From riversides to hill country to the seaside on Long Island sound, Connecticut has many wonderful places for walking and hiking. City walks can take you into the historic corners of New Haven and Hartford and the dining and shopping corner known as SoNo in South Norwalk. Gardens are abundant in city parks and in rural areas. The state parks alone could provide a lifetime of great hikes for kids, adults, older people, in all seasons of the year.
Whether you’re a hiker or a stroller, Wethersfield has a trail or tour for you
151 Brookdale Road Stamford, CT Phone: 203-322-6971
Route 20 East Granby, CT Phone: 860-346-2372
384 Burr Mountain Road Torrington, CT Phone: 860-482-1817
Pond has beach for swimming, canoe & kayak rentals, trails around the shoreline
Edgewood Avenue New Haven, CT Phone: 203-946-8028
Lovely urban park; good for strolling, tennis, skateboarding, bird watching, relaxation
10 Woodside Lane Westport, CT Phone: 203-227-7253
18 Ranger Road Haddam, CT Phone: 860-566-2304
Large state forest; good for fishing, hiking & walking, horseback riding, snowmobiling
314 Unquowa Road Fairfield, CT, 06824 Phone: 203-259-0416
Route 202 Litchfield, CT Phone: 860-567-8870
Water sports in the lake; hiking to tower at mountain top
67 River Road, off Route 82 East Haddam, CT, 06423 Phone: 860-526-2336
613 Riversville Road Greenwich, CT Phone: 203-869-5272
Route 61 and Bellamy Lane Bethlehem, CT Phone:
1400 George's Hill Road (Off I-84 at Exit 15) Southbury, CT Phone: 860-424-3200
Lots of water sports are done at this park on the Housatonic River; also near Lake Zoar
200 Mount Carmel Avenue Hamden, CT, 06518 Phone: 203-287-5658
Hiking and trout fishing are best activities at this ridge top park overlooking New Haven
204 Stillman Hill Road Colebrook, CT Phone:
Begins the Town Green, 10 Park Street Plymouth, CT Phone: 860-585-4001
Breakneck Hill Middlebury, CT Phone: 203-263-3711
Birch Road Mansfield, CT Phone:
Small park near UConn; nice for quiet walks and picnicking near brook and waterfall
123 Mad River Road Wolcott, CT Phone: 203-879-8100
Route 185, Simsbury Road Bloomfield, CT Phone: 860-566-2304
Watertown Road (Route 6) Thomaston, CT Phone: 860-283-8088
Camping, trout fishing, water sports, picnicking
Depot Road Groton, CT Phone: 860-444-7591
Cary Road Greenwich/Stamford border, CT Phone: 203-977-4692
76 Lake Drive Madison, CT Phone:
244 West Main Street (Route 156) East Lyme, CT Phone: 860-739-5471
Mine Hill Road Roxbury, CT Phone:
325 Cornwall Bridge Road / Route 4 Sharon, CT, 06069 Phone: 860-364-0520
Route 272 to Campbell Falls Road Norfolk, CT Phone:
999 W Main Street Meriden, CT Phone: 203-630-4259
Mansfield Grove Road East Haven, CT Phone: 203-287-5658
Route 41 three miles north of Salisbury Salisbury, CT Phone:
Bull's Bridge Road Kent, CT Phone:
Main Street Moosup, CT Phone:
Between Center Hill Road (Route 181) and East River Road [see map] Barkhamsted, CT Phone: 860-379-0922
Large forests offer all outdoor recreation: camping, water sports, extensive hiking trails
Route 85 Hebron, CT Phone: 860-295-9523
2325 Burr Street Fairfield, CT Phone: 203-259-6305
Oak Grove Street Manchester, CT Phone: 860-643-0949
Route 219 West Granby, CT Phone: 860-379-2469
Open: Year round.
bounded by Livingston Street, Davis Street, State Street and the Mill River New Haven, CT Phone: 203-946-6086
Walking, fishing, paddling, picnicking, and more are done at this riverside park
Near intersection of routes 89 and 190 Union, CT Phone: 860-424-3200
Dennis Road Pomfret, CT Phone: 203-568-6270
Route 185 Simsbury, CT Phone: 860-242-1158
Heulbein Tower is popular for hiking, picnicking
178 Shortwoods Road New Fairfield, CT, 06810 Phone: 203-312-5023
Pond is centerpiece of wooded park with beach, swimming, boating, hiking trails, ice skating, cross country skiing
entrances off Hosley Avenue Branford, CT Phone: 203-401-2654
33 Pent Road Weston, CT Phone: 203-226-4991
80 Whitehall Road (off Route 202) Litchfield, CT Phone: 860-567-0857
Route 53 Redding, CT Phone: 203-452-3511
Palmer Neck Road Pawcatuck, CT Phone:
Pudding Hill Road (Route 97) three miles south of Route 6 Scotland, CT Phone: 203-568-6270
1325 Main Street Glastonbury, CT Phone:
entrances off Hosley Avenue Branford, CT Phone: 203-401-2654
Tomlinson & Laurel Ridge roads Seymour, CT Phone:
Flanders Road Woodbury, CT Phone: 203-263-3711
144 Oenoke Ridge New Canaan, CT, 06840 Phone: 203-966-9577
462 Kent Cornwall Road (Route 7) Kent, CT Phone: 860-927-3238
Cascading waterfall, covered bridge, hiking trails. Great for picnics, walking
Near McCook Point Park, 8 Atlantic Avenue Niantic, CT Phone:
Route 77 and Fire Tower Road (north of Bluff Head Cemetery) Guilford, CT, 06437 Phone:
State Route 272 Norfolk, CT Phone:
10 Deerfield Lane Ansonia, CT, 06401 Phone: 203-736-1053
56 Deer Run Road Ridgefield, CT Phone: 203-762-7280
487 North Brooksvale Road (Route 42) Cheshire, CT, 06410 Phone: 203-272-2743
70 Gracey Road Canton, CT Phone: 860-693-0263
Howe Avenue Shelton, CT Phone: 203-735-4311
Sweet riverside park for water sports and picnicking. Easy walking trails along the river.
off of Route 6 at 23 Potter Road Hampton, CT Phone:
Great for hiking on short or long trails; enjoying nature; a boat ramp is available
Oregon Road and River Road South Meriden, CT, 06451 Phone:
Route 69 Burlington, CT Phone: 860-675-8130
218 Day Road Pomfret Center, CT Phone: 860-928-4948
147 Wolf Den Drive Pomfret Center, CT Phone: 860-928-6121
Good park for camping, swimming, boating, hiking; cool rock formations to explore
175 Shrub Road Bristol, CT Phone: 860-589-6082
Route 171 Union, CT Phone:
Large forested park with lots of hiking trails; water sports at one lake and 3 ponds
366 Hopyard Road East Haddam, CT Phone: 860-873-8566
Popular hiking and camping area with scenic picnic spots and fresh-water fishing.