Suggestions for hikes with young family?

[severine]

I really was looking forward to getting back into hiking this season. But it looks like if I'm going to go, I will have a 1 year old and 3 year old in tow by myself. I can wear the 1 year old in a pack, but the 3 year old will have to walk on her own. Any suggestions on some easier stuff she could handle? I will add that she's used to walking in the woods at White Memorial in Litchfield, CT. She's also done the Sessions Woods loop in Burlington (3 miles of hills). I took her around the West Hartford reservoir off of Rt. 44 before, but it got too windy on the treeless side and I wouldn't have her do that again.

Ideas for something new in the northwest corner of CT or nearby? Thanks in advance.

 

[Paul]

People's has a few smaller loops that she could enjoy. There's one right off of the stone museum at the entrance.

 

[severine]

Oooooh, good suggestion! Thanks!

 

[MichaelJ]

Have you been to Bash-Bish Falls? At Mt Everett State Forest you can drive up to a parking lot (on the map, it's right by the pond) with easy trails around the pond plus picnicing, and it's not hard at all to hike up to the (now-closed) upper parking lot and then from there to the summit.

That whole South Taconic area is full of open ledges and views despite not being that tall.

 

[Greg]

Another option in Southwest Mass is Race Brook Falls. Here's an old TR:

http://hiking.alpinezone.com/reports/race.htm

More info:

http://www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/racebrook.html#trees

Up and back to Mount Race is 6 miles, but the falls are only a bit over a mile up. It's a moderate climb, but if your oldest did a 3 mile hike, she could probably swing it. There's also the Cathedral Pines up by Mohawk:

http://www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/cathedral_pines.html

 

[SilentCal]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talcott_Mountain

This is a really nice park and the Heublien Tower is a great destination for a picnic with the young ones.

 

[andyzee]

http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/

 

[severine]

Have you been to Bash-Bish Falls? At Mt Everett State Forest you can drive up to a parking lot (on the map, it's right by the pond) with easy trails around the pond plus picnicing, and it's not hard at all to hike up to the (now-closed) upper parking lot and then from there to the summit.

That whole South Taconic area is full of open ledges and views despite not being that tall.

I've been on the back side of Everett but it was a LONG time ago during a Backpacking class in College. I'll have to check that one out, thanks!

Another option in Southwest Mass is Race Brook Falls. Here's an old TR:

http://hiking.alpinezone.com/reports/race.htm

More info:

http://www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/racebrook.html#trees

Up and back to Mount Race is 6 miles, but the falls are only a bit over a mile up. It's a moderate climb, but if your oldest did a 3 mile hike, she could probably swing it. There's also the Cathedral Pines up by Mohawk:

http://www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/cathedral_pines.html

Race I did .... 2 years ago, I think, with Brian. I don't think she could handle getting all the way up, but the falls is a definite possibility. Mohawk is a place I always meant to go but never have... thanks for reminding me!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talcott_Mountain

This is a really nice park and the Heublien Tower is a great destination for a picnic with the young ones.

LOVE Heublien Tower. I wasn't totally sure on the trail because it's been a long time since I've hiked it.

Looks like I'll have to find some trail maps of my own. I have none now.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys!

 

[Philpug]

http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/

X2..I was going to post that. There is a Labrynth (sp?) that is a lot of fun too.

 

[severine]

http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/

X2..I was going to post that. There is a Labrynth (sp?) that is a lot of fun too.

Definitely looks interesting. That's about 2 hrs from where I live so I'm not sure about day tripping there with the kids by myself, but maybe if I can get another adult to help out. 4 hrs round trip with my kids in the car would probably equal about 6 hrs+.

 

[Mike P.]

Going to the lower falls at Race Brook Falls would work. You could drive up on Mt. Washington Road & do Bear from near the AMC's Northwest Cabin.

Some short trails in Devil's Hopyard in SE CT.

Walks along the Farmington Canal or the M&M trail.

 

[Grassi21]

Great thread. Our plan is to hike as much as possible with the our son and dogs. I popped our son in the still unused Kelty Pack we got last spring. I need to do some fine tuning but that pack kicks ass.

 

[andyzee]

Definitely looks interesting. That's about 2 hrs from where I live so I'm not sure about day tripping there with the kids by myself, but maybe if I can get another adult to help out. 4 hrs round trip with my kids in the car would probably equal about 6 hrs+.

There's some nice spots, Lemon Squeeze, that would be a bit tough for really young kids. Other then that, it's all carriage roads with some nice views of a great hotel, rock climbing and woods. You can see some pics here: http://killingtonaccessrd.com/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=84 . Where you see us on rocks is the lemon sqeeze area, you can avoid that an use carriage roads for everything, including the summit and nice views.