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CTMQ > Great Views

Smith Tree Farm Trails

August 31, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

I Give a Hoot About These Places Canton Land Conservation Trust, Canton & Barkhamsted August 2021 In case you were unaware, there are some hills in northwest Canton. One of the bigger hills is Ratlum Mountain. There are several hills just to the west of Ratlum: the one where Ski Sundown is located, and the two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, Land Trust Hikes, New Post Tagged With: Barkhamsted, Birds, Canton, Canton Land Conservation Trust, Great Views

SRA: Hidden Valley Preserve

August 11, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

Yup, Another Pinnacle Steep Rock Association's Hidden Valley Preserve January 2013 The trails at Hidden Valley have changed since I first hiked them in 2013. Several were removed and others were improved. Also, the awesome new Thoreau Bridge was installed. I'll return to Hidden Valley someday. Yes, to check … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, Land Trust Hikes, New Post Tagged With: Great Views, Steep Rock Association, Washington

West Mountain Trails

July 29, 2021 by Steve 1 Comment

Total Masters Simsbury Land Trust's West Mountain, 60 Westledge, & Cathles Trails, Simsbury December 2020 Although I'm writing this page in 2021, it has a distinction that is important to... a few people. (I was going to write "absolutely no one" but then I remembered that way back when it was originally … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, Land Trust Hikes, New Post Tagged With: Calvin, Great Views, Hikes with my Boys, Simsbury, Simsbury Land Trust

Rockhouse Hill Sanctuary West

June 23, 2021 by Steve 1 Comment

Rockin' the House Rockhouse Hill Sanctuary West, Oxford November 2020 Over my many years of hiking and writing about many hundreds of trails in Connecticut, I've had a few bad takes on mountain bikers. My thinking on the topic has evolved over the years and I've come to respect and appreciate what the New England … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, Town Land Hikes Tagged With: Great Views, Oxford

Bolton Notch State Park Trails (South)

February 25, 2021 by Steve 2 Comments

Fudge 2020 Bolton Notch State Park Trails (South), Bolton October 2020 Li'l ol' Bolton Notch State Park. With its horrible access road and graffiti covered rock outcrops... is, dare I say, awesome? Yes, it's awesome. It is a hub for so many things! Two lengthy multi-use trails - one which is a state park that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Bolton, bolton notch state park, Calvin, Great Views, Hikes with my Boys

Housatonic Overlook & Tucker’s Ridge

February 12, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

Not Tuckering Out Housatonic Overlook & Tucker's Ridge, Orange January 2021 Rare is the trail that starts you off at the highlight of the trek. This is one such trail - presuming you begin at the northern end at the High Ridge Road turn-around. If you'd rather leave the views until you have some trail behind you, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, Town Land Hikes Tagged With: Calvin, Great Views, Hikes with my Boys, Orange

Metacomet Trail: Section 14

November 15, 2020 by Steve 2 Comments

Section 14: A Jog by the Jog Route 20 to Rising Corner Road (MA), 7.8 Miles September 2, 2020 This is it. This is the end. What began on April 29, 2007 on the Berlin Turnpike across from a (now closed) stripclub, ended on a beautiful late summer day near the Massachusetts state line. Thirteen and a half years. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: CFPA Hikes, Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post Tagged With: Blue Trails Challenge, Calvin, East Granby, Great Views, Hikes with my Boys, Hoang, Metacomet Trail, New England National Scenic Trail, Suffield

Penwood State Park’s Color Trails

August 19, 2020 by Steve Leave a Comment

Penwood: A Rainbow of Fun! Penwood State Park, Bloomfield & Simsbury Multiple Visits I am fortunate to live very near the MDC Reservoirs - Talcott Mountain State Park - Penwood State Park - Wilcox Park corridor of woods and trails. There are countless routes one can take to see different parts of these properties … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Bloomfield, Great Views, penwood state park, Simsbury

M.K. Wilcox Park

July 15, 2020 by Steve 1 Comment

No Dumping M.K. Wilcox Park, Bloomfield June 2020 I imagine hundreds, if not thousands, of people hike through MK Wilcox Park in Bloomfield every year and don't even know it. There they are, hiking north through Penwood State Park, taking in the panoramic views west and checking off abandoned chimneys along the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, New Post, Town Land Hikes Tagged With: Bloomfield, Great Views

Penwood State Park Intro

June 12, 2020 by Steve Leave a Comment

Penwood State Park Bloomfield & Simsbury Penwood is the sister state park to Talcott Mountain - both of which are very near my house. As such, I've spent more time in both than all other state parks combined. Probably. More people probably visit Talcott than Penwood for the tower up there, but Penwood certainly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hikes, Bikes & Paddles, State Parks, Reserves, Preserves, Forests, NAPs, WMAs, & Campsites Tagged With: Bloomfield, Great Views, penwood state park, Simsbury

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