Take a Hike This Weekend

National Trails Day is Saturday and what better way to celebrate than by lacing up a pair of hiking boots and hitting one of the areas many trails.

The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, which is located in Rockfall, has coordinated nearly 200 events  for CT Trails Day. The two day event (Saturday and Sunday) will cover over 500 miles of trails across Connecticut.

CT Trails Day will provide hikers the opportunity to discover new places and experience the outdoors with family, friends, and neighbors.

Here's how you can participate locally:

East Hampton

Hike: Meshomasic State Forest.

How to get there: At the communter lot at junction of routes 66 and 16. Carpool from there.

When: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Level: Four-mile loop to top of Meshomasic Mountain. Pass by "The Vortex," "The Man in the Tree," and the site of the 1960s plane crash.

Sponsor: Meshomasic Hiking Club. Advance registration recommended. Call, Gary Sanborn, 860-267-2209.

East Hampton, Hebron, Colchester

Hike: Sixth annual Tour de Trail at Airline State Park Trail.

How to get there: Meet at Route 85 Lumber, 522 Church St., Amston.

When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon.

Level: Walk, jog, bike or ride a horse on 10-mile stretch that covers all three towns. Activities held along the trail. Visit stations and receive free t-shirt.

Sponsor: Hebron Parks and Recreation. Advance registration not required.

Portland

Hike: Palmer-Taylor Preserve.

How to get there: Meet at the trailhead on Middle Haddam Road, one mile west of Cobalt center.

When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Level: Take a hike through this 80-acre preserve. Five-mile loop includes a visit to the tallest waterfall in East Hampton and Portland, a historic mill site foundation and more.

Sponsor: Middlesex Land Trust and Meshomasic Hiking Club. Advance registration is not required.

Middlefield/Middletown

Hike: Wadsworth Falls State Park

How to get there: Meet at the main entrance to the park along Route 157 in Middletown. Parking fees are waived.

When: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Level: 1.5 to 2 mile hike of easy trails.

Sponsor: Rockfall Foundation and Everyone Outside. To pre-register call the Rockfall Foundation at 860-347-0340 or email info@rockfallfoundation.org. You can also contact Lucy Meigs, Everyone Outside naturalist, at 860-395-7771 or email lucy@everyoneoutside.org.

Killingworth

Hike: Chatfield Trail.

How to get there: Meet at the trailhead on the south side of Route 80 (.3 miles west of Chatfield Hollow State Park.

When: Saturday, 10-4:40 p.m.

Level: 8.6 mile hike along a Blue Blazed trail. Participants will be asked to give back by performing some light maintenance along the way. Bring a lunch. 

Sponsor: North Cove Outfitters Inc. Pre-registration is required. Contact John Sahadi at jsahadi@northcove.com.