Choices! There are numerous opportunities to enjoy hiking and walking throughout Northwestern Connecticut, from flat, wheelchair accessible) trails to more strenuous hikes with amazing views.
The Appalachian Trail – Connecticut Section
The Appalachian Trail In Connecticut goes from Kent to Salisbury and passes through scenic New England towns that include Cornwall, Falls Village, and Lime Rock. These mountains are called the Litchfield Hills and they are foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Although the CT portion of the AT trail is just 51 miles, there is a wide variety of trails and scenery that is as exciting and refreshing as any section of the AT.
You’ll also find dozens of day hikes that connect to the AT, and are easily accessible. As the Litchfield Hills occasionally have steep ascents, you’re able to achieve spectacular views in a short distance. The varied terrain includes streams and the Housatonic River, farms and woodlands. Spectacular scenery, a wide variety of hikes for ALL ages, and easy access combine to make the region a prime hiking destination.
Great Mountain Forest – Hiking & Mountain Biking
The Great Mountain Forest (“GMF”) encompasses approximately 6,042 acres of contiguous forestland in the towns of Norfolk and Canaan, Connecticut. The GMF is owned and managed by The Great Mountain Forest Corporation (the “Corporation”), a not-for-profit private operating foundation.
The charitable mission of the Corporation is to engage in and support scientific research and education projects involving trees, forests, forestlands and other natural resources. The Corporation’s primary resource to carry out this mission is the GMF, a unique working forest with a history of active management that dates to the early 20th century.
II. Public Access Rules
The GMF is a unique working forest that is actively managed for forest products and wildlife habitat, extensively used for forest research (including projects associated with soil science, wildlife and bird habitat, fisheries and meteorology), and frequently utilized for educational purposes. The Corporation allows public access to the GMF, but only in a manner that is consistent with the management, research and educational objectives for the forest which are such an integral part of the Corporation’s charitable mission. The Corporation thus reserves the absolute right to control the quantity, type, location and times of public access in order to protect the GMF and safeguard the charitable mission of the Corporation.
Visitors may access the GMF under the following circumstances, subject to the rules and regulations of the Corporation.