CTMQ

Destroying the myth that there is nothing to do here

green mountain modern house
  • CTMQ’s Town Guides
    • Town Completion Celebrations
  • Museums
    • Museum Visits
  • Hikes, Bikes, & Paddles
    • CFPA Trails & Blue Trails Challenge
    • State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites
    • Land Trust Trails
    • Town Trails
    • Audubon, Nature Conservancy, RWA, and US Army Corps of Engineers Trails
    • Highpointing and Peakbagging
    • Cycling, Multi-Use, & Rails-to-Trails Paths
    • Water Trails
  • Food & Drink
    • Best, Historic, & Unique Restaurants & Foods
    • Classic Diners & True Taverns
    • Homemade Ice Cream, Cheese, & Chocolate Trails
    • Breweries, Brewpubs, & Cideries
    • Wineries & Meaderies
    • Distilleries
  • Everything Else
    • National Designations
    • Firsts, Onlies, Oldests, Largests, Longests, Mosts, Smallests, & Bests
    • Geography
    • Animals, Farms, Gardens, Plants, Trees, Rocks, Waterfalls, & Caves
    • Sports, Thrills, Cruises, Trains, Fairs, Parades, & Events
    • Houses, Communities, Urban Legends, Lighthouses, Libraries, Schools, Businesses, & Theaters
    • Towers, Bridges, Forts, Tunnels, Roads, Canals, Dams, Fishways, Airports, & Ferries
    • Religion, Remembrances, Statuary, & Outdoor Art
    • Cultural, Heritage, & Historic Trails
    • CT Books, Movies, People, & Stories
  • Non-CT
    • Travel & Vacations
    • World Soccer Stadium Tour
    • Highpointing & Peakbagging
    • Books & Reading Challenges (Gone)
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Family
    • Smith-Magenis Syndrome
    • Press
CTMQ > Hikes, Bikes & Paddles > State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites

Read this first

State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites

Black Pond WMA

February 3, 2026 by Steve Leave a Comment

Black Pond Black Hole Black Pond WMA, Middlefield January 2026 Another day, another WMA. Wildlife Management Area, that is. The majority of these places exist for hunting and aren't worth my time. Note, I'm not saying they are worthless, I'm saying they don't have established trails for me to hike. Black Pond … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: cockaponset state forest, Middlefield, State WMA

Kettletown State Park

November 29, 2024 by Steve Leave a Comment

Kettletown State Park Southbury If someone reads this in 2027, shoot me a note or leave a comment to remove this: The crazy rainstorm in 2024 that killed a couple people and absolutely destroyed this part of the state, resulted in a major damage here. The campground and surrounding areas, including the Pomperaug, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Kettletown State Park, Southbury

Topsmead State Forest

November 27, 2024 by Steve Leave a Comment

Topsmead State Forest Litchfield What a lovely area. Truly. No matter the season or the reason of your visit, it's just such a beautiful spot. Topsmead State Forest is the former summer estate of Miss Edith Morton Chase, daughter of Henry Sabin Chase, one of the leaders in the brass industry, and Alice … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: lichfield, topsmead state forest

Mount Tom State Park

November 25, 2024 by Steve Leave a Comment

Mount Tom State Park Litchfield, Morris, & Washington I was about to say that my favorite fact about this place is that I find it very weird that Litchfield claims the park - and the state DEEP says it's in Litchfield - when, in fact, only like 10% of it is in the town. The bulk of it is in Washington, including … [Read more...]

Filed Under: State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Litchfield, Morris, Mt Tom State Park, Washington

George Dudley Seymour State Park & Higganum Meadows WMA

October 29, 2024 by Steve Leave a Comment

Happy to See Mour George Dudley Seymour State Park & Higganum Meadows WMA, Haddam October 2024 I don't know why the state decided to split what is one tract of public land along the border of East Hampton and Haddam. To the north (East Hampton), it's Hurd State Park. To the south (Haddam), it's George Dudley … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Haddam, State WMA

Dinosaur State Park Arboretum

May 13, 2024 by Steve Leave a Comment

A Pinetum Among an Aboretum Dinosaur State Park Arboretum/Pinetum February 2024 For my page on the Dinosaur State Park Museum, go here. If you just want the Trackway National Natural Landmark, go here. And if you're here for the trails, go here. Many, many years ago when I listed the arboretums I felt were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Biology & Geology, Everything Else, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Arboreta, dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill, Trees

Bolton Notch State Park Trail (North)

April 11, 2024 by Steve 1 Comment

Cuban Tulips Tulip Tree Trail, Bolton Notch State Park, Vernon December 2023 Despite the fact that the opening paragraph will confuse you, this trail is totally worth the effort to find and hike. It is not hard to find, but you have to make a little effort. The Tulip Tree Trail is a loop through the Northern … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: bolton notch state park, Cool Geology, Vernon

Millers Pond State Park Trails

January 17, 2024 by Steve Leave a Comment

Hike It or Bike It Millers Pond State Park & Cockaponset State Forest, Durham/Haddam Septemeber 2016 & November 2023 There are several trails at Millers Pond and aside from the Mattabesett, they all pretty much loop back to the same parking lot near the Durham/Haddam border off of Foot Hills Road. In fact, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Calvin, cockaponset state forest, Damian, Durham, Haddam, Hikes with my Boys, Hiking Challenges with Rewards, millers pond state park, Sky's the Limit Challenge

Belding WMA

January 15, 2024 by Steve Leave a Comment

Mr. Belding Belding Wildlife Management Area, Vernon March & April 2010 If you immediately know Zack, Slater, Screech, Lisa, Kelly, and that speed freak Jessie Spanos, you know Mr. Belding. However, despite my highest hopes, Belding WMA in Vernon has nothing to do with Bayside High School's beleaguered … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: State WMA, Vernon

Somersville Mill Trail

December 4, 2023 by Steve 1 Comment

Late Fall in Somers Somersville Mill Trail, Enfield & Somers November 2023 My wife has asked me on occasion if I remember every trail I hike for this website. For years, I'd confidently answer "yes." In fact, my hubris was so great that I would claim that I'd know on which trail any given picture was taken. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites, Town Land Hikes Tagged With: Enfield, Industrial History, scantic river state park, Somers

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 25
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Facebook

Press & Media Inquiries

Latest Museum Visits

The heart of CTMQ

Totally Random Post!

Saville Dam, Barkhamsted Center & Hollow

Sponsored Links

Recent Comments

  • Patrick on Simsbury Farms Fitness Trail
  • Caleb on The Gallery Selfie Museum
  • Caleb on CTMQ’s Guide to Lyme
  • Mike burke on The Gallery Selfie Museum
  • Steve on The Last Post Cat Sanctuary
Disclaimer
Mission Statement
Copyright © 2026 - CTMQ