Amazing park! Great for walking, hiking, or even jogging up (yes, lots of people do it!)…read more I would especially recommend going in the spring and summer - it's night and day versus the wintertime, when the trees are barren and the whole park looks a lot more sinister and imposing. However in spring everything is so green, light, and beautiful. Of course, the views from the top (at East Rock Peak) are especially great - and you can look out across the city of New Haven and all the way out for some awesome views!

This a beautiful, scenic park on a mountainous top outside of downtown New Haven and it offers…read moreopportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, leisurely strolls, etc. It's a big area and on the day of my visit, the paved road going inside the park was closed, so we had to walk a decent amount to get to spots like Soldiers and Sailors Monument and scenic overlook vista points. The hike to the monument and scenic vista point on the paved road trail (one-way) can take up to 30 minutes if not longer. There is a (sort of short-cut) trail that goes through the woods that has rocky steps and is a rigorous hiking route. It was a nice weather day and a perfect way to work-off the delicious New Haven pizzas we ate beforehand. We enjoyed our visit here while checking out the beautiful scenic views and the monument. I am not giving it full five stars because the park lacked proper direction signage for the trail(s) and as far as I could tell, I did not find any bathrooms or port-o-potty services.

I love this park! It is really nice and pretty, pleasant for a walk or just watching the marsh and…read moreboats. There are also kids playgrounds, fields for games. The park is always taken care of. The main parking is for Branford residents only, non residents can park before the main entrance.

I love this park! It has playgrounds, tennis courts, places to run, baseball diamonds, soccer…read morefields, the works. Or if you just want to sit and enjoy views of the river running to the ocean, that's awesome too. There's a nice walking trail. We like to walk to the park from our house, walk around the trail, sit for a bit and then come home. A good hour of exercise in a beautiful park. If you have kids there are amazing playgrounds all over the place.

This is a fun little spot. The weather is so nice out today…read morethat I wanted to go for a walk with my son in a safe, well populated location and have a beachy vibe to it. We stumbled upon Branford Point after seeing tons of private beach roads nearby and a quick Google search for a public Branford beach. There were at least a dozen fishermen here near the parking area. There is a small strip of a sandy beach with an actual lifeguard. Also, there is a playground/park with picnic tables. Next time we come back, we'll be more prepared to go on the sand and pack a lunch to stay longer!

I have now forgotten the circumstances that brought me to Branford Point this past spring: all that…read moreI remember now is that I had to be out of the house an hour or so before I needed to leave for work. The amount of time seemed just right to explore this city of Branford park, on my way in to New Haven, and I am glad I did. Branford Point park is small but packed with memorable features. From the boat launch, which is surrounded by water on 3 sides, to the beach, backed by a grassy, tree-lined hill, there is much beauty to absorb from this point. Parking was possible, but limited: I imagine in the summer high season that it becomes difficult for anybody that lives outside Branford to visit. Though it may be small and packed, the challenge in this case would be worth the breeze from Long Island Sound, the sights of nearby Thimble Islands, and the peaceful vibes I found at Branford Point.

Amazing destination for mountain biking! I've been riding at Tyler Mill for years and the place is…read moreamazing!

while the site is nice, the aggressive, unpleasant, and generally trashy crews intended to maintain…read morethe place ruin the environment. I was hoping to find a place to take my dog where we could enjoy the day, instead we were verbally accosted by some nasty old woman. Go somewhere else, it's clear the locals absolutely do not want you there.

A very lonely…read morewoods A heavily wooded and rocky hiking area maintained by the Clinton Land Conservation Trust. Unfortunately it is difficult to find unless you have good directions. There is a small parking area, but since it is not very well known the lot seldom gets crowded. The area has one main trail going through the middle and 5 or 6 side trails going off into different directions. Some of the trails are steep, rocky and quite challenging. They require a lot of climbing over slippery rooks, climbing loose hills and jumping over streams. It is always very quiet and still and the scenery is quite beautiful and pristine with a lot of running water. In the winter it is even more lovely but can get very slippery and difficult to climb through some spots, but that makes it even more fun. Biking anything but the easy main trail would require some serious mountain biking or trials skills. A beautiful place to hike that not many people know about.

Came down from VT to visit my parents for the weekend with my Bernese. I was looking for a close to…read morehome hike for us that was physically demanding, enjoyable, and not crowded. This was perfect! The trails were VERY WELL marked, which is a huge plus! There were also lots of steep areas for us to climb, but also flat, easy going sections for us to relax on. We weaved through all the trains which was a solid hike all combined. Would definitely hike it again when home!

Big playground with lots of shade, plenty of parking, and loads of different play structures. A…read morecouple minutes from a few hotels in the area or the beach. There is a playground on the beach about two minutes away, but this one is much nicer for actually playing on (Charlotte Bacon's playground).

Awesome park!!!!!! Lots of things for kids to play on!!!! Plus a spot for parents to sit onread more

What an awesome place for good hikes and fun, thoroughly recommend it!!…read moreAl, are East trails except the on3 heading to the summit which is more moderate.

Clean and quiet and a short walk to the water. Has a play area for the littles and has canoeingread more

Jacob's Beach is the sweetest cove. I love going there, even though the water is not the cleanest -…read morethe product of years of motorized boating on the Long Island Sound. Also, you must wear water shoes while wading in. There are rocks and sharp shells that make walking with bare feet treacherous. There are amenities: bathrooms, outdoor showers to rinse off under, water fountains and a doggie drinking bowl. At the far end there is a playground and a place where you can rent a rack to store a canoe or kayak. Parking is nearby and plentiful but you must be a resident to get a season parking permit. (in 2026 the cost is $15). They are available for purchase by credit card on site. Non-resident parking is prohibitive: $50! However, you can visit the beach at no charge if you walk there or get someone to drop you off.