This trail is about 4miles give or take there and back. There are benches along the way and two…read morebridges going over the water and one tunnel under the highway. It does flood under that bridge if raining a lot. There is a sign that says flood zone turn around don't drown or something like that. I can walk the whole thing in about 45 minutes. And there are a few little tails off it into the woods but they don't really loop and you have to turn around and come right back. You cal also park at either end.

"Oh, Suzie Q Baby, I love you, Suzie Q"…read more(Creedence Clearwater Revival) The indigenous people's word "Quinnipiac" roughly translates into English as "long-water people". The Q River is 38 miles long, and you'll get a gorgeous view of it from the bridge on the Quinnipiac Linear Trail. We had a lovely hike on the trail today, as did dozens of friendly walkers who smiled and waved to us as we walked from the main parking lot to the bridge and back. It was a very easy low impact walk of about two miles round trip. The trail is flat, paved, and very wide -at least fifteen feet wide. There were a few side trails marked by fresh mulch or wood shavings if you want to go off the beaten path. We saw plenty of interesting things on our walk - basketball courts, a wood walkway over some wetlands, several informational kiosks, a Lending library with a box of Narcan Nasal Spray prominently on display up front, a labyrinth, and scenic views of the Merrit Parkway which at times seemed about 50 feet from the trail. One other interesting but infuriating thing we saw was a collection of red, black, and blue knotted bags of dog doody that was neatly stacked around a Pet Waste station just under a sign that read "Please Keep This Area Clean".

Not a business, but a beautiful nature preserve that has some trails you can take. Great any time…read moreof year and a favorite for us locals around sunset. You can view lots of birds, and other native wildlife if you have the patience and fortitude to grab a chair and sit out in one of the fields. You sign in before your walk, and let it be known who is in your walking party with you. It's one of a few lovely places that you can walk on in the area. A must for nature lovers, and parents who are looking to get their children out exploring with them.

A fairly easy loop hike within a protected area that seems to get low to moderate traffic. The hike…read moreinvolves many different aspects of open land with wide cut paths to dense woods with narrow paths to very narrow paths between beaver ponds. There are no steep inclines and the hike reflects more gradual and limited inclines. The views of the water areas are plentiful and include several benches to take a break. The parking area should fit 10-12 vehicles but when we visited on a Sunday afternoon spring day there were two cars, so it does not appear to be a busy spot. One warning is if it recently rained it will be muddy in spot so dress appropriately and wear solid shoes that can stand up to mud. I would classify this hike as mostly flat and easy, so definitely bring the kids to get out and enjoy nature.

The parking along the route isnt obvious, except for cars along a guardrail. There are 2 separate…read moreentrances from there, mostly obscured by overgrowth of bushes. The stairs lead down to what used to be an open picnic area, tables, grills, now quite a bit overgrown. The "falls" are simply a creek that flows along the picnic area, with a few small cascades, all under 5-6 feet tall. There is a trail that goes along the other side of the creek, and it then moves up & away from the creek into woods. That trail is ok, and eventually leads to a quirky rock formation where it's clear people either party and/or camp out and leave trash around. Like other comments, this place is in dire need of TLC by the state and better care by people who use it.

Lots of falls…read more Seven Falls is a small park with some interesting geology. I'm not sure why it is called seven falls because it really has only three or maybe four. Perhaps in the past more falls were visible and if you look closely at the geomorphology it is obvious that the water level was once much higher and carved out a channel through the rocks. The present falls are small, only five or so feet high and in times of drought the water level slows to a trickle. Because of all the recent rain the water was flowing pretty good when I took the pictures and in the winter the falls freeze and looks pretty impressive. No swimming is allowed but of course people still go in the water. The area around the falls has picnic tables and places for a fire. Most people think of this as a picnic or rest area but there are some hiking trails to the north of the falls. Nothing really exciting, just a few dirt paths up the side of the hill. One particularly interesting feature is a small hole in the side of the falls that was carve out by a rock spinning around during times of extreme water flow. Seven Falls isn't worth going out of you way to see, there certainly are far more impressive waterfalls in Connecticut. But for someone in Haddam that is interested in Geology or just wants a pleasant place to have a picnic it's worth a stop.

Loved coming here for the nature hike and exploring the grounds…read more Dogs are no longer allowed on the trails

This is a fun spot that's a little underwhelming in terms of the attractions. Part museum, part…read morepark, when we went it was covered in snow, so we only really were able to experience what's inside. It's $6, and small kids are free, which was an appropriate cost. You'll walk into a few small animals in exhibits - snakes, frogs, etc. - which are fun, and then get to the fossils and stuff. They have one of those topographical sand tables, which are fun for little ones (also saw some teens playing with it, so fun for all ages). They have a bunch of fossils, mostly fossilized footprints, and one mostly complete dinosaur specimen, as well as an impressive room that must've been 100 ft wide that shows tracks that different dinosaurs made over the eons. That part was very cool. But, it's a pretty small spot, and you can walk through it really quickly, probably in 15 mins or so if you're quick. We have a small kid, so we spent probably closer to an hour and ran through it a couple times. Ultimately, it was a good stop, but not something I'd really go out of my way to do again.

I came to this hiking trail for the first time and was pleasantly surprised at the nice trail so…read morecloseby! It seems somewhat of a hidden gem as there were only 2 other people on the trail when I went. I did not see an actual parking lot, but there's space to park by the trail entrance. Lots of nice little views and an easy, enjoyable hike lasting about an hour. Definitely recommend!

Orchard Glen Trail is a nice little area to hike. You will find this area off of Barnes industrial…read moreRoad . There are a few trails within trails there. Most of them are loops. There is a tiny waterfall that you can walk down to access. We did not access the waterfall on our recent hike due to the leaves on the ground, and we had concern sliding down. Though I have gone down a few times and taken pictures previously. The trail is mostly well marked. There are a few places we got turned around on, but we are managed to get back on trail without any issues. There are powerlines through part of this trail. I do know that just in case some folks don't want to see the powerlines. I completely understand. Overall I like this hike it's not too strenuous so I've done it a few times throughout the last few years. I recommend going in late spring after things of blossoms you can see the different colors or early fall before the leaves fall kind of thing..

Perfect sunset views and walking trails all throughout the castle grounds…read more During hours, you can tour the castle, but I somehow ALWAYS miss the time where it's open to get the full effect of the castle Dogs are allowed on leash, not is castle.

We stopped at this castle while vacationing in CT this past summer. Castle viewing and hiking along…read morethe trails brought back some memories of living in Europe. We took a ferry across to reach castle, this was an awesome idea! The views are amazing from the water. Once you arrive there is plenty of parking, a visitor center with quite abit of history. You can purchase your tickets in the visitor center. The price is very reasonable, around $6 each. Everyone must have a ticket to view the inside of castle. A guide will meet you out front. If you have never viewed a castle from the inside, here is your chance. Great relaxing summer getaway with the family, I highly recommend if your in the area. The views are outstanding!

Such a quiet and serene place to hike! The yellow/blue and blue trail lead around the lake for many…read morebeautiful spots to take a step back and meditate. Dogs are welcome, but on leash per state guidelines. Very rocky and uneven terrain, and not for a beginner hiker. The trails are maintained, but one can easily get lost if unaware of the proper hiking method and trail markings as you hike over big boulders and up semi-steep hills (very slick in the fall due to the leaves and during the winter with snow, so be cautious of footing) Sneakers are good but hiking boots are even better due to the rocky and uneven paths. Different path cut off that lead to the water and many higher altitude spots for an overlook of the whole pond There is barely any parking with very limited areas along the street. Download the free AllTrails app for hiking trails and other locations!

Beautiful walking trail around Reservoir. nature and wildlife all around you on this beautiful…read morehike. Love coming here on a fall day and watching the leaves change.

This is such a beautiful lake with hiking trails. It is part of the Regional Water Authority (RWA)…read moreRecreation Area, so a special permit is required to park and hike around the reservoir. There are 10 miles of trails around the reservoir. The lake is on the boundary of Madison and Killingworth. The hikes are considered easy to moderate. It's very peaceful and quiet. Highly recommend you visit!