Large, BEAUTIFUL park near downtown New Haven. Unclear GPS directions/signs make it a BIT tough to…read morenavigate, but we eventually found where we wanted to be, and were rewarded with scenic trails and a challenging (whew!!) hilly walk up to the not-to-be-missed Soldiers' monument and overlook of the city. We were lucky to hit the last of peak leaf season, but I'm sure ANY time of year is great for a visit to this wonderful oasis. Didn't see very much during our quick visit, but hope to return to check out more trails and waterways. GREAT spot for locals and visitors alike. Hope to return with more time to explore SOON!!

We went to East Rock Park to see the overlook. The view of the whole city and ocean is super nice…read more There's a historical Soldier and Sailor's monument right next it too. But the area is under maintained. Parking area and benches are dirty, pavement has lots of potholes driving up to the outlook spot.

USE CAUTION! This trail resides along a steep cliff side (not the main trail area) and may not be…read morefor suitable for a beginner hiker. Dogs are welcome on leash. Oaths are uneven with roots poking through. Watch your step One of my favorite local parks where every season is beautiful! Well maintained and marked trails, fishing areas a free little book library and a path to the rock quarry if lucky to find! If you travel to the far end of the reservoir (main entry area next to trail map) you come to a nice opening along the reservoir. Venture a bit further along the pond to the furthest end of the water; Left brings you further into the woods and over the bridge brings you full loop around the reservoir

This is great place due to the levels-- from extreme bikes to charming nature walks, this park has…read morea path for just about everyone! There's also a big open green area nice for picnicking or just connecting with nature. Highly recommend!

Great playground for the kids. Has a great area for sports like soccer or softball playing…read more Bathrooms and ample parking available.

Twin Brooks Park is a very beautiful and well maintained park. It has a nice paved walking/bike…read morepath with flowers and trees that bloom in spring and summer. There are a total of 5 ponds/lakes, two of which people sometimes fish at. There are swings (in very good condition) and a playground that is suitable for kids around age 4-13. In the winter Twin Brooks has easily the best sledding hill in a 10 mile radius. It's such a good sledding hill that it can actually be dangerous due to the sheer distance. With most sleds you don't have to worry but with high quality inner tubes you can generate a lot of speed. Sledding not your thing? No problem! There is also an extensive network of mountain biking/hiking trails in the woods to the north of the park. In fact you can mountain bike or hike from Beach Memorial Park all the way to Twin Brooks! Twin Brooks is beautiful in all 4 seasons, just don't forget your Trumbull parking pass. If you don't have one there is street parking on Franklin Street.

A recent-ish trip back to CT had me visiting this spot again for a nice morning fall walk and it…read morewas lovely! It's always so lush here. I appreciate the little parking lot, although it can get pretty crowded on the weekend so plan accordingly! The trail around the lake is perfect for a brisk walk with lots of shade. My husband and I have walked it many times and it's always well kept with very little traffic. There's a portapotty but no other bathroom options aside from that so come prepared!

Close to home excellent for a quick afternoon trip Great…read morescenery and not to challenging

Stratford may be the only town in the state that has it's own forest. Others have State of CT…read moreforests but I'm unaware of municipally owned forests. Regardless, this is such a great asset! There's a peaceful little pond next to a parking area if you just want to relax with a cup of coffee or sandwich. There's a bonafide camping area that you can reserve that will handle a largish crowd and has composting toilets. There are so many hiking trails and you can see coyote and bear and all kinds of other wildlife if you're lucky. The trails are easy to follow and well marked and it's very hard to get lost. There's a picnic area that will be good for families or larger groups. There's even a small dog park on the road in. Love this forest!

Best go to trail walk, its always empty which is good for when i go after work on fridays with my…read moreHusky. The sitting area by the pond is the best spot. 4 different trails depending on how far you want to walk. The pond is the entrance

This is a nice little park, but pretty small - 61 acres per the DEEP site. The main entrance for…read morethis park is on Short Beach Road in East Haven, where there's a small lot right next to a house - it can be easy to miss. This park is surrounded by houses, so it doesn't really feel all that private. It feels almost like it should be a municipal park or preserve. It seems to be a favorite of locals walking their dogs, which is what we were doing as well. Once you get past the fire road, there's a lot of meandering trail in the marsh area. The views are pretty, and it's a nice little place, but it seems to need some blazing and trail maintenance. There's also a picnic area marked on the map, but it's just a meadow area - no picnic tables.

Great little nature preserve nestled in East Haven. Some beautiful views and osprey nests. Yes,…read morethere are houses around but it's pretty sweet for basically being right in town.

Crystal-clear water + sunny spring day = perfect hike…read more Spent a beautiful spring sunny day at Wadsworth Falls State Park, and it did not disappoint. I took so many pictures of the clear river. It's seriously that stunning. The swimming water vanished. We hiked the Wadsworth Falls Loop (3.6 miles, easy, great waterfall views) and also checked out part of the Main Trail. Trails were in good shape; just a little mud here and there, but totally manageable. Bonus tips from my visit: · Dogs welcome on leash · Free for CT-registered cars; $10-15 for out-of-state · Restrooms, parking, and picnic tables available · Get there early on a sunny day to beat the crowds If you love clear water, peaceful forest walks, and two distinct waterfalls, don't miss this spot. Already planning to come back with an all-terrain wheelchair for a friend (you can reserve one in advance). Would I go again? 100%.

Gorgeous gorges! Although this park has ample signage against swimming, the Coginchaug River is…read morelovely on the eyes and ears, and being centrally located, Wadsworth Falls is a great local escape. If you have the right footwear in winter, it's a place for a rewarding hike! Boots and grips and the occasional side stepping is good for your winter trip. Mind the tracks, or crews tending the still in-use tracks, then enjoy the lovely views of multiple waterfalls, some frosted over, but water audibly rushing beneath the ice. Starting out, we didn't see the blue trail marked on the yellow and orange junction map, but the trails were well-marked with vertical tree blazes, so if you take the orange, yellow, or blue trails, you should be in good shape. If you don't have the time for a decent hike and just need a restful stop, large falls are just below the parking lot (those no access signs on the trails don't kid!). All year, enjoy! There are zero facilities here, and the only amenities appear to be accessible recreation and a dog waste station beneath the parking lot, but you aren't in the middle of nowhere. Pack in, pack out, and enjoy as much or little woods as you like, and enjoy the peaceful sounds and sights of the many falls.

Rockefeller State Park has some nice walking trails. They are pretty low impact which is nice if…read moreyou're not looking for something too intense. There are also beautiful views of the Hudson River. There is a small parking lot, but not too many spaces so try to come early to find a spot.

Gorgeous mostly paved/cleared trails through the woods, where you pass cows, horses, ponds…read more Dog-friendly. Such a good spot to come after a day of rain since most hiking trails are rained out/muddy, but not here! Totally coming back. 5 stars!!!!

PROS: This site park is a very nice hiking area. I parked at the lot by the lake and there was…read moreloads of parking. The lake is good to swim in (despite signs telling you not to go in), and the trails are endless. CONS: No trash bins, some of the trails have overgrown plants near the trails OVERALL: As long as you wear brush pants you should be good. The views are amazing as well! Just watch out for ticks, snakes, and bears and they are all common in the area

This was our first time here and we came during the right season!! BEAUTIFUL fall foliage…read moreeverywhere! We were here with a group of fairly experienced hikers, so we opted for one of the more difficult trails: the blue trail. However, they have multiple trails, with the red one being one of the easiest routes as it's mostly flat. The red trail rams you to the lake which is absolutely beautiful! We were here on a Sunday for an all-day experience, and we noticed that it was pretty well-trafficked - lots of hikers everywhere! But not enough to be considered crowded. All in all, we had an amazing experience!! Would definitely recommend, especially in the fall season. Heads-up: the visitor center closes at 5pm and therefore the restrooms close at 5pm. We learned this the hard way after returning from our hike!