuary to many species of New England flora and fauna. A butterfly/hummingbird garden and an award-winning woodland wildflower and fern garden grace the visitor center. Also, soccer, baseball, and softball fields; several acres reserved for community gardening; and a large play scape for younger children.
Hours: Daily sunup to sundown; interpretive center open 9 a.m. t o 5 p.m. daily except on major holidays.
Admission: Free.
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Route 80
Killingworth, CT
Phone: 860-566-2304
A 375 acre wooded hollow, featuring fascinating caves and rocky ledges. Visitors here will enjoy fishing, winter ice-skating, hiking trails and swimming. There are a telephone and restrooms on the site. An Admission fee is charged to enter the park.
East Rock Park
East Rock Road
New Haven, CT
Phone: 203-946-6086
Open: Daily, sunrise to sunset
This park offers a nature trails, playgrounds, recreational areas, a bird sanctuary, and a spectacular view of Long Island Sound.
75 Cliff Street at Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
Beautiful history
Once an experimental mulberry orchard, this stately public park was the home of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. Bought in 1906 by the Brewster family, the stately mansion stood near the great lawn of an estate designed to replicate an English landscape garden. Now a city park hosting many public cultural events.
Hours: Open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. The conservatory is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day except major holidays.
Edgewood Park
Edgewood Avenue
New Haven, CT
Phone: 203-946-8028
Enjoy nature walks around the duck pond, tennis courts, basketball courts and a ranger station. The park is also the site of the Holocaust Memorial and the Spanish American War monument.
Farmington Canal Trail
Brookvale Park
Hamden, CT
Phone: 203-785-1482
Part of an 80 mile canal trail between New Haven and Massachusetts, this five and a half mile trail is available to bikers and hikers.
1288 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT
Phone: 203-245-2785
Connecticut's largest shoreline park offers over two miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf.
Activities include saltwater swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, fishing, paddling, bicycling, and camping. The Meigs Point Nature Center offers programs and activities for park visitors on a limited year round basis.
Facilities: Bathrooms, boardwalk, car top boat launch, concessions, nature center, picnic shelters, picnic tables, showers.
Park fees: Weekends, $20 for Connecticut residents and $30 for non-residents; weekday fees are $14 and $20. All days, $10 after 4 p.m.
Hammonasset offers over 550 grassy campsites. Open for the season from May 21 through October 30 (203-245-1817).
Lighthouse Point Park
Lighthouse Road
New Haven, CT
Phone: 203-946-8005
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day, 6 pm - sunset
This 82 acre park on Long Island Sound features exhibits on natural history, swimming areas, nature trails, a bird sanctuary and an antique carousel. There is a parking fee.
Sleeping Giant State Park
Hamden, CT
Hiking and fishing are the main reasons to visit this park. Picnic areas.
Wadsworth Falls State Park
Route 157
Middlefield, CT
Phone: 860-566-2304
285 acre park with a waterful and laurel groves. Picnic areas, fishing, hiking and cross-country ski trails, swimming are all available to visitors. The park also has toilet facilities and telephones. There as a daily admission charge to enter.
West Rock Ridge Park
Hamden, CT
Small state park with fishing area and hiking and cross country ski trails.
