Valley Falls Park
Valley Falls Park, Valley Falls Road, Vernon, CT, USA
Dawn-dusk
$
beach, hikes
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Enjoy a swim-hike combo at Valley Falls Park!
With miles of trails and a nice beach area, this is a great place for a jaunt year-round, but especially in the summer.
Our favorite quick trail here is Valley Falls Lookout Trail Loop. At 1.3 miles, this is a great one if you’re short on time or are traveling with little ones. There are a couple of short, steep sections but most of the trail is a gentle grade as it travels into the Andrew Kenneth Webster Preserve. The summit leads to an east-facing overlook that would be a lovely place to catch the sunrise. Please watch your little ones near the cliff edges! Plenty of other trails are running through the area to lengthen your hike if 1.3 miles is not enough. A quick jaunt around the pond is an option if you’re not looking for any elevation gain. Because of the numerous trails that criss-cross through Valley Falls Park, we do recommend using an app such as AllTrails to help you stay on track.
When you’re done hiking, hop down to the beach so the kids can splash around. There is ample sand with which to build castles, and the pond is a great place to look for frogs.
The Hop River State Park Trail, a 20.6-mile former railroad-turned-trail (rails to trail) runs through the park. The trail connects the towns of Manchester, Bolton, Vernon, Coventry and Andover. Bring your bikes and take the trail south to Bolton Notch State Park, which is another great place for a short hike with great views.