Hedgehog Trail - West Simsbury, Connecticut

 

As a "middle" child of four, and now a parent myself, I really understand how time is such a limited resource in the game of parenting. And also because of it, I'm overly aware of splitting my time, of making my two kids feel loved and seen and equal in my time and resources. I hope they look back at their equally completed baby books, email accounts with long winded letters to them both, and matching photos of solo adventures with mom and deeply feel that (at the cost of more time and energy than we have or feel most days). 

And so, on a beautiful fall day while Whitney was in school when I should have been finishing up work or completing 47 other tasks on my to do list, I took Piper on a fun solo adventure, very similar to the one I did with Whitney almost exactly two years ago.

Hedgehog Trail steps down on the red trail

Hedgehog Trail Vista

Hedgehog Trail along the blue trail

Two years ago almost to the week, I packed up Whitney and the dogs and headed to the northwest corner of Connecticut to enjoy the foliage on a beautiful fall day in New England. This year, I dropped Whitney off at school and instead, took Piper and the dogs on the same but different type of adventure. My planning wasn't as great but in the daycare parking lot, I googled "Best Fall Hikes in Connecticut" and quickly found my friend Kristen's guide which included the Hedgehog Trail in Simsbury. I saw a few photos and the mileage and started driving north to the insanely quaint town of Simsbury. It was a Thursday in October, a warm sunny day before a weekend of rain, the 8th weekend in a row I believe. The small parking lot had plenty of room and I was happy to see just a few cars in the parking lot which is the sure sign of a quiet trail and having the woods to almost yourself. Adventures with a baby and two dogs requires some patience and packing and I loaded up a diaper, change of clothes, a bottle, dog treats, water, a coffee, and a snack for me. With a 20+ pound pack, I knew I was in for a workout as I tackled the almost 5 mile loop with some beautiful views along the way. 

Osprey Poco Plus hiking pack

I decided to travel the loop in a counter clockwise direction, starting with the red trail, stopping at the viewpoint, making a quick detour to the falls before continuing on my loop which returned on the blue trail. I saw one other couple as I made my way around and while the vista was lovely, the rest of the trail is just as nice. You make your way through the woods, crossing over several wooden bridges as the golden leaves fall all around you. The overlook area is pretty small, but offers sweeping view of the valley below, decorated in golden, orange and red hues in the month of October. After a quick break, I continued on the trail and made the steep downhill climb to the waterfall before tracing my steps back to the bridge. While the waterfall must be impressive in the spring, it isn't much of a waterfall in the other seasons. 

When I stepped foot onto the blue trail, I really felt like I was back in the quiet trails of northern Vermont. This section of the woods is quiet and tranquil and insanely scenic as you make your way back to the trailhead with the scenic Simsbury reservoir to your right.

Sleeping in the Osprey Poco Plus carrier

Hedgehog Trail Blue Trail

Cathles Trail Falls

Bridge on the Hedgehog Trail

Need to Know

Distance: 4.75 miles with a stop over to the waterfall

Elevation: about 800 feet gained

Time: 2.5 hours with breaks/stops

Rating: Moderate due to length and elevation

Route: Red Trail up to the scenic overlook. Continue on red, cross over the bridge, and return the loop on blue. The trail is well marked and relatively easy to follow

Parking: Small lot off Westledge Road (Route 309). You can punch in hedgehog trail on google maps and it should take you here -  it comes up as West Mountain Trail on google maps as well. 

Dogs: Allowed on-leash

Kids: Older kids due to the distance and elevation. Kid-in-pack friendly. 

Other: The land owned and protected by the Simsbury Land Trust and passes by The Master's School. Be respectful and leave no trace.

Map: This link takes to you a map by the Simsbury Land Trust

https://simsburylandtrust.org/slt/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/map_westmt_070816.pdf

This loop is incredibly scenic with an overlook, detour to a waterfall, several bridges, a stream, and a reservoir. While the overlook is nice, I really loved the blue trail in the fall. It was quiet during the week but I'm sure it's a popular spot on the weekends. I highly recommend this trail for anyone up for a 5 mile hike with some elevation. It's a gorgeous way to explore the beautiful state of Connecticut, especially in the fall. A core memory hiking with my daughter, and one I can't wait to tell her about one day. For now, I'll be sending her an email with all of these photos and the details of just how much I love her. 

Gear

• Looking for a hiking carrier? Read my review of the Osprey Poco Plus here. I've used it for both kids now and love it - I even have a video showing you the ins and outs of this pack. 

Nearby

• If you are looking for more fall fun in the area, Early Bird On The Trail has some local recommendations including Tulmeadow Farm for pumpkins and farm-made ice cream or Flamig Farm for hayrides and more. She hiked this at sunrise and the east facing overlooks make this a great choice for the early birds. 
• Another great hike (and state park) in the area is Heublein Tower/Talcott Mountain. This is also a great fall hike. Its about 5 miles/10 minutes away.