LITCHFIELD FIRST DAY HIKES will be held, of course, on January 1, 2021 as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes. Litchfield alone  will have 10 hikes. Find their details below. Some hikes are guided, some self-guided, all are free.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) State Parks and its partners are sponsoring free, guided hikes in many state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America’s State Parks’ First Day Hikes initiative taking place in all 50 states.

VISTAS
Apple Hill Trail – White Memorial Conservation Center
https://whitememorialcc.org/trails/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.

Prospect Mountain Preserve Trails – Litchfield Land Trust https://www.litchfieldlandtrust.org/  (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.
SERENITY
Songbird Trail Tour & the Orintas Family Wildlife Viewing Blind – Friends of Topsmead   https://www.friendsoftopsmead.org/
Janet Blauvelt, a Friend of Topsmead State Forest, will lead a leisurely tour along the Songbird Trail and the Wildlife Viewing building. Janet established and helps maintains birdhouses at Topsmead. Volunteers will be at the parking lot at 10:00 if any assistance is desired.

Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary – Litchfield Hills Audubon https://lhasct.org/www.lhasct.org/Boyd_Woods.html  Marie Kennedy will be there at 9:00 am for those who would like a guide.
Medicine Rock Trail – The Litchfield Land Trust
https://www.litchfieldlandtrust.org/  (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.

Vineyard/River Trail Loop – White Memorial Conservation Center  https://whitememorialcc.org/trails/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.

LOCAL HISTORY
Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary –  https://lhasct.org/www.lhasct.org/Boyd_Woods.html  Marie Kennedy will be there at 9:00 am for those who would like a guide.
Ice House Ruins Trail – White Memorial Conservation Center  https://whitememorialcc.org/trails/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.

Shepaug Crossing Trail – Litchfield Land Trust
https://www.litchfieldlandtrust.org/  (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.

Topsmead State Forest Estate Grounds – Friends of Topsmead    https://www.friendsoftopsmead.org/  Friends will be at the parking lot at 10:00 with assistance and more information.

To find more hiking opportunities in the Tri-State are follow the links below.

New York State Parks   https://parks.ny.gov/events/first-day-hikes.aspx

Massachusetts State Parks   https://www.mass.gov/guides/visiting-massachusetts-state-parks-guide

Connecticut State Parks   https://www.stateparks.com/connecticut_parks_and_recreation_destinations.html