City: Litchfield, CT

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (860) 567-0857

Address: 80 Whitehall Rd.

Description: The sign and road off the side of Route 202 look like they might lead to some sort of charitable corporation. But instead, this is one of the largest networks of trails in the state, a perfect place to bring beginning hikers or walkers. The foundation was formed in 1913, and in 1964 a conservation center was established in the home of Alain and May White. Today there is a nature museum here, as well as other facilities. The joy of these trails is twofold: their flatness and their diversity. Within the 4,000 acres of the foundation, the trails maintain their generally flat and easy-walking nature, and this is a perfect place to introduce children to the joys of the outdoors. For longer hikes, the blue-blazed Mattatuck Trail connects to the foundation trails, and many of these flat, doubletrack dirt roads are open to bicyclists. Along with Bantam Lake, there are several ponds and even a cranberry swamp, as well as pine and deciduous forests. This is a great place for birders to spend all day watching in the various habitats. In the spring and summer, all the flowering plants along these trails and ponds burst into pure beauty.