Such a great little spot in Hampden County. Does not matter what time of the year you go, it is…read morenice to go on a little, or big, hike and take in the nature.

I love love love this particular hike. I would characterize the trails as intermediate with rocky…read moreareas that require you to pay close attention to what you are doing. The trails are clearly marked but I recommend you take a photo of the smaller trail maps posted throughout the mountain for reference. Because the area is so large with many loop- arounds, having a map photo will prove very helpful. There area several areas near the top with beautiful scenic overlooks you just won't want to miss. This is a dandy hike!

The Norwottuck Rail Trail is the place to get your cycle on. The trail head we chose was pretty far…read moreoff the beaten path, but one glance at the packed lot and it was clear that this spot is regularly frequented by locals. For planning purposes, there are several places you can park your car along the way, making it conveniently accessible. The entire trail is paved which means you're sure to have a smooth ride. It's mostly flat too, so you can take it slow and chat while you ride, or you can floor it and really get that cardio going. What I enjoyed most were the changing vistas. From open fields, to bridges, through small towns and neighborhoods, the scenery is sure to keep boredom at bay. At one point, we passed through the University of Amherst, which we ended up exploring afterwards. It's always fun to stumble upon new trails and the Norwottuck Rail Trail is one we will be adding to the regular list.

Love walking on this trail! It's very peaceful and calm, just make sure to stay to the side when…read morebikers are passing. Lots of people tend to walk on this path and the path extends pretty far which is nice.

Miles of hiking trails, paved and graveled mountain roads, and scenic overlooks whichever way you…read moreascend, this is a perfect spot for a quiet weekend getaway, Even on a Sunday morning around peak Autumn foliage you can find many scenic spots no else already found. This can be a quick drive kind of spot or a great morning hike as trails to beaver ponds, glacial erratics, and picnic tables are all within a short distance of the forest roads. The fire tower was out of commission for years but has happily been restored, and interpretive signs at the top show each visible peak including, Mt. Tom and Mt. Monadnock among them, on clear enough days. The only facilities are a port-o-let at the bottom of Soapstone Road, so plan accordingly if you don't want to make the ten minute trip back down to Ellington.

Great views, easy hike through the woods, or up the paved access road, or drive up if you prefer!…read more Awesome local option for some nice views. Tips: Bring lunch if the weather is nice, there are picnic tables everywhere. DON'T MISS THE TOWER. It was repaired (major overhaul) recently and reopened to the public. Can't see it from the end of the access road, but it's an incredibly short walk from there. Go up toward and around the chain fence.

This old growth forest is on 40-acres of land. There were many old trees that were about 150 years…read moreold and 144 feet tall. The type of trees located there were beech trees, eastern hemlocks, red/black/white oaks, red maples, black birch, chestnut oaks, and white pines. These trees are protected from logging. There are two entrances to the trails; one at Fire Town Rd. (Only on-street parking available) and one at the Boy Scouts and Library parking lots. I parked at the library, there was a paved path to the Boy Scouts' parking lot; you can't miss the brown Belden Forest sign. The entrance to the trail was on a hill but it wasn't too steep and doable in my opinion (My toddler was able to walk it and I wore my other toddler). The trail was blazed and well marked. There weren't any greenery that could rub ticks off on your legs. The trail was peaceful even though I could hear some traffic. There were some houses along the perimeter. I'd rate this trail easy and it was about a 2-mile loop. The trail is open year round; there are no trash bins and restrooms. It is in walking distance to Downtown Simsbury. We walked to the library after. Overall, a fun little hike, right in the middle of town!

Hiding in the center of Simsbury is Belden Forest, a 42-acre town owned park perfect for hiking…read moreamong a sea of 100-foot-tall white pines. It has a series of well-marked trails in its loop and it was pretty quiet and secluded when we visited today, in fact we didn't see anyone else besides us. There is a big pond in the center, and in researching its history I learned that in the early 1900's, blocks of ice used to be carved from the Pond for people's iceboxes! There are two ways to access the trail, off of Beldenwood Road and near Boy Scout Hall behind Route 10. Actually, there are two options there, a super steep hill that looks like you'd be hiking up a ski jump, or a very flat easy path just a few yards away. The gigantic trees surrounding your walk are the real stars here. I read that some of the White Pines are 150 years old and one was measured to be 144 feet tall!!

The Noel Baker Trail is a 0.5 mile loop trail located across the street from 10 Hanson Rd. in…read moreCanton, CT. Noel Baker donated 16 acres in 2004 and it was to be used as a trail; it's part of the Canton Land Conservation Trust. Parking was on the side of the road, on the grassy swale. There were signs at the trailhead and the trail was well marked with red markers. The trail was very easy with some small ascends and descends. There were some roots and rocks but all manageable, in my opinion; it was blazed and easy to navigate. The brook was very serene to look at and listen to. We saw another person walking their dog. Other than that, the trail was very quiet and you can see some houses along it. We did here a strange sound that went, "Whoooooop". We were baffled as to what it was, who knows, it could have been a Sasquatch lol. Overall, a lovely, short, and easy, hike!

Worked in West Springfield for 13 years and never knew this place existed…read more Came here to meet with a friend to go on a walk with them. The gps took me all over the place when searching for the main entrance, just note it's at a stop light at the top of a hill. We walked the road. Noticed a lot of hilly fields, I got excited to see all the disc gold baskets but didn't see a course? Park Ranger stopped as and told us to keep an eye out for the bear, "she's harmless ", he stated. It was a good 2 mile walk which was nice. I could see myself coming back to play with the baskets

It's a winner. It's a proper hike with a good incline up to a meadow. If you wanted you could turn…read morearound there, or head to the sunrise view which makes for more incline. There are more options to add trails and make your hike longer or shorter. The views are lovely and the trail was well marked. It was a little muddy on this April Sunday but all in all, not bad. Recommend!

Scenic, relaxing and invigorating. A great escape that I can't recommend enough. My only complaint…read moreis parking is a bit of pain with limited space.

"A walk in the park, there will be no bother" (Cowboy…read moreJunkies) You'll find this little patch of urban green between the Springfield Armory, TAP Sports Bar, the MGM Springfield courtyard, and the back of the Red Rose restaurant. It was renovated with MGM money when they rebuilt a chunk of downtown for their magnificent casino/hotel/shopping/movie theater complex. We visited the park yesterday on the walk back from lunch at the Red Rose. We saw a wrought iron gate that leads to a beautifully manicured spot of lighted walkways, green grass, pretty yellow and purple flowers, and a circular red stone base supporting a large abstract sculpture. The 2022 sculpture is titled "Dream Catcher" and was constructed of a painted oak tree and stainless steel rods and spheres. It's quite striking! The park is a welcome urban oasis and likely a favorite spot to sulk and self reflect after blowing a load of cash at the casino.