We found this place through Yelp and are so glad we did. My teen daughter and I brought our dog…read moreand hiked most of the north loop. It had inclines and some areas with lots of roots, so I'd rate it as moderate. On the way back down, we stopped and went down to the bank of the river to dip our feet in the cool water. There were a couple of neighborhood dogs running up and down the trail and taking little forays into the water, but they were friendly, so we didn't mind. The trail and the river were all clean and well taken care of. There is an amazing covered bridge that visitors cross over from the parking lot to get to the trailhead. We saw individual and small groups of hikers, including some younger kids, so this is definitely family-friendly. We will definitely be back to try one of the other trails.

Love hiking here! Great views, beautiful forest, easy parking, dog friendly.read more

A Forest Spa for the Mind: This is a Gem of a local park and a must stop for people wanting a…read morecasual hike with instant forest immersion only a few feet after leaving the parking lot on the trail right side entrance. This will not be your longest hike but as the co-head of a hiking group of over 2000 in USA and canada - this is a treat for the senses and a forest spa for the mind. Love sunrise at this park and how the light highlights the beautiful tall trees along the main trail. Treat yourself: Breathe, Admire and Appreciate the beauty around you

J.B. Williams Park is over 160 acres of hiking trails, woodlands, streams, wooden bridges, and a…read moregorgeous lake. I attended a private party at their Pavilion that was very cool. The pavilion is a big 40'x40' covered wood structure with lots of picnic tables and benches. They also have a companion building with a kitchen, refrigerator, sink, service counter, and stove. The grounds are gorgeous and I spent an hour or so wandering around the hiking trails and over the wood bridges and enjoying the tranquil beauty of the lake before my event started.

The Nature Conservancy's Ayers Gap Preserve / Bailey's Ravine trail is wonderful and wonderfully…read morebeautiful. The trailhead is near the intersection of Route 207 (Pond Road) and Ayer Road and there's a small parking lot for a few cars. Be aware: the first leg of the hike is very steep and rocky (if you're into that, you'll have a lot of fun!) But once you clear this and make it onto the ridge, the trail is much easier and fairly moderate. Just take your time on this first section and then you'll soon breathe easier, literally. You'll see: massive glacial boulders, rocky cliffs, some stone walls (amazing to think that someone once tried to clear farm land here!), vistas through the trees to the horse farm and hills beyond, meandering streams and vernal ponds, and at the end of the trail, as you descend through Bailey's Ravine, you'll be alongside a tumbling and cheerful waterfall. We hiked this trail after a rainstorm the previous night, and although there were muddy/wet spots on the trail, the waterfall was in full swing and delightful to see. The trail is marked with white blazes and there are several unmarked side trails - it's useful to have All Trails on hand as it can get a little confusing to distinguish the main trail from the side ones at times. All Trails states to allow about 1.5 hours to complete the loop - however, that's probably conservative as we did it in 50 minutes (assuming you're relatively fit and healthy ....). The trail ends on Ayer Road and right across it is the most charming horse farm ever, with quaint stone foot bridges crossing the stream and ponds. It looks like it came straight out of scene from All Creatures Great and Small - and it certainly makes you understand why they call this region New ENGLAND!

This State Park, formerly a farm, is a local gem in East Haddam. Easy to find and plenty of parking…read morewith a large gravel parking area. No matter what time of day you will find people out enjoying this Park. There are trails to scenic vistas, there are trails through the woods. There are trails down to the river, there are trails up steep grades. There is a long flat gravel roadbed great for a leisurely stroll after dinner, or a steep single track through the hills to get your blood pumping. There are picnic tables, a small pond for fishing, even a recently uncovered rock garden. We utilize this Park on a nearly weekly basis. Come out with your puppy and a picnic and get some fresh air. Come see some of Connecticut's countrysides and marvel at our stone walls. Bring a horse or a mountain bike. You'll have a great time.

Having read much about the mysterious Moodus noises, my curiosity lead me here on a surprisingly…read morecool morning, with hiking boots on my feet, and a day pack on my back. There was entrance fee, and plenty of parking; so, it seemed I was off to a good start. I chose to hike the upper vista "trail" in the beginning, making my way back via the lower vista trail. You'll notice that "trail" is in parenthesis, for the reason that this is not a trail at all; it's a dirt road. That in itself would prevent any hiking area from receiving a a five, or even a four, star rating from me. In any event, it was a moderately steep ascent; but, not so much that I felt the need to stop for a rest. There was an adequate forrest canopy, providing plenty of shade. The forrest had the appearance of being dense on each side; but alas, the constant sound of traffic let me know better. Another star gone Upon reaching the summit, I noticed a number of picnic tables and benches. Although this area seemed well maintained, the view of the Connecticut river below was partially obscured by rather tall fauna. Continuing on, I immediately found myself descending on the lower vista trail, which, at this juncture, is as advertised, indeed being a narrow, winding trail. To my dismay, I noted several improvised footpaths, clearly made in attempt to avoid zig zag patterned descent. The descent itself was all to short; and, I again found myself on the lower fork of that same dirt road. All in all, it felt as if it took longer to drive there then it took to hike the main loop, leaving me to ponder whether or not I should have brought my fishing poll, instead. To extend the hike, chose to branch off the main trail, on to the yellw, then blue, to make a wider loop. At one point, I glanced a rooftop through the trees wondering if that was part of once abandoned town of Johnsonville, that I been told was visible from the trail. Maybe it was; maybe, it wasn't. All in all, this was a pleasant, but unremarkable, hike. If your kids are in reasonably good shape, this is a great place to bring them. Your dog is welcomed as well; in fact, I jokingly commented one fellow hiker that felt out place, not having brought a dog of my own. But wait! You say. The mysterious noise! Did you hear it? Well, at one point I did hear what sounded like the roar of a Civil War reenactment cannon. Unfortunately, that sounds a lot like the sound of a dumpster lid slamming against a garbage truck as it's lifted from the ground; and given the constant sound of traffic, I'd say either is plausible.

This is where I go to take a stroll if I'm feeling stressed out. It's lovely! Pretty well…read moretraveled; I saw several people walking dogs. It's right in town but you really feel like you're out in nature on this trail. This week the rivers are at flood stage. The section of trail I was on was supposed to be a loop; however; the middle section was under water so I had to retrace my steps.

Great place to walk and wildlife watch. The stream is very low but there are storms threatening so…read morethat may change rapidly. There are about 5 miles of trail which are quite easy to navigate and provide a wonderful exposure to local marsh vistas

This is a great spot if you want to social distance while hiking/ walking. Though we arrived with 2…read moreother hikers, we saw no one on the Yellow trail. The Watson section is to the left at the end of Horton with a grassy lot for parking. The yellow trail has a nice little waterfall and other than a few inclines, easy. There are several marked trails some connecting to the Mukluk section of this land trust but having taken a wrong turn and ending up in the Mukluk first, the Watson is much better marked. There is a notice to wear orange due to permitted hunting in the area.

This was my first time here I hiked the north and south trails. Each side had their own little…read morequirks and beauty. The north side was a little prettier than the south side however, I enjoyed them both. They both have the river as well as little ruins and signs that explain what they once were. It's a fairly easy hike.

Beautiful and scenic trials. Make sure you follow the trail heads or follow your scenery as a…read moremajority of the trails aren't marked. Very well maintained, clean and well preserved.

Stumbled upon this place while looking for a quick walk somewhere new. This place fit the bill…read morenicely. Fairly decent sized dirt parking lot, short, well maintained trail, small turnaround area for launching canoes, kayaks, etc. into the river for some upstream or downstream paddling on the Willimantic River and Eagleville Pond (to the south). I hope to find my way back here with paddles in hand at some point. Hiking: I use the word hiking very loosely. It's more of a casual stroll, but it was pretty nicely maintained and meanders around a bit through wooded areas, grassy areas and marshy areas, with a short duration along the shoreline of the river. To find the trail, park in the dirt lot, then walk all the way to the back right corner of they grassy field. Grassy areas were low while I was there due to it being the winter, but I'd certainly be cautious for ticks if that grass gets longer in the summer. Looks like good potential for mosquitos as well due to the marshy areas, so show up prepared. Paddling: The river looked very calm and with good potential for wildlife sighting. You could paddle upstream or float down into Eagleville Pond. There's another park at the end of Eagleville Pond where you can end your trip if you have the means to do so. (Note: the pond ends with a pretty wide, marked dam. Go to the far left while facing downstream to get out at the other park). Adjacent park / Lynch Landing: The trail connects to the Lynch Landing trail, and in fact this review is admittedly glossing over that fact and considering it to be all one trail system. Know that you could also park in the VERY small Lynch Landing parking lot on Depot Road if you preferred. (...or possibly a the "EO Smith Depot Campus" building next to the Lynch Landing parking area, but I can't advise on whether or not that's allowed at this time.) Note: Yes, you can go across the bridge on your way out and instead of back out on Plains Road, but know that it's narrow and unpaved for a good distance. There's a great looking property shortly past the bridge. I could definitely see myself living there...