Crystal-clear water + sunny spring day = perfect hike…read more Spent a beautiful spring sunny day at Wadsworth Falls State Park, and it did not disappoint. I took so many pictures of the clear river. It's seriously that stunning. The swimming water vanished. We hiked the Wadsworth Falls Loop (3.6 miles, easy, great waterfall views) and also checked out part of the Main Trail. Trails were in good shape; just a little mud here and there, but totally manageable. Bonus tips from my visit: · Dogs welcome on leash · Free for CT-registered cars; $10-15 for out-of-state · Restrooms, parking, and picnic tables available · Get there early on a sunny day to beat the crowds If you love clear water, peaceful forest walks, and two distinct waterfalls, don't miss this spot. Already planning to come back with an all-terrain wheelchair for a friend (you can reserve one in advance). Would I go again? 100%.

Gorgeous gorges! Although this park has ample signage against swimming, the Coginchaug River is…read morelovely on the eyes and ears, and being centrally located, Wadsworth Falls is a great local escape. If you have the right footwear in winter, it's a place for a rewarding hike! Boots and grips and the occasional side stepping is good for your winter trip. Mind the tracks, or crews tending the still in-use tracks, then enjoy the lovely views of multiple waterfalls, some frosted over, but water audibly rushing beneath the ice. Starting out, we didn't see the blue trail marked on the yellow and orange junction map, but the trails were well-marked with vertical tree blazes, so if you take the orange, yellow, or blue trails, you should be in good shape. If you don't have the time for a decent hike and just need a restful stop, large falls are just below the parking lot (those no access signs on the trails don't kid!). All year, enjoy! There are zero facilities here, and the only amenities appear to be accessible recreation and a dog waste station beneath the parking lot, but you aren't in the middle of nowhere. Pack in, pack out, and enjoy as much or little woods as you like, and enjoy the peaceful sounds and sights of the many falls.

Cool area. lots of places to lay low and relax. Biking is not a problem. The water is nice feeling…read moredue to a cold spring as well.

If you need breathtaking views especially this time of the year where the trees change color, this…read moreis the spot for you. There is more than one trail and if you have a map you can decide which trail to follow. If you are interested in just a walk around the lake the red trail would be perfect but if you are more interested in the view of the lake from higher up, then the blue to the orange trail, blue and blue to the red trail will get you there. The entire hike got us was about 3 miles. A simple hike that is good enough for a beginner. It had a steep hill and I was so out of breath going up but when you get to the top at the lookout point it was all worth it. The lake wasn't the cleanest as the water was green but there were still people fishing. A lot of picnic tables to sit, eat or hang out and a big parking lot with adequate space.

Miller's Pond's desirability is very time dependent. Spring, summer, and fall are no go due to…read morelimited parking, disgusting trash, and rude people. If you like used diapers, beer cans, and broken glass, then go for it. Sad!

This gem is quite a bit off the beaten path. If you travel off season, which we do most of the…read moretime, you are rewarded with a serene nature experience, and relatively few fellow humans. It is dog friendly. From April to September the water is comfortable, with a pleasant sandy bottom. There seems to be a path all the way around the lake, but we've never gone that far. You are expected to carry your trash out to the parking lot, where you will find the only toilet facility in the form of a porta potty. Always a great place to lose the stress.

They have a great trail that goes along the water that it pretty flat it just has a lot of roots…read more The Meriden parks department did a goat walk there and I highly recommend following them to know when the next one is !

USE CAUTION! This trail resides along a steep cliff side (not the main trail area) and may not be…read morefor suitable for a beginner hiker. Dogs are welcome on leash. Oaths are uneven with roots poking through. Watch your step One of my favorite local parks where every season is beautiful! Well maintained and marked trails, fishing areas a free little book library and a path to the rock quarry if lucky to find! If you travel to the far end of the reservoir (main entry area next to trail map) you come to a nice opening along the reservoir. Venture a bit further along the pond to the furthest end of the water; Left brings you further into the woods and over the bridge brings you full loop around the reservoir

Stopped by to walk on this trail! Stopped byin broad daylight on a beautiful (early) October day…read moreand the leaves were beautiful. It was very peaceful except for the sound of gunshots. There are some signs posted - few hundred yards in on the trail and the sign indicated that there is shooting this time of year. I think it is only denser into the forest but beware if you intend to actually walk... At the very least please wear a neon vest or other bright colors! Shooting was incessant for the 20 ish minutes I was there. (Maybe a fluke but the sign kinda says no). Limited-ish parking but the actual CT forest and park office is closed right now for renovation. (Note for anyone who is trying to go to the office and not on the trails). There's ample parking near trailhead!

I was 20 mins in my hike and hear a door open AND shut! Nothing was around or flew away. I did some…read moreresearch afterwards and discovered their are birds that make creeking door noises but this wasn't the same noise I heard. So be aware of you end up going anyway! It was nice until I heard that.

The parking along the route isnt obvious, except for cars along a guardrail. There are 2 separate…read moreentrances from there, mostly obscured by overgrowth of bushes. The stairs lead down to what used to be an open picnic area, tables, grills, now quite a bit overgrown. The "falls" are simply a creek that flows along the picnic area, with a few small cascades, all under 5-6 feet tall. There is a trail that goes along the other side of the creek, and it then moves up & away from the creek into woods. That trail is ok, and eventually leads to a quirky rock formation where it's clear people either party and/or camp out and leave trash around. Like other comments, this place is in dire need of TLC by the state and better care by people who use it.

Lots of falls…read more Seven Falls is a small park with some interesting geology. I'm not sure why it is called seven falls because it really has only three or maybe four. Perhaps in the past more falls were visible and if you look closely at the geomorphology it is obvious that the water level was once much higher and carved out a channel through the rocks. The present falls are small, only five or so feet high and in times of drought the water level slows to a trickle. Because of all the recent rain the water was flowing pretty good when I took the pictures and in the winter the falls freeze and looks pretty impressive. No swimming is allowed but of course people still go in the water. The area around the falls has picnic tables and places for a fire. Most people think of this as a picnic or rest area but there are some hiking trails to the north of the falls. Nothing really exciting, just a few dirt paths up the side of the hill. One particularly interesting feature is a small hole in the side of the falls that was carve out by a rock spinning around during times of extreme water flow. Seven Falls isn't worth going out of you way to see, there certainly are far more impressive waterfalls in Connecticut. But for someone in Haddam that is interested in Geology or just wants a pleasant place to have a picnic it's worth a stop.

This is a Cute trail to take a hike on! Beautiful in every season. The Waterfalls here are so…read morepeaceful and relaxing. You can hike all the way around the dam or just walk right up to the waterfalls. Dividend Pond - Hiking & Outdoors Located in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, Dividend Pond is now a scenic nature preserve with hiking trails looping around the Upper and Lower Ponds. Trails are about 2.5 miles total, moderate difficulty, and pass historic mill ruins from the 1600s-1800s. Billings & Spencer Co. - Hartford, CT's 19th‑century industrial powerhouse! Known for drop‑forged hand tools and innovative machinery, this company helped shape American manufacturing. Many of its historic factory buildings still stand today, now repurposed for the community. Founding and Early Years (1869-1873) In 1869, Charles E. Billings and Christopher M. Spencer, both former workers at Colt's Armory, partnered to found a company initially focused on manufacturing metal goods. Toolmaking and Drop Forging Billings & Spencer specialized in drop-forged mechanics' hand tools -- things like wrenches, pliers, vises, and machinist tools -- and ultimately became one of the leading tool manufacturers in the United States.

Quiet little hiking area. Waterfalls and a loop around the park…read more There are a few bridges and mostly flat terrain, but near the mill area is steep with stairs and small inclines.

5 star views! You can see neighboring Chauncey, and Besek Mountain peaks, and glimpses of the…read moredistant Metacomet and Tunxis Trail ridges. Up close the geology is gorgeous highlands and rolling grass with rock, grass, and gravel along the well-blazed path. Follow those blues up to heavenly views. Definitely wear your hiking boots. As you can see from the start, trap rock is super rough. Despite the roughness, like much of the New England Trail, you are quickly at the ridge line. Higby has two ascents cut by a small, tranquil water crossing. At hiking speed you can get to the peak in an hour and a half, but those scenic views will probably slow you down. Unless you're through hiking to Tynan Park, this is a rewarding scramble. If your littles outgrew the Ergo, hike with care and keep them away from the edge. The views are rewarding, and parking is easy with an exit right after Baileyville Rd./CT 147, but there are no facilities whatsoever. It's an off-trail squat kinda hike. Nonetheless, the winter ice is gorgeous. There are slick spots in spring but you can hear spring peepers around the first ascent. In summer this is a cooling escape. In autumn you have fine views of New England foliage. In all a rough but rewarding hike, and likely close being just off a couple major highways. When you need a getaway and gas savings, here it is!

Beautiful scenic nature with hidden gems throughout! Definitely a great place to bring the fur…read morebabies to have a swim! The park is clean and litter free Just be careful as some of the areas near the "island" are dirty and littered partially due to wash up and rising/sinking water levels. This is the only part that is concerning.

was looking for a picnic spot to eat some sandwiches and saw on there sign there was a picnic area…read morebut the gates were closed and we saw people walking with there dogs, seemed like nice spot. until we started to walk in the direction of the pinic spot and it was a very very far walk and it was very cold, we gave up on walking to the picnic spot and we ate on the road instead. would not recommend going if the gates are closed and the weather is cold.

Yesterday my dog and I decided to visit Castle Craig which is perfectly situated for a fantastic…read moreview of the park itself plus much of Meriden. Though this year's peak fall colors were muted and a bit past, it was still enjoyable.

Hubbard Park in Meriden is about 1800 acres of woodlands, streams , a man-made lake for fishing,…read moretennis courts and various picnic areas located throughout the park. You'll find, joggers, runners, walkers, fishermen/women and family's all enjoying the natural beauty and recreational facilities of this scenic park located in the western part of the city.