Connecticut Is Home To Many Beautiful Places
Connecticut may be small, but it packs a punch when it comes to natural beauty. From serene forests and shimmering lakes to dramatic coastal views, the state offers outdoor adventures that rival even the grandest landscapes. These 12 spots showcase the very best of Connecticut’s great outdoors.
Kent Falls State Park
Kent Falls State Park has Connecticut’s tallest waterfall, with a total drop of 250 feet over a series of cascades. It’s at its best in spring or after heavy rain. The covered bridge here was built in 1974 by park employees, and the limestone brook has cool shapes and little potholes.
Over at Macedonia Brook State Park, you’ve got 10 miles of trails. The Blue Trail shows off amazing views of the Catskills and Taconics.
Steep Rock Preserve
Steep Rock Preserve has nearly 1,000 acres where you can wander. Don’t skip the 1872 railroad tunnel. It’s hand-carved and worth the walk. If you head to the summit, you’ll get a view of the Shepaug River Valley.
At Macricostas Preserve, take the trail up to Waramaug’s Rock for a stunning view of Lake Waramaug. The lake is massive and great for swimming, hiking, or just relaxing.
Talcott Mountain
Hike Talcott Mountain to Heublein Tower. At 165 feet above sea level, the tower has views stretching to four states on clear days. The Metacomet Trail runs through, giving you plenty of ways to explore.
Near the Farmington River, check out the Pinchot Sycamore. It’s the biggest tree in Connecticut at 103 feet tall.
Mystic
Bluff Point State Park spreads across 800 acres of trails, dunes, and salt marshes. Birdwatchers, this place is for you since over 200 species stop here.
Mystic Seaport Museum has over 500 historic boats, including the Charles W. Morgan, the oldest commercial ship in the U.S. Mystic Aquarium is the only place in New England where you can see beluga whales. And in the fall, Clyde’s Cider Mill serves up cider and history dating back to 1881.
Old Saybrook
The Saybrook Breakwater Light stands where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound. Established in 1886, it even made it onto the state’s “Preserve the Sound” license plates.
Harvey’s Beach is perfect for a quiet stroll or some sun. Old Saybrook is one of Connecticut’s oldest towns, founded in 1635, with over 100 historic homes still standing. Stop by the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, named after the actress who called this town home.
Rocky Neck State Park
West Beach has calm waters and views of Long Island Sound and Menunketesuck Island. It’s great for swimming or just kicking back. At Rocky Neck State Park, check out the massive Ellie Mitchell Pavilion, built during the Great Depression.
Silver Sands State Park
Silver Sands State Park has a long boardwalk with views of Long Island Sound and the marshes. Walk the sandbar to Charles Island at low tide. It’s now a bird sanctuary, but legends say Captain Kidd hid treasure there in 1699.
The park’s 300 acres are full of birds, even Snowy Owls in winter. Look around for old cottage foundations from Hurricane Diane in 1955. This place is calm and full of stories.
Webb Mountain Park
Webb Mountain Park has rugged trails and stone walls. The Discovery Zone next door is like an outdoor scavenger hunt with 27 interactive stops. The trails cut through forests and wetlands, where you might spot rare plants.
Over at Wolfe Park, Great Hollow Lake is perfect for a swim or just relaxing by the water. If you’ve got kids, the huge new playground there will keep them busy.
Gillette Castle State Park
Gillette Castle State Park is full of quirks. Walk the trails that follow an old narrow-gauge railroad Gillette built himself, with tracks and tunnels still around. Inside the castle, you’ll find 47 unique doors with latches like little puzzles.
He even built a table on tracks and a hidden staircase. The views of the Connecticut River are endless. Before you leave, check out the Chester-Hadlyme ferry. It’s been running forever and is still going strong.
Barn Island
Barn Island has over 1,000 acres of marshes, forests, and tidal flats. The 5 miles of easy trails are perfect for walking or birdwatching with over 200 bird species passing through each year.
You’ll spot old stone walls from colonial farms along the paths. The boat launch here is always busy, with kayakers heading out into Little Narragansett Bay. It’s the kind of place where you can soak up nature and leave feeling recharged.
Natchaug State Forest
Natchaug State Forest covers over 13,000 acres of rivers, trails, and history. “Natchaug” means “land between the rivers,” thanks to the Bigelow and Still Rivers meeting here. Walk the CCC Trail, built in the 1930s, and find the stone chimney marking General Nathaniel Lyon’s birthplace.
He was the first Union general killed in the Civil War. Near the river, look for markers showing where Revolutionary War troops crossed. It’s quiet, rugged, and full of stories to uncover.
Lovers Leap State Park
Lovers Leap State Park mixes history and views. The 1895 iron bridge, 100 feet above the Housatonic River, is one of only a few left in Connecticut.
The trails take you past old paper mill ruins and the remains of an estate. The park’s name comes from a Native American legend about Princess Lillinonah and her tragic love story.
The post These 12 Outdoor Spots in Connecticut Are Almost Too Beautiful To Be Real appeared first on When In Your State.
