The Cornwall area has miles of scenic trails to discover and explore!

Top rated local hikes

Pine Knob Loop Trail

The Pine Knob Loop Trail is located in Housatonic Meadows State Park and Housatonic State Forest on the west side of the Housatonic River, north of Cornwall Bridge. A short and challenging trail, it coincides with the Appalachian Trail for a portion of its length. Hikers will enjoy beautiful vistas over the river valley. Pine Knob via Appalachian Trail Loop is a 2.6 mile well trafficked loop trail. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips and is best used from April until December.

Appalachian Trail

The A.T. passes through pristine Connecticut hardwood forests and what was once called the “Arsenal of the Revolution.” Today hikers can see historic remnants of old charcoal pits from the Trail.

Cornwall Bridge to Kent Via the river

Housatonic River via Appalachian Trail is a 10.4 mile out and back trail located near Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, bird watching, and backpacking.

West Cornwall To Falls Village

Falls Village to West Cornwall Road is a 18.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back section of the Appalachian Trail located near Cornwall, Connecticut that features a river and has some challenging climbs.

Mohawk Blue Blazed Trail

The Mohawk Trail is a CFPA Blue Blazed Trail that spans 30 miles between two points on the Appalachian Trail. Its route is the former route of the Appalachian Trail before the AT was rerouted West of The Housatonic River. The Mohawk is made up of 6 short sections. It is joined by The Mattatuck Trail in Mohawk Mountain State Park. One of its key features is Dean Ravine – a deep ravine with waterfalls and a cascading brook. It also climbs several minor summits in the Southern Berkshires.
Cathedral Pines CCT

Cathedral Pines

Before 1989, Cathedral Pines was one of the most spectacular old growth pine forests in the Northeast. Early preservationists, who valued the beauty of the forest over the monetary value of timber, protected the pines from logging. Cathedral Pines was a popular tourist attraction by the late 1800s and was featured on numerous postcards in the early 1900s. Today the Mohawk Blue Blazed Trail goes through the pines and is a popular trailhead and place to visit in Cornwall.

Cathedral Pines to Summit of Mohawk

Cathedral Pines and Mohawk Mountain Trail is a 5.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near West Cornwall, Connecticut that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate.

Trinity Riverside Trail

A beautiful walk for hikers of all abilities along a remote stretch of the Housatonic River south of the Cornwall Covered Bridge. The out-and-back trail is 1.4 miles one way, for a total of 2.8 miles. You can access by driving to the end of lower river road in West Cornwall past the Trinity Retreat Center, you will come to parking area with a trailhead.

Mattatuck Trail

The Mattatuck Trail is an 42.2-mile (67.9 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail that winds through Litchfield County and New Haven County in Western Connecticut.

Hardscrabble Road to Mohawk Pond

Hardscrabble Road to Mohawk Pond is a 13.3 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and bird watching and is best used from March until October.

Gold’s Pines

Connecticut version of the west’s giant redwood forests and home to the 6 tallest trees in the state including the General Sedgwick, a 155 foot Eastern White Pine tree. Gold’s Pines is one of the oldest pine groves in the state and the trailhead next to the Little Guild of St. Francis provides access to both the pine grove and trails to neighboring preserves to the summints of the Cobble (1263 ft) and Green Mountain (1280 ft).

Historical Society Harford Current Article

Three Cornwall Preserves

Mohawk Mountain

Hardscrabble Road to Mohawk Pond is a 13.3 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and bird watching and is best used from March until October.

Mohawk Mountain via Mohawk Trail

5.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Cornwall, Connecticut that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.

Mohawk Mountain and the Pinnacle via Mohawk Pond

Mohawk Mountain and the Pinnacle via Mohawk Pond. 4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Litchfield, Connecticut that features a lake and is rated as moderate.

Want to See More?

The CCT is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of our town’s natural assets. You can visit their website to learn more about other nature preserves and protected lands to explore.

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