"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

What an enjoyable time we had strolling around the park on a gorgeous autumn day…read more We found our way to the hiking trail which was predominantly flat and low impact, just beware of the occasional tree root. We walked over a wooden bridge and followed the gray trail through the woods next to the Westfield River. The park wasn't too crowded, and we marveled at just how beautiful and peaceful and quiet the woods were. We also saw a gorgeous meadow with half a dozen pedestal grills, just perfect for picnics and family gatherings. We also saw a small strip of sand that was actually a beach!! Somewhere along the hike, we got our lower legs and sneakers covered in prickly stickers, so be careful where you walk. Those suckers were hard to dislodge!!

Not a fan. I went around 2 pm and spent 3 hours here. The dirt paths are short. I did a few loops…read more The road and pathway was closed just past the pond. Also didn't help I didn't have cell service in the park. So trying to find a decent trail to walk was impossible. Maybe better if the road was open past the pond. ‍ I won't be back here. I'd rather go back to the Ashley reservoir.

In 1982 the State Department of Environmental Protection acquired the original 425 acres of land…read morewhich would become the Newgate Wildlife Management Area. Today, it has grown to over 600 acres. There is one main trail that heads back to and past Newgate Pond. What appears to be a mileage marker suggests that this was intended as a bike path. Either way, it's about as wide as a one-lane road, and makes a nice alternative to the crowded rails to trails bike paths in the area. There are also side trails coming off of it. Some have old sign posts at their entrances, but no actual signs remain. The main trail is in good shape, suggesting that some maintenance is still performed. I wish I could have seen the area when everything was still in place. Judging by what has been left here to rot, at one time there was a huge project to make this quite the nice park. Now, it looks relatively abandoned as far as promoting it as a recreational area goes. You'll see traps in the trees for tracking invasive insects, so the main trail is probably just being maintained for the DEP to gain access. I like this area because it is so rare to see somebody else here. Judging by all of the condom wrappers in the parking lot, that area probably gets more use than the walking paths do. I come out here at least once a week, and have almost always had the place to just me and my dog. An easy walk about a mile down the main trail takes you to Newgate Pond. This is truly a hidden gem. Bring a blanket and some beers and just sit and watch the noisiest geese in the world swim around and honk at you. Right at the pond, the main trail takes a hard turn to the left. I have yet to explore that far, so I can't tell you where it leads. However, I have seen a cyclist coming from that area, so it may connect to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. Do yourself a favor and come explore this forgotten wildlife area. Chances are, you'll have it all to yourself.

Fed by Aborn Brook, located at the south end Crystal Lake is replaced about once every year…read more The entire shore is lined by residential property with only one public beach located on Sandy Beach Road (Rt. 140) Off of Route 30 in Ellington, the State operates a boat launch on the west shore of the lake. However there is no public boat docking. There are also no restaurant or sanitary facilities located on the lake to the public. Occasionally ice cream trucks roll through for the little ones. If you're looking to kayak, paddle-board, relax and go tubing -- and you aren't a resident or local, I recommend finding street parking or walking over to the lake. Be careful, as some residents can be very picky about the parking situation The beach is open to the public from June 16-August 17. If you decide to park in the small beach lot, residents pay $5 and non-residents pay $10

The boat launch is a little awkward to use if you don't have a boat trailer, but entirely…read morefunctional. It is a wide ramp, with enough theoretical room for at least three vehicles abreast, at a time. However, the parking area is a few hundred feet away, back up the road. The Lake itself is very nice. The water is pretty clean (likely thanks to ongoing cleanup efforts). I just hope that there aren't any herbicides in the water I should be worried about. I haven't used the beach, here.

Hidden gem alert!…read more This waterfall is located in the Mclean Game Refuge. It's about 18-20 ft high. The best time to see it is after it rains and in the spring. Based on AllTrails, the easiest way to get there is off Simsbury Road and Broad Hill Road. That is about a 0.7 one way hike to the falls. I parked at the other end of Broad Hill Road and Cone Mountain. It's definitely the longer way but the trail was nice and flat; it's an old dirt road. I parked on the street. On the other entrance, I read that it can fit about 4 cars. It was a nice walk to the falls maybe about a mile one way. The falls was roaring today (April 29, 2026). I saw a few people walking and even a person on a horse. It's a nice waterfall and definitely worth a visit!

This waterfall is a little hard to find but normally worth the effort. I say "normally" because…read morewhen we have had lots of rain and snow it is a beautiful roaring waterfall. But during my visit Sunday it was a skinny waterfall due to our dryer weather. It's a little hard to find. There isn't an official parking lot just a link fence. It's part of the McClean Game Wildlife Refuge. After following the gravel trail for about 20 minutes, which really used to be Broad Hill Road before this portion of the road was closed, you reach a small unofficial bridge where the falls are and have to bushwhack yourself to the base to have the best view,

I saw that this 17.5 acres park had a wooden covered foot bridge so I had to check it out. There…read moreare two ponds in this park; upper north pond and lower south pond. The bridge is over a dam between these two ponds. New England is popular for its covered bridges; they're all over. There were plenty of parking and a porta potty onsite. There is a building with a deck overlooking the ponds that you can rent out for events. We walked around the park and explored. There were two small trails in this park we walked on; one lead to a street and the other to a paved path behind houses. There were a couple of benches and a small wooden bridge on one of the trails. I think it's a small park; great to do a short walk and view the small waterfall. As far as trails and activities, it seems limited compared to other parks.

"Let's move to the countryside Park this truck in the pale…read moremoonlight Just you and the stars up in your eyes" (Florida Georgia Line) We parked in the Countryside lot near 335 Huckleberry Hill Road and immediately saw two pretty big ponds and a covered bridge. Countryside Park is just 17.5 acres of hiking trails, scenery, and picnic areas by the ponds. Lots of great photo ops here. The short hiking trail is dirt with some tree roots and rocks. Its really a connector to the paved "Rails to Trails" system which snakes right past single family homes. We were so close to the houses, we felt like we were intruding on their privacy. The park property also has a 60' X 25' multi-use building for private use, with a full kitchen, fireplace, air conditioning, and a deck overlooking one of the ponds.  But you'll have to wait a while before you use it because its currently closed for renovations.

This is such a great park. It's huge and well kept with something for everyone, even swan boats. On…read morea beautiful Saturday in July it wasn't crowded, and we got a lovely picnic spot. There are ball fields and an amphitheater and a zoo and ponds and lots and lots of wooded or lawn-type space. Clean, nice people, low-key. I LOVE this park and can't wait to go back. One note - if you are meeting others in separate cars, better be really clear where you're meeting up with them because it's hard to find each other even with a park map.

Big Beautiful park in Massachusetts. We visited the small zoo located in this park . It was…read morebeautiful. So many different animals to see. We enjoyed every moment of it. I would definitely come back here in future. Staff was friendly here too.

This little hidden spot is a gem if you're looking to get away from the busy life. It is peaceful,…read morewith manicured grass, a little stream of the Connecticut River, and some geese staying cool in the water. It is super easy to access, just an easy drive down the road from Old Wethersfield and past the dreaded DMV. You can bring your lunch here and have it on the bench. Be sure to dispose of your litter in the trash can. There was a very kind older gentleman who was working to pick up the litter of the ground, he said "it gives me something to do". There's no reason for this, as there's a substantial amount of trash cans. This is a nice place to go on a boat ride down the Connecticut River, and to try to catch some fish. The Wethersfield Cove is a beautiful place to rest your mind and your eyes.

Wethersfield Cove is an inlet which connects to the Connecticut River. There were warehouses built…read morein the 1600s, to store goods such as food and lumber to be sent out to trade with places like the West Indies; products traded in return were rum, molasses, and sugar. The Cove Warehouse Museum still stands today and is open seasonally to the public. There is the heritage trail that runs through it, a boat ramp, rocky beach, picnic tables, porta potty, and a huge parking lot. As far as beach goes, I wouldn't advise swimming in it because of a huge sewage leak back in the 1990s. It is a beautiful spot to walk, picnic, and just enjoy the vista. I'm sure it's fun to go boating on it too. Overall, a nice little neighborhood park with tons of history.