The weekend of October 8th is considered to be one of the most popular foliage viewing weekends in Connecticut. Our state is small, but it boasts some of the best views of foliage throughout New England. We are a professional dog training facility located in Deep River, Connecticut. We love hearing about all the adventures our clients have with their canine companions. Hiking is a great activity for both dog and owner so with the fall colors coming, we decided to write about five places to see foliage in Connecticut with your dog.
Five Places to See Foliage in Connecticut with Your Dog
Hezekiah’s Knob and the Chestnut Grove Trail
The 5-mile loop trail is located in Hamden, CT. It has moderately difficult terrain and is used for hiking, walking, bird watching, and foliage viewing. It is dog friendly, but you should always leash your pet as it is mandatory in most Connecticut state parks.
Talcott Mountain State Park
This state park offers spectacular views of the Farmington River Valley. The trail is short (1.25 miles) and leads to the Heublein Tower which stays open throughout October. Dogs are allowed on the trail but not inside the tower museum. Talcott Mountain State Park is located in Simsbury, CT.
The People’s State Forest
There are several trails in People’s State Forest that will lead you and your pup to some stunning foliage views. The Jessie Gerard Trail leads to lookouts of the forest and is an easy 1.3 mile hike. There are also several areas to canoe, picnic, and camp. The People’s State Forest is in Barkhamsted, CT.
The Shenipsit State Forest
This forest is located in Somers, CT. It offers spectacular foliage views and sprawls out over 7,000 acres of land. Hikers should try out the blue-blazed Shenipsit Trail which goes over Soapstone Mountain and offers amazing views of the forest below in its observation tower.
Pachaug State Forest
This is one of the larger state forests in Connecticut. It encompasses almost 27,000 acres of land in 6 towns. Voluntown, Sterling, Plainfield, Griswold, North Stonington, and Preston. The best to see foliage in Pachaug State Forest is atop Mount Misery. It has a great overlook area where hikers can see for miles. Pachaug State Forest has miles of hiking trails that are all dog-friendly.