Bull Pond Preserve aka Allen M. Heflin Wildlife Sanctuary, is on about 70 acres, 50 acres of…read moreforest/marshland, and 20 acres of pond. It's part of the Harwinton Land Trust and donated by the Heflin Family in 1988. There is a paved parking lot across from the Harwinton Fairgrounds; it's easy to miss so drive very slowly. It can fit maybe 3-4 vehicles; there's a boat ramp for the fire department to use, so please don't block it. There is parking along Locust Road also. The path leads to an observation deck with a bench and kiosk. The view of the pond was lovely on an autumn day. Beware though, there was a mound of dog poo because some, you know what, didn't pick up after their dog and I stepped on it. There were benches along the way, for me to sit and clean my sneakers (angry face emoji). The path leads to a small boardwalk and multiple trails. We did the short white loop trail and it was peaceful and easy. There are 2 miles total of trails, out and back. The foliage is starting and it was nice to see. We saw geese and turtles basking on a log in the pond. The pond is shallow but fishing and non-motorized boating is allowed. In the winter, there is ice skating allowed on the pond; cross country skiing and snow shoeing is also allowed on trails. All in all, I enjoyed this peaceful walk. There's plenty to look at. There were a few other people on the trail. Aside from the dog poo, the preserve was 5 stars.

I've wondered the wooded areas of the West Hartford Reservoirs the '70's. Yup, today the bones and…read morejoints are feeling the years. Hiking, mountain biking, and just plain old walking any day and any season. This portion known as the Talcott Reservoir Trail deserves some notoriety. Located on the South side of Route 44 passing over Talcott Mountain. The parking is a crude gravel surface and a rather limited. I recently brought my Velcro Buddy with me for a hike an across a brook, the pup swam, then up onto and along the flood dike in the sun. Then the dike wrapped around into the woods onto trails that brought back fond memories; biking, hiking with friends and my brother. After and strolling the quiet woods pup and I took a seat at trail fork in woods, had a snack & water, reflected back to old times during break. I felt very fortunate. Get out the folks and enjoy, just please respect where you step and be a good Stewart to the ground & foliage.

The Farmington River trail is approximately 17 to 18 miles one way. It's paved and is a mixture of…read moreon and off road. It also connects with the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. It goes along the river and it's very pretty. There is a large parking lot for this trail entrance. There were trash cans available as well. I like this portion of the trail because of the easy access. Once you walk further down under the bridge, there is a mural on it. The trail is lovely and nicely paved. The parking lot is always packed when I drive by but we were able to find a spot on this visit.

What a beautiful and long reservoir loop!…read more First time coming here. I couldn't do the whole 3.8 mile trail due to time, so I opted in for the scenic view along the water. What a view! There are parts of the trail in the beginning where you get a taste of the woods while still being close to the water on a flat surface. There are a few tripping hazards I did come across so be cautious. There are two trail path entrances in the Albany Ave. parking lot area and plenty of parking, as well as in the other lot, and some spots along the side of the road. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 7 feet. Leave nothing but footprints, and no littering! The reservoir was very clean with no trash in the areas I walked minus the one doggy bag. There are benches to sit and enjoy the view throughout the trail

I wrote a review for the other Reservoir 6 page but I'll add my two cents on this page as well…read more Reservoir 6 is owned by Metropolitan District Commission (MDC). The reservoir itself is 135 acres. There is a 3.6 mile (red loop) walking path all along the body of water. The yellow paved path, is out and back and is 1.4 miles. The blue Metacomet trail also goes through; you can reach the Hublein tower on this trail. There are two parking spots; one off route 44 and the other located on the northeastern side of the property. I've walked on the yellow and red trails and thoroughly enjoyed it. The view of the reservoir is very calming and pristine. The trail is very flat and easy to walk on. There are many walkers, dog walkers, bikers, and familes with strollers. There are also porta potties, when nature calls. At the eastern parking lot, you can see the Hartford city skyline. It's definitely a relaxing place to get some exercise and fresh air!

As someone born and raised in Hartford, I can say this is one of the nicer parks we have. They have…read morean indoor and outdoor pool; separate hours for adults and kids; a gym and basketball court; plenty of outdoor open space to play; walking paths, and ample parking. Additionally, the staff are super sweet and friendly. I'm kinda bummed I haven't made the effort to come here in years past. I only recently started coming because hubby wanted somewhere to swim once it got cold that didn't cost too much. We found free! I will admit that the outside park can sometimes be a little dirty with litter. The city only does but so much. However, I think it's still a worthwhile place to spend time in Hartford!

For a small park, Pope Park has a lot to offer for locals…read more Despite the media painting it as a haven of thugs and bad guys, it really ain't that bad. In either March or April, there has been a carnival taking place for a number of years. And in the springtime volunteers from non-profit environmental groups in Hartford come out in force for an annual spring cleaning. Must we not forget the the number of amenities that the park offers as well: indoor/outdoor pools, a basketball court, little league baseball field and soccer field. There are picnic tables strewn about and also a playscape for the little ones. During the summer there are also musical performances too!

Tory Den & Miles of Ledges are two very unique features of the Tunxis Trail. Not a business, a…read morerestaurant or a park of any kind. Yelp, I'm not sure how this page was created... but since it was I'll provide some details for anyone interested. The Tunxis Trail is Blue-Blazed and the Miles of Ledges section is Yellow/Blue-Blazed. The trail/trails are located on Bristol Water Department Property and the Martha Brower Wildlife Sanctuary. Trails are well marked. These trails are popular with trail runners and is moderately difficult. Yelp, this really isn't a business. But I think the Bristol Water Department deserves a page for allowing people to enjoy nature and protecting it! Star rating is 3 just because. I figure this page will disappear soon anyway. Hey yelp, you guys are pretty cool.

Coe Memorial Park is located in Torrington and it is their "town green". The land was donated to…read morethe city by the Coe family to memorialize their parents; their home and greenhouse were on this 5-acre property. There's a large boulder with a memorial plaque; there were other war memorials as well. This park serves as a meeting place for the city and they hosts numerous events. The event we went to at this location was the Strawberry Festival. The park had plenty of green space with beautiful landscaping. The gardens had colorful flowers and plants throughout. The green space was plentiful for us to frolick around; my toddler loved playing near the trees. The walking path through the area was nicely maintained. There were benches to rest on and a building with a stage inside. There were plenty of metered on-street parking and a parking lot. Overall, a lovely town green amidst the bustling small city.

Nice park basically in downtown Torrington. I like how there are a variety of events that take…read moreplace here throughout the year. There is plenty of parking around though this park is walking distance for me. It is kept up nicely as I've seen the workers plant seasonal flowers etc regularly. The fountain in the center is very serene in the summer as is taking a picnic under one of the trees' shade.

I was searching for playground and Kennedy Memorial popped up. It's located in West Hartford near…read morethe border of Hartford. There were apartment complexes next to it and it had plenty of parking when we went. There was a playground area on sand with swings, ride ons, and a smaller playscape. The other playground is about 400 meters away, I found it odd that it wasn't connected to eachother; it was fenced in, but there were no gates. The splash pad and pool is fenced in and closed for the season. I think there is a fee to enter, in the summer. There was a hilly field which might be fun to sled on. The basketball courts were in use when we went; it seems to be a popular spot for leisure. There are also tennis courts and ball fields. There was a porta potty onsite; when nature calls, you have a spot! Overall, a nice neighborhood park to enjoy the outdoors and release some energy.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a park with this high a ratio of recreational choices to total square…read morefootage in my life. This small neighborhood park contains a full-sized outdoor swimming pool, picnic areas, a slide pool, multiple playgrounds, spray pad, a full-sized baseball field and two full court basketball courts. It really is an incredible park with so many entertainment and recreational choices for all ages. We walked around today, saw some kids playing on the swings and two more shooting hoops. The park was clean, and both the paved and unpaved paths were free of litter and 99% free of dog poops. It's a very nice oasis of green that's pretty much on the Hartford-West Hartford line.