Here’s where you’ll find some of the noteworthy hiking trails in Fairfield County:
Aspetuck Land Trust
The Aspetuck Land Trust, a non-profit membership organization whose mission is the preservation and conservation of open space, preserves a series of open spaces dotted across the four towns of Easton, Fairfield, Weston, and Westport.
Currently they have over 1,700 acres with 45 trailed nature preserves, and they also offer guided hikes for adults and children that provide opportunities to learn about and enjoy nature while promoting the importance of conservation and preservation.
Audubon Center in Greenwich
Located on the corner of Riversville Road and John Street, the National Audubon Society’s Audubon Center in Greenwich has 7 miles of trails across 285 acres of woodland, wetland, and meadow habitat.
Views are breathtaking and hikers get to explore a diversity of environments, ranging from open fields to hardwood forests, to wildflower meadows and old apple orchards. The looping trails will take you through the east branch of the Byram River, which in turn takes you to Mead Lake.
The Lake Loop Trail also features a boardwalk and two camouflaged shelters known as a bird blind, which can let you observe wildlife without being noticed. Animals are plentiful in this lush, wooded environment, and you can spot bats, coyotes, flying squirrels, muskrats, nesting bluebirds, river otters, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, wood ducks, and all kinds of amphibians, reptiles, and birds, including the majestic Bald Eagle.
Devil’s Den
Encompassing 1,746 acres, Devil’s Den Preserve is considered one of the largest contiguous parcels of open space in Fairfield County, with most of the preserve located in Weston and the northern portion located in Redding.
The preserve has 20 miles of looping trails, which takes you through hilly woods, past ancient stonewalls, to Godfrey Pond and back, with truly lovely views and colors, particularly in the fall. More than 500 types of trees and wildflowers can be seen at Devil’s Den, as well as wildlife like the bobcat, coyote, eastern copperhead snake, and over 140 bird species that include the pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, wood duck, and more.
Tarrywile Park
This municipal park in Danbury features the historic Tarrywile Mansion on its grounds and consists of 722 acres of rolling hills with woodlands, fields, and ponds, with 21 miles of well-marked and maintained looping trails.
The trails can take you through vast open fields, over rugged, rocky terrain, or even past natural patches of blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. While hiking, you might encounter a chipmunk, partridge, pheasant, rabbit, red fox, or a white tail buck, and passing through Tarrywile Lake, Parks Pond, or Back Pond will give you glimpses of geese, mallards, wood ducks, and maybe even some magnificent swans.
