I am wanting to go backpacking sometime before it gets too cold. I am having a heck of a time finding any place that would be worth it. I like getting away from towns and roads and backpack up the trail and camp. CT seems to have too many laws and restrictions to do that without being in a designated camping area. Does anybody know of a good place to go nearby? Thanks for any help. I am not opposed to staying in state if people have had good experiences with these places, they just don't seem too great. Thanks guys.

 

i sent an email to my aunt and uncle who are big camper/hiker people. if there is a place in ct where you can do it im sure they would know.

 

Nice! Thanks buddy. I am having a hell of a hard time believing that you can't do it on the app. trail, but CT seems like backpack camping ****'s. They have places you can go, but you can only camp in the very specific designated places.

 

i didnt try it but my aunt said do a web search for berkshire hiking. i guess there is a place called Lion's Head which is supposed to be beautiful this time of year and which has shelters or the wide outdoors for camping and backpacking. Appalachian trail and lion's head trail, connects in Salisbury CT and thats about where you want to go. says my aunt.

 

Cool, thanks man. Tell your Aunt thank you very much!

 

but wait there's more....

my uncle said Sage's Ravine or Bear Mountain is good. he said Sage's is roughly 7 miles from the route 44 parking area.

maybe some more specific info with pictures is available on the interwebs.

 

if you are going backpacking on the app trail nobody will mess with you ieEP or the cops. as long as,
1. you dont light the woods on fire
2. you pack up and continue hiking in the morning

I believe the camping rules/laws are to boost the #s at the state campgrounds to increase revenue for the state. they don't want you sleeping for free when they could charge you. in my experience on the trail there is nobody to bother you throw you out. also depending on how fast you hike you would be out of ct after the first night anyways, possibly sooner

 

Awesome! Thanks guys!

 

I do a lot of backpacking, I actually went just last weekend. The AT is great hiking and you wont get bothered like everyone already said. I have been caught making fires in ct but they usually dont make too much of a fuss. As far as great hikes go you cant beat lions head, bear mountain, sages ravine. All of which can be done in a day, one of my favorite hikes to do is from Lions head trail- racebrook falls. You will pass every one of the mentioned trails and sights. Its roughly 15 miles and can easily be done in a day or turned into an over night. Racebrook falls is in MA, keep in mind MA has better trails for the most part, tougher terrain more "off the beaten path" A nice close hike is from breadloaf trail ending at the rt7 limerock road intersection. that is around 13 miles. Very easy hike low elevations but still a good time. If I were you Id do lions head and then work my way in to MA. MT everet is good. If you check out the AT web site they have a ton of info. Dont worry about camping in designated sites they dont really care. Have fun!

 

That is GREAT information Mik(e). Thanks!

 

If you're looking for a nice day hike with a great view try parking at the reservoir on Albany Ave ( rt 44) in West Hartford from there you can hike to the Heublein Tower on Avon Mountain. It's a nice 8~9 mile hike. There's also a tower in Meriden right off 691 exit 4, Hubbard Park with it's own tower over looking Meriden and Cheshire. Hubbard Park also has a great Christmas light show during that season and they put a cross? on the tower when the lights are on.

They have a nice nature trail at Hammonasset Beach.

If you have access to a canoe there is camping on Selden Ils. (summer time) last time I was over that way there was a rope swing on the creek (back in the '90s)