Badlands 2012

The Badlands National Park is just 1.5 hours from Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.  This is just one brief clip from our road trip last year.  If we had more time we definitely would have hiked through the park.  It is amazing with 244,000 acres!

Tarrywile Park, Danbury, CT 2012

Tarrywile Park in Danbury, CT is now the closest place for us to hike.  Tarrywile has several different trails to choose from, and varied scenery.  There are hay fields, ponds, forests, and a castle.  By the main entrance is the Tarrywile Mansion, the Children's Garden, and the Red Barn Environmental Center.

















The trails that go beyond the Parks Pond are generally moderate.  Some sections of the yellow trail, which branches off the blue trail, are more difficult due to an incline in elevation.  Along the yellow trail is the Mootry Peak Lookout, with a view of Danbury.  The orange trail, that crosses over Brushy Hill Road, is difficult as well.  Sections are a bit rocky and climb in elevation.  This section is referred to as the Old Ski Slope on the map.  We hiked this section back in September 2012.  During this fall season the hayfield paths were littered with grasshoppers.  We were practically under attack!  We kept getting hit in the legs in the chest...one even hit my sunglasses!  It was a beautiful fall day.  On the same side of the park with the orange trail you will find Hearthstone Castle. Hopefully one day this castle will be restored to its original beauty.

Lovers Leap - Nov 2012

Time to play a little catch up with the blog.  Back in November 2012 we went for a hike at Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford, CT.  It is not a large park with 140 acres, but the trails on either side of the Housatonic River take about an hour and a half to two hours.  Our first visit to the park, we crossed over the beautiful, red Falls Bridge to hike the Lovers Leap Trail.  There is a fantastic view from the lookout point of the trail. You can stand on the rock and gaze out over the Housatonic River.  This trail connects to the Tea House Trail, the Castle Loop, and the Hurd Estate Trails.  On these trails you will find the remains of structures that once marked the land.  There is a great deal of history that you can learn about this area.  Indians once lived in this very location hundreds of years ago.  This hike was relatively easy.  A nice way to enjoy the outdoors if you are short on time.