Nice trail to go on with other trails along it if you wanted something longer. It was a simple…read moretrail that's was easy to follow with the marks and enjoyable with friends.

Absolutely beautiful here. Nice and quiet. My only issue is I was charged $20 instead of $5 and I'm…read morea Mass resident.

Miles of hiking trails, paved and graveled mountain roads, and scenic overlooks whichever way you…read moreascend, this is a perfect spot for a quiet weekend getaway, Even on a Sunday morning around peak Autumn foliage you can find many scenic spots no else already found. This can be a quick drive kind of spot or a great morning hike as trails to beaver ponds, glacial erratics, and picnic tables are all within a short distance of the forest roads. The fire tower was out of commission for years but has happily been restored, and interpretive signs at the top show each visible peak including, Mt. Tom and Mt. Monadnock among them, on clear enough days. The only facilities are a port-o-let at the bottom of Soapstone Road, so plan accordingly if you don't want to make the ten minute trip back down to Ellington.

Great views, easy hike through the woods, or up the paved access road, or drive up if you prefer!…read more Awesome local option for some nice views. Tips: Bring lunch if the weather is nice, there are picnic tables everywhere. DON'T MISS THE TOWER. It was repaired (major overhaul) recently and reopened to the public. Can't see it from the end of the access road, but it's an incredibly short walk from there. Go up toward and around the chain fence.

Great hiking trails, moderately challenging, with exhilarating views at the summits. We did just a…read moreshort hike, going up to Bare Mountain from the Notch, and it was a fun ascent with marvelous views of the countryside, farms, and other hills. The visitor center at the Notch is terrific, with friendly and knowledgeable staff, useful interpretive displays and maps, and clean restrooms. A great place to rest up and refresh after a hike. Just terrific and we plan to return in the fall to see the autumn colors!

Talk about a "Top Notch" place to go hiking!! Complete with a visitor center and everything. The…read moreonly thing I'll say is that I wish the trails would be better marked, but other then that it's a very nice place to stop and walk for a bit in the cool weather; very enjoyable.

It's a winner. It's a proper hike with a good incline up to a meadow. If you wanted you could turn…read morearound there, or head to the sunrise view which makes for more incline. There are more options to add trails and make your hike longer or shorter. The views are lovely and the trail was well marked. It was a little muddy on this April Sunday but all in all, not bad. Recommend!

Scenic, relaxing and invigorating. A great escape that I can't recommend enough. My only complaint…read moreis parking is a bit of pain with limited space.

What an enjoyable time we had strolling around the park on a gorgeous autumn day…read more We found our way to the hiking trail which was predominantly flat and low impact, just beware of the occasional tree root. We walked over a wooden bridge and followed the gray trail through the woods next to the Westfield River. The park wasn't too crowded, and we marveled at just how beautiful and peaceful and quiet the woods were. We also saw a gorgeous meadow with half a dozen pedestal grills, just perfect for picnics and family gatherings. We also saw a small strip of sand that was actually a beach!! Somewhere along the hike, we got our lower legs and sneakers covered in prickly stickers, so be careful where you walk. Those suckers were hard to dislodge!!

Not a fan. I went around 2 pm and spent 3 hours here. The dirt paths are short. I did a few loops…read more The road and pathway was closed just past the pond. Also didn't help I didn't have cell service in the park. So trying to find a decent trail to walk was impossible. Maybe better if the road was open past the pond. ‍ I won't be back here. I'd rather go back to the Ashley reservoir.

Came here for a run while staying near BDL and really enjoyed the trail along the Connecticut…read moreRiver! You really get that feeling that you're out in nature--the sights, the smells, the sounds, everything. The path is suitable for walking, running and cycling. How I wish I could enjoy it in the fall with the changing colors!

Absolutely gorgeous, magical day, the kind that makes one thankful for the opportunity to enjoy…read morenature...sunny, mid 60's, low humidity, gentle breeze. Blue heron right after you enter from the south terminus. Lots of turtles basking. Eagles (adult and 2 juvies) visible in their nest, with another adult high above about 50 yds north. Another uge (we don't pronounce the "h" where I'm from) blue heron about 7/10ths of a mile from the start. Ducks, geese, hawk. Haven't seen a rabbit yet this year. My theory is that overcutting on the bank of the canal-side has caused rabbits to change their habits (seriously). No place to hide from predators. Everyone friendly...strollers, fishermen, bicyclists.... I tried to make a video of the song, "I was strolling thru the park one day, in the very merry month of May...". Lucky for the reader / listener that my phone was having memory issues. Always a 5 star!

There's 4 access total, this one on S. Maple is the closest to the water. However, parking lot is…read moresmall & in the summer, I run into several vans parked there were working on AC. Looks like HVAC companies taking over the parking lot for work, one dude working out of his van was shirtless with full bear belly on display. I felt uncomfortable & left quickly. There's no park bench or anything like that along the river. The West entrance is the worst, smallest lot only fits 3 cars, long walking path to the river that's super narrow, some times only a foot wide & feels creepy, I'd avoid. The east entrance is very roomy, easily park 10 cars there with walking path 12 feet wide. However, it's very far to the river, at least half a mile walk. The 4th entrance is on Bayleys, I couldn't even find the parking lot, lol, nothing there.

A nice little secluded riverside scenic park. There are three trails, two of which are pretty…read moreovergrown once you get into the summer season. One follows along the river, one crosses the river into the woods, and the third goes up a small hill. They're all three quiet and surrounded by greenery and a pleasant, although not particularly long, walk. There's also parking for a few cars at the end of the road leading up to the trails.

The Fort River Trail here at the wildlife refuge was a very nice loop trail, perfect for a little…read morewalk with great views. It's mainly forested, other than some meadow at the very beginning and end, with some overlooks along the way. A very nice turtle pond provides a great opportunity to look for critters, and we enjoyed seeing a green heron fishing. A very nice area to explore. Parking is located near the trailhead.

Breathtaking views , just the signs are very confusing and you don't know where to turn or what to…read moresee where . They certainly need to work on that . It the views are amazing .