Firstly, let me say, that rating hiking trails shouldn't even be practiced. Reviews and photos are great, but to rate trails in the woods is a highly subjective experience, and I don't think it's fair. For instance, I found a review here on Yelp unfairly harsh on Tyler Mill Preserve. The reviewer clearly wanted an intense and rigorous workout on a mountainside. While they do exist here, Connecticut is not primarily known for that. We are more about streams and lowlands woods.
I found Tyler Mill a perfectly nice hiking trail, with a cool elevated scenic ridge. The trail is rather short. You're done in thirty minutes, but it's decently cleared, not insanely rigorous, and has just enough incline challenge to get to the ridge, and break a sweat. Sure, it's relatively easy, but it's a nice stop, and the visuals inside the evergreen canopy, while not full of giant boulders and rock formations, are still nice just because it's still nature. And you will see wildlife. I spotted a large deer buck, who was clearly stunned by my presence.
Facing the kiosk from the parking lot, look/walk towards the left about twenty yards to the trail opening. Follow the orange trail to the right, which will loop ahead towards the ridge up towards the left at the incline.
Note: When you first enter, you will see the orange markings early on the left tree. You could choose this direction or go on towards the right, which I believe is more correct.
Once ahead, there is a choice to decline down the trail on the slight right, towards a paved road, which I assumed would exit, so I disregarded it. The incline is somewhat steep, but it's very short, so stick with it. It's cool up there.
The info kiosk and trail is set a ways back from the road past several large athletic fields, at the very end of a long parking lot on the left corner. read more