This Connecticut Landscape Turns Into a Frozen Wonderland During Winter

Sitting in a toasty room, wrapped in a blanket and sipping a hot drink, is usually how I prefer to spend those brutally cold days of winter. After all, I can enjoy the wintry landscape just as easily from my window as in person. However, one thing will compel me to bundle up and head outdoors on a crisp winter day – a waterfall in Connecticut – and the pretty path that leads to Campbell Falls is short, sweet, and an idyllic cold-weather adventure.

Curb the inevitable bout of cabin fever before it strikes with a stroll along the Campbell Falls Trail, an easy one-mile hike through Campbell Falls State Park Reserve. Even if you’re not a fan of the cold weather, you won’t be outdoors too long. The kid-friendly trail normally takes less than half an hour to complete, making it an idyllic adventure for the whole family, even your pup, as long as he’s on a leash.

Despite its easy rating, the waterfall trail in Norfolk does have a few challenges, including a slight elevation increase of around 140 feet, and the snowy and sometimes icy conditions in the winter require sturdy footwear. Due to the lack of trail markers, you might want to use your GPS or download AllTrails+ to help you navigate.

Stroll through the forest of hardwood trees, pine trees, and ferns sprinkled with snow, and snap photos of the state line markers for Connecticut and Massachusetts, both home to Campbell Falls State Park. Listen for the gentle flow of the streams unless the temperatures have plunged, leaving the water frozen and adding a peaceful stillness to the air.

You can usually hear the cascading of the 50-foot Campbell Falls in the distance, but you might catch it frozen in mid-drop. If you’re not in a hurry, visit for a while, watching as the water tumbles into a clear pool. As you admire the winter scenery, make plans for a return visit when the color has returned to the landscape, the flowers have begun to bloom, and the sun shines longer each day.

Head over to the official website of Campbell Falls State Park Reserve for more information, including maps, a list of facilities, and the park's history.

For more of the best hiking trails in Connecticut, check out AllTrails+, which features a full listing of trails, including maps, hiker reviews, and current weather conditions. After an exhilarating winter hike along the Campbell Falls Trail, explore more of Norfolk, the coldest town in Connecticut.

What is your favorite waterfall in Connecticut? Let us know by nominating it, and we might feature it in a future article.