This Trail At A Hidden State Park In Connecticut Is Worthy Of A Day Hike

With nearly 150 state forests and state parks in Connecticut, it's easy for some to fall through the cracks. Places like Kent Falls State Park and Gillette Castle State Park are magnificent and definitely worthy of a visit - there's certainly a reason why they're among the most-visited attractions in Connecticut. Still, with the sheer number of parks to choose from, it makes sense that a few hidden gems wouldn't get quite the attention they deserve. One park that definitely falls into that category is the beautiful Old Furnace State Park near Dayville, CT. This place is full of history and natural beauty, and it's home to one of our favorite trails: the Ross's Cliff Trail Loop. This is a grand adventure perfect for any season. Check it out:

The Ross's Cliff Trail is a 2.4-mile loop trail that's considered moderately challenging and takes most experienced hikers about an hour.

The trail loops around the entirety of the park, giving you a great overview of this pretty preserve, including some wonderful views of Furnace Pond.

Once you reach the top of Half Hill, you'll be rewarded with some gorgeous views.

Some of the areas below the cliff can get a bit rocky, but in all, there's no overly difficult sections of the trail for more moderately experienced hikers.

There are quite a few side trails in this park if you'd like to explore different areas of the preserve.

Keep your eyes peeled - you never know what sort of critters you'll come across here!

The park gets its name because an iron furnace used to operate here for several centuries.

Today, it's a beautifully preserved area that's ripe for exploration from local nature lovers.

For more information about the Ross's Cliff Trail Loop at Old Furnace State Park, check out our friends at AllTrails for some details and amazing pictures.

If you're an avid fan of hiking in Connecticut, you may want to consider a free trial of AllTrails+. It's a wonderful subscription that has all kinds of great benefits, like turn-by-turn directions and location sharing, so you don't have to worry about staying safe when out hiking.