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Community Corner

Enjoy the Beauty of Autumn in Connecticut

There are plenty of picturesque drives, trails, and views of foilage in Connecticut.

With rolling hills and a variety of deciduous trees, Connecticut offers many ways to enjoy the fall foliage, such as hiking, driving or canoeing, in spots around the state.

Although the colors are still muted, with mostly golds and orange hues, the occasional bright red maple is starting to turn. With sunny weather predicted for the next week or so, it is the perfect time to get out and explore the colorful vistas the state offers.

Foliage season begins in mid-to-late September and extends through early November. Peak color in the state is estimated to be between Oct. 7 and Nov. 13.

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Michelle Bourgeois, tourism coordinator for The Last Green Valley, a preservation non-profit organization in Windham and New London counties, said its 35-town area is unique, with 78 percent forest and farmland for residents to enjoy.

“Our paddles have really taken off, we offer eight this year on the Quinebaug, Shetucket and French rivers,” she said. “It offers a really peaceful and scenic way to see nature and wildlife from the rivers.”

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Regionally, there are many spots to find bright foliage, with more than 25 state forests in Connecticut, and many state and town parks with trails as well.

includes 473 acres, with 12 miles of trails to explore. The wooded trails are a great way to see different types of trees. The park also has an interpretive nature center and maple sugaring.

If you are up for a drive, the Saville Dam in Barkhamsted, which is in Litchfield County, offers great views of the Farmington River Valley. Take Route 20 past the airport, to Route 219, then Route 318 to cross over the dam, which closes the Barkhamsted Reservoir and then releases water into the Farmington River. There are places to park at one end, and pull-off areas at the other end of the dam. 

Walking

At Goodwin Conservation Center, on Route 6 in Hampton, you can view the autumn colors around Pine Acres Pond from a wildlife-watching platform that is wheelchair accessible. You can also walk through the canopy along one section of the Air Line Trail in the Goodwin State Forest.

The Last Green Valley sponsors a walking event throughout the month of October to get residents and visitors out enjoying the outdoors. Walktober started as a Columbus Day weekend event with about 25 walks, and now, 21 years later, has 100 walks throughout the month in towns in Massachusetts, Windham and New London counties.

“Our walks are diverse, from easy strolls to more intensive hikes,” Bourgeois said. “We also offer something for everyone, with walks for kids, people with their dogs, and historical walks.”

Some of the most popular include the buffalo farm in Brooklyn and walks led by State Archeologist Nick Bellantoni.

Other popular treks in the region (both scheduled for Oct. 16) include climbing to Wolf Rock in Mansfield to take in the “spectacular autumn views” and following the yellow-blazed woodland path to the Willimantic River in Tolland. To find out visit the association’s Web site or call 860-774-3300.

Bourgeois said they have visitors who come annually from as far away as California and Florida, but the majority of participants are residents. “We like to get residents out exploring what they have in their backyard, and teach them about stewardship and raise awareness about the environment and monitoring growth,” she said. 

Hiking

Here are a few of the sites the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection suggests for spots to enjoy the colors of the season:

In Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, there is an observation tower on Soapstone Mountain that provides wonderful views of the Connecticut River Valley and the Springfield, MA, skyline on a clear day. From Somers, Take Route 190E (1.25 miles) to blinking yellow light. Turn right onto Gulf Road (2.25 miles) to next right after Mountain View Road, which is Soapstone Mountain Road. Take road to tower parking lot. The Forest contains 11 parcels spread over 7,000 acres in northeastern Connecticut, including in Ellington, Somers and Stafford.

In Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, the Heublein Tower offers views over the Farmington River Valley. From Bloomfield, take Route 185W (3 miles) to entrance sign on left after mountain crest. Park along the road near the trailhead. Hike to ridge, then left to the restored Heublein tower. Another nearby alternative is located at Penwood State Park (entrance is on left 500 feet east from Talcott Mountain entrance).   From the parking lot, a hike up the gated road loops to an escarpment overlook. 

In Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted, Chaugnam Lookout offers some of the best views in the state. From the junction of routes 381 and 181 in Pleasant Valley, go east over the bridge then take the first left onto East River Road. The Jesse Gerard trailhead is 2.4 miles ahead on the right. The left trail fork climbs more directly to the overlooks by the 299 stone steps. Continuing north, the trail passes between the Veeder Boulders to the picnic area on Greenwoods Road. This is about a 1.3-mile trail. Peoples State Forest also boasts 200-year-old white pine picnic groves in the Matthies Grove and Whittemore Recreation areas, more than 11 miles of hiking trails and the Barkhamsted Lighthouse.

Driving

The state offers many driving routes to enjoy the foliage, but the DEEP suggests two loops in our region.

Eastern loop: The first starts on Interstate 84, going to Exit 67. Then take Route 31 south to the junction of Route 44. Take Route 44 East to Route 195, turning south and heading to Route 6. Turn east to Brooklyn. Pick up Route 169 North to North Woodstock, then go west on routes 197 and 190 to I-84, Exit 73, turn west to close the loop. This loop is approximately 100 miles.

Hartford loop: The second, which is approximately 90 miles, centers more on the Hartford region. It starts on Interstate 91 North to take Exit 45 to Bridge Street in East Windsor. Head west on Route 140, then south on Route 75 to Route 20. Head west through Granby, the Hartlands and Riverton, picking up West River Road south through People’s State Forest to Pleasant Valley. There is a pull off in East Hartland that offers a view across the Farmington River, with scenic rolling hills in the background. Continue south on Route 181 to Route 44 and head east through New Hartford, Canton and Avon to Route 10 south to Farmington. Pick up Route 4 and head for Hartford to close the loop.

Related Topics: Autumn, Fall Foliage, Hiking, and state forest

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