I'm amazed by the beauty of this place!…read more MDC operates the water treatment plants located at this reservoir. This is a privately owned area and not a public park. There was MDC Police that patrolled the area when I was there. Parking was plentiful when we went on a beautiful spring weekday. There were clean porta potties onsite. There were trails in the woods and out in the open; the trails were paved and gravel. It is opened daily from sunrise to sunset and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. There were two trails; 3.4-mile loop red trail and 2.0-mile loop yellow trail. We started off with the gravel yellow trail that has a slight incline. Then we got onto part of the red loop which was near the bridge overlooking the water. We saw a couple of deer in the woods, geese, and turtles in the water. This is where we walked on pavement. Some of the trees were marked by type. The trail was busy with walkers and bikers. Overall, I really enjoyed the hike/walk and can't wait to go back.

The WH Reservoir has been my peaceful playground and refuge since the '70's…read more Hard to believe that State Connecticut had a planned to construct ring highway through the hills beside the Reservoir. Following public protest and legal battle(s) the project was shelved indefinitely back in the 70's. This was also about the time, vehicle traffic was barred on many of the back MDC roadways. What was left, beautiful network of paved and foot beaten paths. Everyday day of the week, the public are welcome to walk, jog, saunter, bicycle these mapped trails. Mountain biking has been throttled down significantly due to excessive wear and tear on the wooded areas. Biking still remains popular long designated routes and in a one-way pattern (for everyones safety). Pedestrians: Please mind the painted walking path, eyes on drifting into the bike path - that way ALL will enjoy. Kilkenny rock has been one of my favorite destinations (refer to an MDC map) this is a nice overlook of the Hartford sky scape. Trails also connect from the Farmington Avenue entrance across to Route 44 passing over Avon Mountain. GPS and one of my favorite apps "All Trails" are helpful even to a season chap like me.

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.

Such a peaceful place to step back; stroll, look, quietly listen, and relax. Well maintained by…read morestaff, 4H volunteers, Scouts troops.

An early 20th century 4-h educational 120-acre farm located in Bloomfield, CT. There are two…read moreclassrooms, kitchen, and an administrative area. Students from Hartford, Granby, Bloomfield, and Simsbury attend the learning center to learn about farming, agriculture science, biology, horticulture, biotechnology, and math. They offer various classes and host many events. From hayrides, hiking trails, birthdays parties, farm to table dinners, and even staying there in the cottage. The animal barn is another popular spot. There are 5 trails; those are called orchard loop, garden loop, blueberry loop, farm trail, and mushroom trail. I walked the orchard loop; it was on gravel, wide, and on a slight incline. The trail wasn't marked but I figured by looking at the map. There is a picnic and scenic area which was a flat area with beautiful views of the rolling hills; there were a few picnic tables and you can even see the Heublein tower from afar. I look forward to going back and exploring some more trails and the learning center/animal barn area.

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.

I'd like to start by noting the Alsop Meadow is a quiet gem, tucked away off Waterville Road and on…read moreNassau Way in Avon. I have known of this Meadow since the 1980's. I actually lived in the original Alsop homestead on Nod Road with 8 other house mates (32.5 rooms, including 5.5 bathrooms) from 1984-86. The Alsop family was & still well known in Avon and its connection to Uncle Teddy, yes, that former President Teddy! The Alsop Meadow is a gifted land trust to the Town of Avon. The land trust features a Farmington River side trail, a peaceful short wooded walk ending at Private Property, which is very clearly marked. An open frisbee golf course starts near the gateway to the Meadow and winds through the trees and the open meadow. A plot of Community gardens are located on the North edge of the Meadow. The gardens also provide a great pollen source for bees and butterflies. A port-a-potty is available and is maintained by the Town of Avon and its lessor. Located near the Canoe launch, placard noting the Alsop's generous gift, and an information board showing the Farmington River trail. If you bring a pup, leashes are required, you're also required to pick-up and carry out their waste. Despite that small sacrifice Alsop Meadow is worth visiting and bring a few frisbees!

Alsop Meadows is a 56.20-acre park located in the Town of Avon. The entrance is behind the Raymour…read more& Flannigan furniture store. The dirt road going into it is very narrow and can only fit one car, certain spots there is a spot to pull off to let other vehicles go. There is a decent sized parking area and a porta potty. A couple of small trails lead to the Farmington River. This is where people take their canoes and kayaks out. I walked on the dirt road through the gates and on the left, there was a community garden. The scent was lovely; ripe vine tomatoes was what I smelled. The rest of the landscape consisted of woods and meadows; there was someone mowing the large, flat, open space when I was there. Around the garden, you won't be able to see the river in the spring and summer, but I'm sure in the late fall and winter, the views and access to the river is great. The park is open from dawn to dusk, daily. The recreational activities include, jogging, walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and camping. For camping, permission is needed from the Town of Avon. I walked to the end of the dirt road and back; it was a short walk but peaceful nonetheless. I do recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat because there is minimal shade; bug spray too because the mosquitoes were rampant. I saw other people walking their dog and others enjoying the river side. A peaceful spot; however, if you want a longer walk/hike, this doesn't have it unless you walk back and forth a few times.

What a beautiful and long reservoir loop!…read more First time coming here. I couldn't do the whole 3.8 mile trail due to time, so I opted in for the scenic view along the water. What a view! There are parts of the trail in the beginning where you get a taste of the woods while still being close to the water on a flat surface. There are a few tripping hazards I did come across so be cautious. There are two trail path entrances in the Albany Ave. parking lot area and plenty of parking, as well as in the other lot, and some spots along the side of the road. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 7 feet. Leave nothing but footprints, and no littering! The reservoir was very clean with no trash in the areas I walked minus the one doggy bag. There are benches to sit and enjoy the view throughout the trail

I wrote a review for the other Reservoir 6 page but I'll add my two cents on this page as well…read more Reservoir 6 is owned by Metropolitan District Commission (MDC). The reservoir itself is 135 acres. There is a 3.6 mile (red loop) walking path all along the body of water. The yellow paved path, is out and back and is 1.4 miles. The blue Metacomet trail also goes through; you can reach the Hublein tower on this trail. There are two parking spots; one off route 44 and the other located on the northeastern side of the property. I've walked on the yellow and red trails and thoroughly enjoyed it. The view of the reservoir is very calming and pristine. The trail is very flat and easy to walk on. There are many walkers, dog walkers, bikers, and familes with strollers. There are also porta potties, when nature calls. At the eastern parking lot, you can see the Hartford city skyline. It's definitely a relaxing place to get some exercise and fresh air!

I've wondered the wooded areas of the West Hartford Reservoirs the '70's. Yup, today the bones and…read morejoints are feeling the years. Hiking, mountain biking, and just plain old walking any day and any season. This portion known as the Talcott Reservoir Trail deserves some notoriety. Located on the South side of Route 44 passing over Talcott Mountain. The parking is a crude gravel surface and a rather limited. I recently brought my Velcro Buddy with me for a hike an across a brook, the pup swam, then up onto and along the flood dike in the sun. Then the dike wrapped around into the woods onto trails that brought back fond memories; biking, hiking with friends and my brother. After and strolling the quiet woods pup and I took a seat at trail fork in woods, had a snack & water, reflected back to old times during break. I felt very fortunate. Get out the folks and enjoy, just please respect where you step and be a good Stewart to the ground & foliage.

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 Rattlesnake mountain. Rugged terrain towards the caves Not for a newbie/beginner, so plan accordingly. Snacks, water and maybe a walking stick