The Penwood State Park Trail System Just Might Have The Most Underrated Hikes In All Of Connecticut

There's nothing better than heading out on a beautiful day and exploring a great trail in Connecticut. We may be among the most densely-populated states, but we also have a great deal of forested area, much of which contains land prime for hiking. There's no shortage of trails in our many state forests and parks. One of the most unexpectedly stunning areas of the state lies around Hartford County. This county is among the most populated in the state and contains Connecticut's capital, so you'd be forgiven for thinking there's not much natural beauty here. Skip Hartford County, however, and you'll miss out on the magnificent Talcott Mountain State Park and the wonderful Penwood State Park, which lies right beside it. Talcott Mountain is the more popular of the two parks, but don't ignore Penwood. It's home to nearly 800 acres of scenery and has one of the most underrated trails in the state.

The trailhead at Penwood State Park can be a little confusing, but the trail system here has several trails, each blazed with different colors.

The trails interconnect and take you past various sites within the park, like the beautiful Lake Louise.

You'll also spot remnants of a few buildings here - there were once cabins in the area.

Note that some areas are a little rocky, particularly the yellow trail, so make sure to check out a map and plan your venture based on your skill level.

You'll also want to keep an eye on the weather. Melting snow or heavy rains mean the trails here end up quite slippery.

Despite the difficulties, the views here are gorgeous.

Looking out into the Farmington River Valley is such a treat.

For more information about Penwood State Park and to check out a trail map, visit the official Connecticut website.

Have you ever explored this underrated state park in Connecticut? What's your favorite trail there? Share your thoughts in the comments!