Beautiful Autumn Hikes in Eastern Connecticut
The transformation from the humid heat of summer to the crisp, cool temperatures of fall has begun. There are few times during the year more magical or fleeting than autumn in Connecticut. With the comforting smell of woodsmoke in the air, we feel the pull to throw on a flannel, lace up our boots, and get outside where we can take in the show as the leaves change from green to an array of orange, red, and yellow.
A Connecticut native and resident, I always look forward to this time of year. And while we can certainly appreciate the changing leaves from places that require little effort - our own backyards to driving down Connecticut’s country roads - to me, there’s no better way than perched from a cliff high above!
In terms of the best time to do these hikes, remember that the leaves change more quickly in northern Connecticut while peak foliage in central and eastern Connecticut occurs between mid to late October. And since it’s impossible to predict the exact days for this, I would choose (at least) one hike a week for every week in October. Although fall hiking in November is a photo-worthy golden scene as well with the yellow leaves hanging on!
Join me in celebrating the fall season the best way I know how and take your pick from one of the dazzling fall hikes below. (All made better with a warm latte, coffee, or hot chocolate in hand!)
RAGGED MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL PRESERVE, BERLIN
Located in central Connecticut, and perhaps one of the more popular hikes in CT for good reason, Ragged Mountain must appear on this fall hiking list!
One of the reasons it’s such a good one is the exposed views you’ll have much of the way on this loop along the blue and red trail. When you enter this preserve, you'll see trails branching out in 3 directions. For a full 5.6 mile loop I like to start out left on the blue/red loop arriving at the first view and traprock cliff walk only 0.7 miles in. This view faces east and is one I enjoy seeing for sunrise.
Continuing on you will walk along the ledge with views peeking out between trees, which during the fall, make a custom multi-colored frame of the views for you. There will be no shortage of fall photo opportunities and lookouts to see the foliage along the way.
From left: West Barndoor Hill; Beseck Mountain via Mattabesett Trail
WEST BARNDOOR HILL, GRANBY
Part of the Granby Land Trust Property and McLean Game Refuge is this stunning lookout that’s perfect for a fall view. With the bright red barns below, the colored leaves provide the perfect backdrop for this New England fall scene.
This is one of my favorite hikes for sunrise as it is just over half a mile walk to get to the top. This 1.2-mile round trip hike is rated ‘Moderate’ on the AllTrails app, but I think this is one even beginners can enjoy.
There is a little elevation and an uphill walk to get to the top, but you’ll happily catch your breath once you see the view. Pair this hike with a stop at The Garlic Farm in West Granby which is open every day and features a wide variety of pesticide-free produce.
BESECK MOUNTAIN VIA MATTABESETT TRAIL, MERIDEN
Take a 3.7-mile walk along Connecticut’s Mattabesett Trail (part of the 220-mile New England National Scenic Trail) to the top of Beseck Mountain. A bonus of this hike when it comes to the view is how the trail overlooks Black Pond. When calm, the water reflects the fluffy white clouds or even golden sunset colors if you go later in the day.
This is most certainly a more moderate to advanced hike as you gain about 767 feet in 1.3 miles and is along rocky and uneven terrain. I’d suggest wearing your sturdy hiking boots for this more challenging trail!
What I love about this hike is that at just 1 mile in, you reach the exposed cliffs of Beseck Mountain offering views the whole rest of the way which will be another 0.8 miles. The multi-colored fall leaves surrounding Black Pond at the top make for a special treat! And should you be in the mood after your hike, reward yourself with delicious ice cream from Guida’s Restaurant located right across the street!
From left: Hedgehog Trail; Lantern Hill Loop (Kristen with her hiking partners!)
HEDGEHOG TRAIL, SIMSBURY
This is such a special and beautiful hike that checks all the boxes; streams, bridges, a waterfall, and three different and spectacular lookouts which are perfect for leaf peeping.
You will put in some work for all of this though as the full loop is about 4.8 miles with almost 1,000 feet of elevation. This makes for a great intermediate day hike which will likely take you a few hours by the time you stop for a snack and take in the views. Just off of the main trail is Cathles Falls which features water cascading down a 60-foot drop and is quite a scene after some rain which we’ve had a lot of this summer.
For a perfect fall day, pair this hike with a stop at Tulmeadow Farm located just 5 minutes away. Pick up their homemade ice cream, pumpkins, or fresh produce to take home. Also, nearby Flamig Farm is a great stop for families as it offers hayrides and other activities for kids.
LANTERN HILL LOOP, LEDYARD
For a relatively moderate 2.6-mile round trip hike, you’ll get to see magnificent clifftop westerly views (perfect for sunset) from the summit of Lantern Hill. And if this view of the valley below isn’t enough for you, a bonus will be the myriad of fall colors that will be reflected back to you from Lantern Hill Pond below.
Since fall brings perfect hiking temperatures, you may not want to stop into nearby Foxwoods Casino, but it is one of the many stunning subjects found within Lantern Hill’s wide-open vista views. The trail along the edge as you get closer to the overlook can be rocky and is along an exposed cliff so use caution and keep dogs and kids close along the top!
For a full afternoon fall experience stop by the nearby Jonathon Edwards Winery for a post-hike snack and another chance to appreciate and take in the autumn beauty.
BAILEY’S RAVINE AT AYERS GAP PRESERVE, FRANKLIN
A cascading waterfall, fl owing brooks, a cool ravine, and a beautiful view east across Franklin countryside are the many features you’ll find crammed in this short 1.5-mile loop.
Preserved and protected by The Nature Conservancy, Ayers Gap is a peaceful 80-acre preserve featuring Bailey’s Ravine cascades as well as the lookout from the top.
This area dates back to 1665 with its first settler, whom the preserve is named after, John Ayer Trapper. With a view and a waterfall, this is a perfect fall hike for the family or anyone new to hiking.
SOAPSTONE LOOKOUT LOOP, ELLINGTON
Is there a better way to spy on the leaves than from the top of a tower? On this 2.9-mile loop, you will walk on crunchy leafed trails within the 7,078-acre Shenipsit State Forest.
The highlight of this blue-blazed Shenipsit Trail is the Soapstone Mountain Observation Tower. This tower is one of only two observation towers in Eastern Connecticut (the other being the monument at Fort Griswold State Park).
From the tower, you can take in the fall scenes from the Connecticut River Valley all the way to the Springfield skyline. When I was here for sunrise one morning, it was completely gray and foggy (hence why there’s no photo!) but I plan to return this fall along with lots of other Eastern CTers.
If you have the time, stop by the nearby Stafford Coffee Company for all of your pumpkin-spiced latte needs!
I hope you enjoyed this fall hiking article and, most importantly, feel inspired to seek out some of these views that give you a front-row view to fall and fill you with awe!
Remember to follow the seven Leave No Trace Principles when you are out there so we can do our best as visitors to keep these special places protected and beautiful for all to enjoy for years to come. For more hiking inspiration throughout our beautiful state be sure to visit www.earlybirdonthetrail.com for more outdoor adventures!
