8 Best Places to View Fall Foliage in Connecticut
Why leave your leaf peeping to chance? The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Parks and Forests is letting foliage seekers in on their eight top picks for places to view autumn colors in the fall. These state parks and forests not only boast superb fall foliage, they also offer viewing towers and lookouts so that you'll be able to treat yourself to a panoramic view of nature's vibrant display.
1.
Haystack Mountain State Park, West Norfolk, Stone Tower
From Norfolk, at the junction of Routes 44 and 272, take 272 north a half mile to the park entrance on the left. The entry road leads to the parking area, and a short trail walk of 15 minutes leads to the tower, providing a 360-degree panorama of the countryside.
2. Macedonia Brook State Park, Warren, Cobble Mountain
From Kent, take Route 341 west two miles to Macedonia. Take the first right onto Macedonia Brook Road into the park, bearing left at the fork. From the parking lot, take Cobble Mountain Trail, blazed white. Views are from the Harlem Valley into the Taconic and Catskill Mountains.
3. Mohawk State Forest, Cornwall, Lookout Tower
From Torrington, drive west on Route 4 for 14 miles to the park entrance, Toumey Road, on the left. At the 'T' intersection, turn right onto Mohawk Mountain Road. The Lookout Tower is at the end. Scenic vistas to the north and west include the Catskill, Taconic, and Berkshire ranges. Hikers can pick up the blue-blazed Mattatuck or Mohawk Trails, which cross the site.
4. Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, Mt. Misery Overlook
Forest entrance is on Route 49, .6 miles north of Voluntown. Turn left into entrance and drive two miles west; bear left at the fork to parking lot. Woods access road on left leads to overlook.
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5. Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted, Chaugnam Lookout
At the junction of Routes 318 and 181 in Pleasant Valley, travel east over the bridge and take the first left onto East River Road. The Jessie Gerard Trailhead is 2.4 miles ahead on the right. The yellow-blazed trail leads to two lookouts.
6. Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, Observation Tower
From Somers, take Route 190 east for 1.25 miles to blinking yellow traffic light.
Turn right on Gulf Road and drive 2.25 miles to Soap Stone Mountain Road (the first right after Mountain View Road). The road leads to the tower parking lot. The blue-blazed Shenipsit Trail runs by the tower.
7. Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Stone Tower
Drive north on Route 10 from Hamden for two miles to Mt. Carmel Avenue. The park's main entrance and parking are .25 miles ahead on the left. A gravel path from the parking lot leads 1.5 miles to Stone Tower. A 360-degree panorama looks south at Long Island and north past Hartford.
8. Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Heublein Tower
Travel three miles west from Bloomfield on Route 185 to entrance, just past mountain crest. Park along the road near the trailhead. Hike to the ridge and bear left to the tower. The tower is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for views that take in the Farmington River Valley and, on a clear day, several states.
1.
Haystack Mountain State Park, West Norfolk, Stone Tower
From Norfolk, at the junction of Routes 44 and 272, take 272 north a half mile to the park entrance on the left. The entry road leads to the parking area, and a short trail walk of 15 minutes leads to the tower, providing a 360-degree panorama of the countryside.
2. Macedonia Brook State Park, Warren, Cobble Mountain
From Kent, take Route 341 west two miles to Macedonia. Take the first right onto Macedonia Brook Road into the park, bearing left at the fork. From the parking lot, take Cobble Mountain Trail, blazed white. Views are from the Harlem Valley into the Taconic and Catskill Mountains.
3. Mohawk State Forest, Cornwall, Lookout Tower
From Torrington, drive west on Route 4 for 14 miles to the park entrance, Toumey Road, on the left. At the 'T' intersection, turn right onto Mohawk Mountain Road. The Lookout Tower is at the end. Scenic vistas to the north and west include the Catskill, Taconic, and Berkshire ranges. Hikers can pick up the blue-blazed Mattatuck or Mohawk Trails, which cross the site.
4. Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, Mt. Misery Overlook
Forest entrance is on Route 49, .6 miles north of Voluntown. Turn left into entrance and drive two miles west; bear left at the fork to parking lot. Woods access road on left leads to overlook.
Continued...
5. Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted, Chaugnam Lookout
At the junction of Routes 318 and 181 in Pleasant Valley, travel east over the bridge and take the first left onto East River Road. The Jessie Gerard Trailhead is 2.4 miles ahead on the right. The yellow-blazed trail leads to two lookouts.
6. Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, Observation Tower
From Somers, take Route 190 east for 1.25 miles to blinking yellow traffic light.
Turn right on Gulf Road and drive 2.25 miles to Soap Stone Mountain Road (the first right after Mountain View Road). The road leads to the tower parking lot. The blue-blazed Shenipsit Trail runs by the tower.
7. Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Stone Tower
Drive north on Route 10 from Hamden for two miles to Mt. Carmel Avenue. The park's main entrance and parking are .25 miles ahead on the left. A gravel path from the parking lot leads 1.5 miles to Stone Tower. A 360-degree panorama looks south at Long Island and north past Hartford.
8. Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Heublein Tower
Travel three miles west from Bloomfield on Route 185 to entrance, just past mountain crest. Park along the road near the trailhead. Hike to the ridge and bear left to the tower. The tower is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for views that take in the Farmington River Valley and, on a clear day, several states.
