Best Places for Fall Foliage in CT
Where to See the Best Fall Foliage in Connecticut
Due to various weather-related factors (most notably Hurricane Irene), foliage season in Connecticut was something of a disappointment this year. After a half-hearted “peak” that lasted for perhaps a week and a half, the trees gave up the struggle, and now the brilliant leaves so characteristic of October are all but gone after hardly putting in an appearance at all. However, there are still a few good spots for leaf-peeping; if you’re really dedicated, you’ll find that even though the trees are fast becoming bare, the views alone are still worth a look. Here’s some you may want to check out:
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1. Haystack Mountain State Park
The tower at Haystack Mountain was built in 1929, and unlike many other observation towers throughout the state, is still in prime condition. A short road through the park allows cars to drive right to the trailhead, or you can park just inside the entrance and walk up the road. The trail itself is short but steep, reaching the almost 2000-foot summit in about ten minutes. Climbing the tower gives access to fantastic views; the town of Norfolk is right on the border of Massachusetts, so the vista from the top of Haystack Mountain encompasses New York State, the Berkshires of Massachusetts, and, on a clear day, it’s said that you can see all the way across Connecticut to Long Island Sound. Dennis Hill State Park, just down the road past the center of Norfolk, also has some amazing views, along with its own access road and hilltop pavilion.
2. Mohawk State Forest
Cornwall’s Mohawk State Forest contains 30 miles of trails, a ruined tower, and an observation tower, as well as a scenic overlook. The forest gets its name not from its residents – the Mohawks never lived there – but rather from the long-told story that local Native American tribes used to light signal fires on the summit of Mohawk Mountain in order to warn southern tribes of the approach of the Mohawks from the north. On a clear day, both the Taconics and the Berkshires are visible, along with thousands of acres of forest.
3. The Heublein Tower
A site that can be seen from miles around, Talcott Mountain State Park’s Heublein Tower looks out over the Farmington River Valley from a height of 1,000 feet— climbing to the top of the tower provides an additional 165 feet of altitude. In the spring and summer the summit is rife with mountain laurel, but in fall the foliage takes over. The scenery is impressive even if you don’t go up in the tower; there is a wooden pavilion and an excellent overlook area with views supposedly all the way to Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire.
If you do go up in the tower, you’ll be able to view period furniture and artifacts from the residence of the Heublein family, who built the tower as a summer home in 1914. Tower and landscape tours are available during the fall at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm Thursday through Sunday.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.4. Sleeping Giant State Park
One of the most recognizable sights in the state is the skyline created by Sleeping Giant, a two-mile long mountain chain that resembles a giant sleeping on its back. The park, located in Hamden, has over a dozen trails, several of which lead to a stone observation tower at the summit of one of its peaks. The view over south central Connecticut is extensive, and has the added bonus of being situated in one of the latest-blooming foliage areas. Leaves should linger here well after they’re gone from the northern half of the state. Sleeping Giant is right across from Quinnipiac University on Mt. Carmel Avenue; visit the DEP website for more information.
5. Shenipsit State Forest
Shenipsit State Forest is spread over several thousand acres and the three towns of Stafford, Ellington, and Somers. The Soapstone Mountain observation tower— one of only two observation towers in the eastern half of the state— is a wooden fire tower rather than a stone tower, but still provides excellent views over the forest. The majority of the trees in the forest are red oaks, which, it should come as no surprise, usually turn red in the fall, so during a normal October should be quite a sight.
For history buffs, Shenipsit is also the former site of Camp Conner, home to Civilian Conservation Corps workers during the Great Depression. The CCC Museum, a former barracks for the men who helped build recreation areas and plant trees in state park areas, is located on Route 190 in the Stafford portion of the forest.
For more ideas on where to catch the best fall foliage, visit www.ct.gov/dep.
–Sarah Alender is a Contributor to The Free George.
The Free George is the online magazine and visitors’ guide of Upstate NY, covering things from Albany to Lake Placid, including Saratoga, the Lake George region and the Adirondacks. Check out our City Blogs section for our extended coverage areas as well.