You should be able to get your nature fix without having to bum a ride.

I have intentionally included a variety of venues, from easy access to challenging. Here’s why: during “summer vacation” months, the local news loves to report on which state parks are “closed.”

What that almost always means is just that the parking lot is full.

On the surface, that might suggest that the lot is too small.

That’s not it though.

The popular spots are ones that present nature in a tidy package. Can someone get an Instagrammable shot within five minutes of the parking lot? Can they walk down a path and not worry about poison ivy or loose stones?

The most popular spots are more difficult to reach by bus, from Hartford. We can speculate about why that is in the comments — why it takes longer to reach Hammonasset Beach from Hartford via bus than it does to reach Boston from Hartford using the same mode of transport.

The popular spots are also marketed well, and I don’t mean simply with ads. Look at what information is provided on the DEEP website about Hammonasset Beach vs. Beaver Brook State Park. But go see which parks get mentioned on the news and tourism sites. See which ones pop up most often on friends’ social media accounts. Nothing is wrong with liking vanilla ice cream, but there are 30 other flavors to try.

In this case, I’ve suggested 26 places you can reach from Hartford in less than two hours by bus alone, or with some scenic walking/biking tacked on. Try something new every other week!

WITHIN CITY LIMITS

1. Keney Park: To get here, take the 32, 34, or 36 bus. Take a moment to admire the fancy entrance on Windsor Avenue and think about how different the approach may have been when trolleys roamed the Earth. There are numerous trails and old carriage paths through the woods, and the chance to check out the site of Keney Park’s defunct zoo. There’s a ravine. If you’re timing is right, you can get refreshments at The Tavern near the golf course — this is open to the public.

2. Cedar Hill Cemetery: When you walk in through the main gates, follow the road and then start looking for places to explore to the left near the lake and ponds. Look for birds and butterflies. Deer are abundant. The 61 will get you as far as Goodwin Park; then, just use caution crossing the streets to enter Cedar Hill Cemetery. Be sure to get out by sunset because the gates lock and there is no easy alternate way to exit.

3. The Connecticut River: Don’t have your own boat? Me neither. Explore the water using  Lady Katharine Tours or Slipaway River Tours. You can take the 59 Locust Street bus, or if there is a game at Dillon Stadium, take the 160. This will get you within a five-minute walk of Charter Oak Landing. If you’re already downtown and are fine with walking for 20 minutes, you could just do that from Constitution Plaza. Those boats also dock other places, so check out their websites to see if there is a more convenient location for you.

INNER RING SUBURBS

4. Westmoor Park: A Sunday morning in August here sounds like bumblebees and cicadas. Roosters crowing. A farm cat mewing. In the woods, you hear squirrels dropping acorn shells from up in the trees. Around the ponds, bullfrogs. You’re never very far from the sounds of leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and cars on Mountain Road, but they are mostly muffled when leaves are on the trees. The barnyard animals are the obvious draw. Who doesn’t like to watch sheep grazing? On the other side of the parking lot, there are several small gardens, and even fruit trees. There is a visitor center with more live animals, along with indoor plumbing. There is an outhouse on the grounds if you visit during off hours. It seems like most visitors do not realize that the park continues beyond what one can see from the parking lot. Go explore! There are paths mown through wildflower meadows and around Hunters Pond, and a number of trails have been established through the woods. On literally half my visits here, I have seen deer or wild turkey. If you wander long enough, you might wind up at Bugbee Reservoir. This is a fine way to spend an hour or two before walking back to “civilization” and noshing or doing some grocery shopping at any of the several options. By the way, in 1962, plans for developing this park included two 100-car lots and an 18-hole golf course. This was halted by vocal residents. To get here, take the 58, 62, 72, or 153 bus to Bishop’s Corner and walk west along Albany Avenue past the Marshall’s (Target, Blue Plate Kitchen, etc.) plaza. Take a slight left onto the quiet side street — Flagg Road —- for about ten minutes. The sidewalk ends on this side of the street at the beginning of the park property, so there’s no need to cross over unless you really need a smooth surface.

5. Wethersfield Cove: Watch boats come and go. Walk around the former prison grounds. Think about the fossilized bird tracks found on the shore in 1877. Go to the Cove Museum (it’s free). Visit nearby Folly Brook Natural Area and the Eleanor Buck Wolf Parcel. The 55 route can get you to Folly Brook Natural Area, or exit by the DMV and pick up the path down behind the property.

6. Windsor Center River Trail: Hop off the 32, 34, or 36 bus by the train station in Windsor Center, and walk back by the pond that has artwork in it. These are flat and easy paths through marsh with views of the Farmington River. Only about 1.5 miles of walking altogether. This is close to the town center — grocery store, cafe, and a few restaurants.

7. Matianuck Sand Dunes: There’s reason to celebrate whenever a natural area has been saved instead of exploited. This is more of a sandplain than the kind of dune that you might associate with Cape Cod, but that makes it no less cool of a find in the woods more than 37 miles from the coast. The easiest way to access is by using the trail located behind the Park and Ride on Putnam Highway. Do any buses even service that lot directly? I don’t know. You can take the 50-54 and use one of the Mt. Benedict Cemetery stops on route 187. Walk on a path through the cemetery, going east. At the border, you’ll see a path connecting this to a path leading into Matianuck Sand Dunes Natural Area Preserve. It is possible to get here through Keney Park, but it’s a more challenging way in without consistent trails.

8. West Hartford Reservoir: “It’s not the worst.” Whether you want to run into everyone you’ve ever met or duck onto the wooded paths, this is one of the outdoorsy places that’s most accessible by bus. You can access the Metacomet Trail through this park, and there are lots of dirt, traprock, and barely paved paths to consider beyond the two main paved and popular loops. I’ve seen deer and hawks out here; black bears are occasionally spotted in the area. Look for picnic tables along the trails. There are portapotties near the parking lot, but ironically, no drinking fountain that I could find. Get ready to throw shade at all the people who let their dogs run into the ponds. The 66 bus only goes as far as Boulevard and Farmington Avenue on Sundays, so expect to add on 15 minutes of walking then. Otherwise, there’s a stop just before and after the main entrance. Because this is on a looped route, you don’t even need to cross the street for the return bus, though there is a pretty sweet bus shelter on the other side. And if you brought your bike on board, you could easily get from here to Batterson Park.

9.  Cedar Mountain: Ride either the 53, 101, or 121 to connect to the 144, which will drop you off in front of the Connecticut Humane Society on Russell Road. Pick up the trails behind the building. This might not be the most scenic of Connecticut’s mountains, but it’s worth a visit, maybe if you’re hopping back on the 144 to do errands in the mall area after.

10. The Wethersfield Triangle: Visit Wethersfield, east of the Connecticut River. This Wethersfield triangle has been part of a property dispute with Glastonbury for ages. Take the 95 bus to South Meadow Lane in East Hartford, then walk down that street. You’ll eventually come to signs pointing you south down a paved walking/biking path. This area is prone to flooding, so pay attention to river levels if you don’t want your walk interrupted.

11. Hockanum River Hiking Trails: There are a bunch of segments of the path, with small breaks. Meadow Hill Trail: This segment is not far from the bridge. You could take the 87 bus and get off on East River Drive, or you could simply walk from downtown.  Town Hall segment: Take the 83 or 95 bus and get off at Saunders and Main in East Hartford. Pick up the trail behind town hall. Those two sections are alright, but Elm Street Hall Trail is where the scenery gets more interesting. You can pick this up following the Town Hall segment. Portions of the trail resemble The Land Before Time.

 

12. Mill Pond Park: Take either the 41 and walk about ten minutes, or connect to the 144 (from 47, 101, or 121) and also walk for about ten. This is a modest, suburban park — home to the “smallest natural waterfall in the United States,” a claim that may or may not be accurate, but just let them have it. If you want to extend this trip,  exit the park, cross a street, and you’ll be at Eddy Farm. Note that the farm stand is fair game, but the farm itself only opens to the public for special events.

OUTER RING SUBURBS AND EXURBS

13. Batterson Park: As of publication, this park belongs to the City of Hartford (except for what has been parceled off) but is located in Farmington and other towns. There are picnic tables, grills, and multiple new bike racks. The park is inexplicably gated shut right now. There is a pond and beach area, but no lifeguards on duty. Until Hartford prioritizes Batterson Park or has the sense to turn this over to a Conservancy group, those who will most enjoy this space are those who like roaming through abandoned places and don’t mind dodging poison ivy. It’s still beautiful, though, just not maintained. To extend your experience, hit Frisbie’s Dairy Barn (in season). The 121 bus runs every day and drops off at South and Colt Hwy. From there, walk down Two Mile Road. There are no sidewalks (WTF, Farmington?!) in this area and I do not recommend walking in the roadway because nobody appears to be driving at or below the 25 MPH speed limit. This means you’ll be traipsing across people’s lawns, but oh well. The positive is that this stop is near where the bus loops, so you do not need to cross the street to return to Hartford. Another option: if you put your bike on board, ride over the West Hartford Reservoir after — look at a map to see how you can avoid the main roads.

14.  Dinosaur State Park: There are over two miles of easy walking paths in the arboretum — 60 acres of forest and swamp. If you tire of that, then I suppose you could go learn about dinos and rocks and stuff inside. There is a fee for the museum, but not for wandering the grounds. Take the 47R. There are other routes that will get you close, but you’ll be walking along a busy street that, again, has no sidewalks.

15. Ferry Park (and Great Meadows): Take the 55 and exit by the Rocky Hill Town Hall. Follow signs to the ferry landing. There are no sidewalks on some of these streets — use caution or plan to bring your bike on the bus. Beyond the picnic tables at the park you’ll see woods and a giant parking lot. Through the lot is where you can find entrance to the path through the Great Meadows. If you have super endurance or your bicycle, you can eventually connect to Old Wethersfield and its cove.

16. Fenton River Watershed Forest: Around two miles of blazed blue trail, sometimes this is referred to as UConn Forest. Part of it goes along the Fenton River. Get off the 913 Hartford-Buckland-Storrs Express at the East Campus stop and walk toward Horsebarn Hill Ext. You’ll probably want to make a stop at the UConn Dairy Bar. Then, continue on down Horsebarn Hill and start looking for the path. Check out maps in advance to figure out the trailhead location.

17. Wickham Park: This park straddling East Hartford and Manchester opened in 1961. Besides the gardens, wooded trail, and view of Hartford, there is an aviary. The 88 bus will let you off right in front of the park, which is near bike paths if you care to go deeper into Manchester and beyond.

18. Farmington Canal Heritage Trail: This 80+ mile trail goes from Massachusetts to Plainville (there’s a 9-mile gap from southern Farmington, through Plainville, into northern Southington), and then most of the way from Southington to New Haven. You can get to a few different points on it by bus. To start in Avon by Sperry Park: take the 901 to West Main and Simsbury Road, then head north past the post office. You’ll see the path around there. To start in Weatogue, take the  912 to the Winslow Park & Ride. Path runs along this lot. To start in Simsbury: take the 912 to the Iron Horse Boulevard Park & Ride; path runs by lot. Or, if you want to begin closer to where the path gets more wild and where you can take a detour to Brignole Vineyards, take the 912 to the Sand Pit Park & Ride in Simsbury. It’s less than half a mile from there to the trail; you’ll have to meander off the trail to get to the vineyard, about three miles from the bus stop.

19. Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail : You’ll get off the 905 bus in Enfield  by the Pearl Street Library and cross the Rte. 190 bridge that spans the Connecticut River. Don’t worry — there is a clearly marked crosswalk and separated bike/pedestrian path. Once across the river, the path forks — go right.

20. Bolton Notch State Park: Go find a cave. Hike around. Explore adjacent Freja and Risley Parks. Take the 918 bus and get off at the Bolton park and ride lot. The bike path signs will guide you toward the park. You can continue through on the Hop River Trail (which connects to another trail) all the way to Willimantic. The rail trail in the other direction will take you to Vernon and beyond.

21. Valley Falls: Hiking trails. There is a beach and a $1 entrance fee during summer months for those walking in (and I assume biking in is included in this category). Take the 917 Vernon Express to the Vernon Park and Ride on the Hartord Turnpike. You’ll walk by a few strip malls — including the one that has Rein’s Deli. After you stuff yourself with blintzes, keep walking until you see Pedal Power. This is where you can hook into the rail trail. One direction heads toward Rockville. The other through Vernon out to Bolton. Take the one that’s between the bike shop and the site of that giant concrete church that has since been demolished. Once you cross below I-84, the scenery gets more nature-y. It’s about three miles from the path at Hartford Turnpike to Valley Falls park, so maybe bring your bike. Especially if you think you might tack on another three miles and go to Bolton Notch State Park. Look out for historical markers along the way.

22. Globe Hollow: The Town of Manchester’s website lists lots of silly rules about using this park, namely that only Manchester residents, property owners, and municipal employees can use what they are calling a “passive recreation area.” There is a swimming pool, and as we know, swimming is for some mysterious reason the one time when people might ask for ID. But there are lots of hiking trails and a giant cairn. Take the 121 bus to Manchester Community College, then ride the Charter Oak Greenway, following signs to the park.

23. Connecticut Audubon Society Center: Take the 904S Glastonbury-South Glastonury Express to Main and Mallard. From here you have a three minute walk to the Aubudon Center. Behind the building is access to the trails in Earle Park.

24. Salmon River State Forest and Day Pond State Park: The forest alone is over 6000 acres, in Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester, East Haddam, and East Hampton. Picnic, hike, take a look at the Comstock Covered Bridge. Swimming is allowed at nearby Day Pond State Park, but there are no lifeguards there. Does the bus take you right to the entrance? Ha. No. You have to find another way in. That would be taking the 918 to Willimantic, hopping on your bike, and connecting to the Air Line State Park Trail. To get to SRSF, you’ll ride for about two hours (maybe faster, maybe slower…some of us are poky), and even before you reach the official park boundaries, you’ll be in nature. Hunting is permitted in the state forest.

25. Beaver Brook State Park: This is another bike-on-the-bus adventure. Take the 918 to Main Street in Willimantic. You’ll be able to pick up the Air Line State Park Trail north at Jackson and Unions Streets, just beyond Jillson Square. It’s about six miles to where the state park begins. On the way you will pass various swamps. Note that there are no marked trails at Beaver Brook State Park.  Hunting is permitted in this park.

26. Canfield-Meadow Woods Nature Preserve: Feel like exploring 300 acres in Essex and Deep River? Follow Peter Marteka‘s advice and use the map. This trip is going to be a little more fuss. The 921 bus will take you from Hartford to the Essex Park and Ride, but the walk from there to the preserve’s Yellow Trail entrance is a 15-minute walk on Route 154 — no sidewalks, not much shoulder in places. I’d suggest bringing your bicycle for this trip, if only to shorten the amount of time on that street.

TIPS

  • All CT Transit buses have front racks for bicycles; CTfastrak buses also let you roll them on.
  • Look at map and schedule in advance. Google directions does not always provide accurate bus numbers, so check with CTTransit. Some routes have dramatically reduced service on weekends. If you can, check out an area you’re unfamiliar with by using the satellite feature of an online map. These are not always up-to-date, but usually can give you an idea if you will be facing a sidewalkless traffic sewer or something equally unpleasant. You can sometimes see where bus stops are located or if there are any landmarks nearby that will let you know when to pull the cord. I mention this because I know some people have anxiety about trying new things.

  • Bring water. Not all sites have water fountains.
  • Bring snacks. It’s easy enough to hop off at any number of grocery stores and restaurants if coming back from West Hartford Reservoir, but that’s not the norm for every route.
  • Research in advance if hunting is allowed and when is hunting season

  • Hat, sunblock, reasonable footwear, commonsense, etc.
  • Watch out for poison ivy. If you think you’ve had a brush with it, wash with soap as soon as possible.
  • If the natural space is a marsh, bog, or swamp, you might go during fall, winter, or early spring instead of peak mosquito season
  • Check for ticks.

Finally, refer to CTMQ’s “Hike Smart, Hike Safe” guide. As always, you are responsible for your own safety…and I did not tell you to trespass.

[All photos in this post are of Westmoor Park, Bugbee Reservoir, West Hartford Reservoir, or Batterson Park during August 2019. Photos taken with camera, not phone — no animals had their personal space infringed on. ]