"Under the bridge downtown I could not get enough"…read more(Red Hot Chili Peppers) We took the southern route on the hiking path today. The path is wide, flat, paved, free of rocks, tree roots or debris, and definitely low impact. The best view was at the beginning, when we made a right turn by the boat launch. That was the best water view we saw all afternoon, except for a few slivers of the river we saw through the tree line. It was a very pleasant walk, maybe two miles or so to the end of the path and back to the boat launch. There wasn't a lot of scenery, except for the trees and some scattered benches. Whenever the path neared the water, we could hear boat engines of visitors enjoying the beautiful weather on the water. We also smelled food grilling and heard some music down on the shore, although we couldn't see anything. It was a calm, easy walk to the end and back to the boat launch and a cool view of the Bissel Bridge. Next time, we'll head north and see what that route holds in store for us.

Came here with my dog and it's a quick 30 minute paved walk along the water…read more It's a boat launch during the summer, but it was pretty empty during this time a year Picnic tables along the route. Prey clean minis the parking lot

This trail used to be a rail trail back in the day. The trail is paved and easy to walk, bike, and…read moreskate on. It has gorgeous views of the Farmington River. I've walked the trail in the Collinsville area in the Autumn and it was amazing seeing the foliage. Before crossing the street, there is a crosswalk and button to alert traffic to stop; beware though, some people will just go through the yellow light while you're waiting to cross. There is a little free library and bench once you get across. Once you walk up further, there is a flower bridge; when in season, the flowers are beautiful. Overall, a great trail that connects to the larger Farmington Canal Heritage Trail that goes through multiple towns.

The Canton to Collinsville portion of the Farmington River Trail accounts for about 4 of its 18…read moremiles. The paved trail is level and flat and very easy to walk on. It was clean and free of debris and dog poop. There were quite a few bicyclists out today, so keep your ears open for "on your left" when they come up behind you. The trail hugs the Farmington River and winds through a park with picnic tables, benches, a gazebo, a flower bridge, and gives you some very pretty views of the river. We didn't see any geese or wild birds today, but we did see something odd. I noticed some kind of splashing or commotion in the water, and when I looked carefully, I saw it was a guy swimming in the river! I wonder if he was training for an Ironman or something?

Beautiful hiking trail! Muddy in the beginning, so wear hiking boots or shoes with good grip. The…read moreoverlooks are amazing and worth every minute. About 1 hour and 20 minutes to and from The caves. Rugged terrain towards the caves Not for the beginner, so plan accordingly. Snacks, water and maybe a walking stick

Trail has some lovely views, some steep up and down sections but no actual rock scrambling…read morerequired, and if you plan ahead you can find the elaborate rock etchings done over 200 years ago by patients of an 18th century small pox inoculation center! Also, when I went most recently, somebody built a pretty sick rope swing in the woods. Not sure how safe it is, but if it doesn't crap out on you it's a nice little adrenaline rush if you start your swing at the tree branch. Now for some tips to get the most out of your hike: Pro tip #1: if you're doing this as an after work hike, park yourself at Alliance Occupational Health and catch the trailhead across the street. Can't speak as to whether this would be ok during their normal business hours tho. Pro tip#2: go to the local library where they can provide you with a map on how to find hospital rock, just off the trail, with stone carvings made 200 years ago. -side tip- bring flour with you to dust the rocks with so you can make out thyme carvings better for pictures Pro tip #3: Bugspray.

Splendid mix of very well maintained trails and gated gravel access roads within the Session Woods…read morePreserve. All watched over by the CT DEEP. Today Monday 6/8/2026 was my first visit with my pup and daughter's pup. We covered approximately 3.5 miles hopping from trail to trail. The weather was phenomenal and the forest very pleasant. The DEEP facility hosts training and learning seminars in addition to their regular duties. Hats off to this splendid preserve. Open from sunrise to sunset.

Sessions Woods is a nature preserve on 700 acres of land with trails and an education exhibit. They…read moreoffer educational programs and demonstrations; there are hiking trails throughout that you can hike yourself. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset; the exhibit is open 8:30-4 Monday-Friday. There were four trails to choose from; Beaver Pond, Forest Meadow, Tree ID, and Crosscut Trail. The parking lot was large. On this visit, I completed the Forest Meadow Trail. The trail was a 0.6-mile loop trail. There were informational signs throughout; they were kind of faded and old. The trail was easy and peaceful; I noticed quite a few boulders. There was only one other person we walked by on the trail. I was being vigilant about bears and ticks. There were quite a few benches which was a nice since my toddler enjoyed resting on them. I saw that the other trail had boardwalks; I look forward to coming back to check that out.

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.

One of the very best kayaking spots in CT as far as I am concerned. The lake is pretty much…read morepristine and doesn't seem to suffer from algae bloom as so many seem to do. Once you cross the lake you can follow the small river up as far as the current depth will allow you. There is an abundance of wildlife as well as wild grapes which grow on along both sides of the stream. The scenery is absolutely beautiful any time of year but especially in the Fall. You can expect me to be harvesting some of those grapes for homemade jelly sometime in September too.

What a beautiful place! Even in February at 25 degrees and snow on the ground. There is parking off…read moreAlbany Turnpike and in the other end of the reservoir. The land is on 3000 acres and has over 30 miles of trails and woods. They are open daily from sunrise to sunset. We walked on the road because the trail had some snow on it. My step counter said I walked about 3.1 miles in that loop. There is a water treatment facility in there with parking for employees and vendors. Once we got to the other parking lot, we got onto the paved trail and walked by a dam. Eventually, the trail becomes gravel; the view of the reservoir was stunning (see my pics). I did see some benches at the begining of the trail. There were tons of people walking, jogging, and dog walking, even in the cold. I didn't get to explore all 30 miles of trails yet but I look forward to doing so when the weather gets warmer!

If you're heading down Route 44 from the Farmington Valley toward Hartford, you'll see the sign for…read moreReservoir 6 on the left. We found over a thousand acres of some of the prettiest scenery we've seen in a long time. There is a 95% flat and non-challenging path that circles the reservoir in a 3.6-mile loop. The reservoir is gorgeous, and you'll catch glimpses of Simsbury's Heublein tower and the Hartford skyline on your walk. We ran into maybe 100 people out there today, enjoying the gorgeous weather and scenic beauty of the grounds. A lot of folks had their leashed dogs with them, everything from a huge Great Dane to a medium sized Bichon Fraise to a tiny mini Schnauzer that was being hand carried. I loved the fact that every single dog we saw (that wasn't hand carried) was both leashed and well behaved. But, I hated the fact that on two occasions, we saw a tied blue plastic bag of dog poop laying right on the center of the path. How freaking lazy and disgusting can you be? It's very odd to see the different personalities of the fellow visitors -some were super friendly and loved to chit chat, others wouldn't even make eye contact as we passed in opposite directions. Oh well..... There is a small parking lot shortly after you pull in, but if its full, no worries -just keep driving on the road and soon you'll hit a second lot on the other side of the reservoir. We saw a few MDC police cars on the grounds, so apparently, they patrol the area.

Great spot for kayaking! We found it on our drive hidden away. It has such beauty to it! There's…read morethree lakes and this one has a nice boat launch

Nice fishing and boating area mostly private property surrounding the Lake so you can't walk…read morearound it but is quiet and peaceful Small boats kayaks can be launched from small boat ramp