The trail isn't marked well but even in a light snow cover we were able to figure it out. Watch out…read morefor a few icy patches on the trail that we had to work around if you'll be on the trail in the winter. The falls were gorgeous ... parts along the cascade edges were frozen but running full force! And we met a young porcupine near the trailhead just after the parking area! It was a bit shy ...

This was the second falls visited by our gang of three adventurers last Wednesday. Both Bash Bish…read moreFalls and Campbell Falls were uniquely picturesque. While the trek to BBF was 3/4 mi from the NY parking lot, the jaunt to Campbell Falls was much closer from our dirt parking area. Both falls were similar heights. I inclined to say that BBF was a little higher. Intrepid Paul ventured into the deep pool at the bottom. He looked refreshed. Mountain goat Jamie climbed up the steep terrain to the right of the Falls, and appeared to be standing right in the middle of it at the top. In reality, there is also an opening in the paved road at the top that allows one to get close. Be careful if you do this !!!!!. All-in-all, worth the trip.

Here's a tiny spot in one of the rural corners of Connecticut, but a fun spot to poke around…read more Seeing the images of Beckley Furnace, then and now, are astoundingly different! It's a place you can get up close to the past, but also a peaceful spot to view the river and furnace locks, I especially recommend being here in autumn, watching sycamore leaves float down the river. Parking by the furnace isn't huge, but additional parking is just over the small bridge. There is plenty of interpretive signage to guide you, and ample picnic space to enjoy, but no facilities. We didn't even see a port-o-let. All the same, enjoy your drive and short hike!

I wouldn't exactly call this a destination sort of park, it's a landmark/monument with a little…read moreparkette along Lower Road in East Canaan. IIt's mainly of interest if you're interested in the history of the area, but something you could combine with visiting nearby Haystack Mountain Park. Still, it's well maintained and has a nice parking area, with a number of highly informative signs around the area, leading you on a short walk from the furnace over to the dam where the piping for the steam turbine is still somewhat in place. There's a few picnic tables as well, if you're in the mood for a picnic. Altogether a nice little pleasant stop on the road.

This is an extremely good walk/hike. "Easy" in terms of difficulty, this trail starts off on an…read moreeasy 1/4-mile walk down a meandering crushed-gravel path to a wooden gazebo, then down some grassy hills to the Hudson River "lookout" point. From there, you can venture into the woods for a 3/4 to a mile "easy hike" surrounded by trees, trickling stream & a few furry animals, like squirrels & chipmunks, collecting acorns. Kid friendly, this is a great walk/hike for the whole family.

Dreamy any walk you choose to start on during any season. Beginner's level. Nice view of the Hudson.read more

This park was a staple for my family and I growing up in the area! It's a playground and dog park…read morecombined by a large field that stretches the entire street. The street parking nearby is free, and there are bike racks for anyone that needs them. The neighbors in that area were always very kind to me, but it's also important to be aware of their families and privacy. It's not a place for large group gatherings or non-residents to host events. There are water fountains, waste disposal, and lots of seating, but there are not picnic tables or public restrooms. It's a beautiful park and I always make it a stop on my walks!

It took me three attempts over three days to make it all the way to the waterfall, but it was so…read moreworth it! I took this journey at the start of February, and there was tons of snow on the ground. On the first day, I arrived at the Massachusetts parking lot around 3 PM I figured I had a good two hours before sundown. I turned back after walking a short way down the trail because it was so steep, I thought I was going to tumble into the river. When I got back, I watched a video of someone hiking on the Massachusetts side, and I realized that the trail is normally full of stairs This makes sense because it's very steep and that's why it's so short but because of the snow, the stairs are covered up I would definitely not recommend using the Massachusetts side in the winter On the second day, I got to the New York parking lot around 2 PM. I made it about halfway down the much more gradual and scenic trail before I turned back. I turned back because the sun disappeared behind the mountain, and it was dark and windy On the third day, I got to the New York side at 11 AM. This time I realized that the top of the trail is just always dark and windy because it's in a corridor between two mountain peaks. So I pressed on. It took me about one hour to get to the end of the trail. I walked pretty slowly and stopped to look at nature a lot. If you are not someone who is super confident staying on the path in the forest, these are fairly easy trails because it's just a straight line the whole way there and you are following the river the whole time. I'm so glad I didn't give up because the falls are one of the most beautiful magical things I've ever seen Instead of water flowing down through the ice, it was snow and slush bursting through the sections of the frozen waterfall the water exploding into 1 million tiny snowflakes from the top to the bottom I plan to come back here in the summer with my kids and I think they will really love it.

Bash Bish Falls was just as beautiful as everyone says it is! The hike was worth every step, and…read moreseeing the waterfall in person was amazing. There's just something about being surrounded by nature that fills my cup. I LOVE to hike so this was my happy place. Even better, we got to share the experience with friends we've had for 24 years after meeting on a cruise. Good friends, beautiful scenery, and another memory made together. That's my kind of day. You can go I on the MA side which has lots of stairs but is a shorter walk or do the NY side with a short 3/4 mile hike to the falls.

Very easy walkable trail outside of Great Barrington (just across from Barrington Brewery). There's…read morea small sign off the side of the road for "Housatonic Flats", with a nice gravel parking lot. There isn't too much information (such as flora/fauna markers, historical notes, etc), but the signage that they do have is in great condition. At the trailhead just past the gate, there is a bulletin board with a trail map on it. There's only one trail as of the writing of this review: the Loop Trail which is 0.8 miles in length. It's obviously a loop, so whichever direction you choose, you will end up back at the trailhead. The trail itself is very walkable, great for a causal afternoon or evening stroll, and doable for all ages and abilities. It meanders along the river-- and there's a couple of side paths that head towards it-- but the banks are very steep. Use caution when walking off the main trail. There is very little incline over the course of the trail, and is mostly trimmed grass. It's very well kept up. When we visited, there were quite a few beautiful wildflowers in bloom. I'm sure that if you took your time, you'd get to observe some regional fauna, too. There's only one bench on the trail, which over looks the river. Aside from the mown trail, the rest of the Housatonic Flats park is mostly thick meadow with a treeline near the river. I'd advise staying on the trail to minimize nuisances such as ticks, poison ivy, and mosquitoes. There's no place to picnic or BBQ, so I'd advise saving that for another area altogether. It's a very nice path for a quick scenic walk. Enjoy it while it's still relatively unknown!

I didnt love this hike. Went in aug 2018 which was a very hot and humid month. We always hike…read moreearly so in by 730. Very buggy. Not very pretty. I think everyone else knew it too as this is the first time i have ever hiked and not bumped into other people. Hike is also very short. Would not recommend when there are so many other nice hikes around

I hiked this mountain on October 18, 2024. I hiked Bear Mountain trail. Bear mountain did not…read moredisappoint. The fall foliage was beautiful. So many yellows and oranges. The was one little fly that we seem to make friends with. The scrabbles were good and a nice mix up to the trail. The trail was well marked and maintained. We were able to stand on the CT/MA line. The trail was about 6.5 miles long.

As the tallest peak in Connecticut (2,300 ft.) Bear Mountain has to be one of my favorite CT hikes…read more There are several ways up to the summit, all of which are steep, long, and strenuous. On our most recent visit, we used Lion's Head. Although it's a bit longer than the Undermountain Trail, it's less vigorous and I think it has some really spectacular views. This is the perfect spot if you love panoramic overviews. From several lookouts, you can actually take in some great long-distance views. The southern part of Connecticut spreads out in front of you with the rolling Litchfield Hills to the south, Twin Lakes east, Massachusetts north-northeast, and surrounding mountainsides, farmland, woodlands, and small towns fill in the pieces of this picturesque puzzle (no western views). If you use Lion's head to reach the summit of Bear Mountain, it's a 6-mile round trip. As you near the top, the Appalachian Trail appears and is marked with white hash marks whereas the Lion's Head trail is marked by blue hash marks. Keep this in mind for your return trip or you be going off course! FYI: Park at the dirt parking lot on Bunker Hill Rd on the labeled "hiker parking" lot. All in all, the hike(s) up to Bear Mountain are tough and challenging even for the average day-hiker. With some patience, plenty of water and snacks, some determination and good company, Bear Mountain will be a great day-hike for any level. If you're feeling fancy, bring a bottle of wine and actual food and have a picnic at the summit. And if that still isn't enough, don't forget the journey's reward -- great overviews, Appalachian Trail access, title of hiking Connecticut's highest peaks, waterfalls, and woodlands.

This was our first time up in the area. We spent the day at the "beach " area here. The views were…read moreabsolutely spectacular. In addition, the water was super clean and clear. As other reviewers wrote, the area is very no frills. My 2 complaints were 1) the bath House was not open so we used the port-a-johns. They looked like they had not been cleaned out in months. All 4 were vile. 2) there were no signs about rules of the lake. Our children were using tubes and a plastic kayak. After 3 hours of using them by the beach, we were then reprimanded for using these items in the swimming/ ropes off area. Just wish that there was a sign that informed us as to what was and not allowed. Overall, had a wonderful day.

The campgrounds at Tolland State Forest are some of the best in the Massachusetts DCR's arsenal of…read morecampgrounds. Tolland was voted America's #1 Family Campground in 2009, and with their well-maintained and functional facility, it's easy to see why. Built on a small peninsula of land that juts into the largest recreational body of water in Massachusetts, Tolland boasts excellent swimming, fishing, hiking and boating opportunities, as well as some unique and cool campsites for campers of all ages and skill levels. We came out and reserved 4 sites for a camping-fishing-relaxing bachelor party weekend, and we were all pretty pleased with the results. The staff were friendly and helpful, and stayed out of our way. We were within easy walking distance of bathrooms and sinks for washing dishes, though the shower in our area was broken. I wasn't planning to shower anyway, though. Be warned that the area around Tolland State Forest is not very active. The town of East Otis sports just 1,200 year-round residents, and there are few nearby stores, all of which close around 9. There are, however, a couple of nice general stores, and a gas station that sells organic groceries. If you're inclined to head west on the Pike out of Boston, Tolland is a great spot for a weekend trip, whether you're looking to chill or to get out there and do stuff.

Not sure how I even heard of this place. But I did. So here I went. As far as state parks go, this…read moreone is pretty small. Only 48 acres. But a lot to see in those 48 acres. Takes about an hour to see every thing. When you are first driving in, you see the marble amphitheater. A grassy circle with tall marble walls surrounding it. Apparently there is an "art installation" here. Classical music plated at astronomical sundown every evening. HOWEVER the park closes at 4:45. So - if there are no visitors to hear it, do the rocks make a sound??? It looked like it would have been a gorgeous spot to sit with a bottle of wine, a loved one, and some tapas, enjoy sunset and some Classic Rock music. BUT the park is closed. When you reach the parking lot, there is a short trail that leads you to the white marble dam. A sign tells you that this is the only WHITE marble dam in the USA. Which leads me to believe there are other marble dams, just not white ones? It was pretty and peaceful. Further down the trail you come to the Natural Bridge. The parks namesake. And this was pretty disappointing. Maybe since I go out west every year and I've seen all the huge sandstone arches and bridges, I saw this bridge and it looked more like a teeny tiny slot tunnel. I guess it's a natural bridge in the Webster dictionary sense. But this was supposed to be the highlight. My advice to DVR - change the park name to be White Marble Dam State Park. Not as many disappointed customers.

After visiting Mass MOCA spend an hour down the road at this park - you will not be disappointed!!…read moreNatural Bridge State Park gets its name from its natural white arch made of 550-million-year-old bedrock marble that was carved by a glacial melt some 13,000 years ago. The bridge spans Hudson Brook as it runs through a 60-foot gorge, which DCR calls "one of the best demonstrations of glacial erosion in New England." The park contains North America's only white marble dam, built in 1838. It was first used to supply water to an industrial quarry mill that operated from 1810 to 1947. In 2022 the state closed an unsafe portion of the viewing platform that goes over the chasm along with other unsafe areas of the park. The park department is planning improvements including improved parking and visitor center arrival areas, expanded universal access, and a "reimagined chasm viewing experience" with new accessible overlooks of the dam, brook, and natural bridge. It really is a remarkable natural park and deserves attention so that people can come and enjoy all its beauty. Giving it four stars for its spectacular wonder and for the visitor center that has interesting information about the glacial formations.

Great place to hike and enjoy the outdoors!…read more You have your choice of 3 trails! Starting in the lot, facing the mountain, go to the right, the yellow trail. Yes it is the more difficult path, but its the shortest way to the top. It is great if you're looking for a challenge or a workout. It is great if you want to see nature, including the many playful chipmunks, at its finest! We took the Red, into the blue trail down. It was longer than the gold/yellow trail. I was bored and just ready to get back. The blue path is super long and it wasn't much of a challenge. Part of this trail was along the main road, so it was a reminder that modern civilization was just beyond a few trees. I think the blue trail was more for people who are looking to take a stroll in the woods, or for people who are less athletic. Parking is $5 and you can pay at the machine on the lot. There are also a few picnic tables to enjoy a meal! There are a couple high points and peaks. It just feels great to say that you hiked up a mountain and made it to the top! So "just do it" and "take some time to enjoy the view!"

Beautiful trails and an amazing view from the top. We arrived around 11AM on a fall Saturday and…read morethere were only a few spots left in the parking area. There is a $6 fee for parking, and the machine takes credit cards. We hiked up to the summit on the Blue trail which connected to the red trail. Trails were clearly marked and not too difficult. We even found a few geocaches along the way. Be sure to take the short spur trail to Devil's Pulpit for a spectacular view. Even though the parking lot was nearly full, there are enough trails to that we never felt crowded. It took us about 2 hours total for our climb up and down the mountain, with some time spent enjoying the view from the summit.