2024 Year in Exploration

    Other Years: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025

    2024 Stats

    I’m at 29.5% of the state explored, that’s a five percent increase over last year. 581 of 1,972.

    I explored 155 locations this year, 91 new to me and 64 I’d been before. Added 116 locations to the map. If I sustained this level for the next 11 years I’d “finish” the site. Anybody want to pay me to do it faster?

    Recommended Hikes of the Year

    Blog Summaries

      • Completing Tolland County – Reflections on my second county completion
      • Finishing the NET – The New England Trail deserves some time in the spotlight and recognition akin to the Appalachian Trail
      • The Great Recession of 2024 – I broke the site to make it stronger and tested out a new look for the site
      • Ode to Trail Designers – Wrote a poem on gratitude for those who care for the trails, the trials of maintenance, and beauty and benefit thanks to those who do

    Hiking

    January
    February
    March
    • Fenton Ruby Park – Hiked through a couple of the trails, really enjoyed the adirondack chairs on the first sunny day in a long time
    • Blue Flag Meadow – Rehiked this loop after remembering Teale doesn’t allow dogs
    • Tower Hill Preserve – First hike since making the movie last year, the waterfall was flowing good
    • Bradley Buchanan Woods – Rains and beaver activity have flooded key trails here
    • Torrey Preserve – First hike since my full tour of the JT properties, still a simple short loop off the Nipmuck
    • Banningwood Preserve – Well selected trail loop with history, geology and viewpoints
    • Honey Hill Preserve – Short woods loop through glacial till
    • Saunders Preserve – Surprised at how well established these new trails are
    • River to Ridgetop North – Two visits to this property, long hike options, overlooks galore
    • Natchaug State Forest – Rehiked the CCC loop and loved it, they’ve expanded/rerouted the trail since my last hike
    • Hemphill Woods – First hike here in about 7 years, lots of freshly fallen trees and wet trail but a nice loop hike
    April
    • Cockaponset State Forest – Hiked the length of the blue blaze Cockaponset Trail and then worked back on the rest of the trails
    • Raymond Brook Preserve – Hiked in from a different parking area for a change of pace
    • Woodtick Recreation Area – Rehiked this popular flat walking path around Scoville Reservoir
    • Whitestone Cliffs Trail – This hike as everything you could want overlook, waterfall, and great hiking in one short loop
    • Five Mile Rock – Short hike to this out of the way historical landmark
    • Merrow Preserve – Figure eight double loop that doesn’t see much hiking but gets down to Lake Hayward Brook
    • Urbanik Reserve – Hiked the double loop and sat in the adirondack chairs next to the pond on a beautiful spring day
    • Lena Reserve – First hike and was surprised to find newly expanded green and purple trails
    May
    • Nayantaquit Trail – First hike here in a couple years, this section of the Nehantic State Forest is being actively managed so there were a few large clear cuts slightly disrupting the trail
    • Potter Meadow – This hike was foiled by flooding in both directions on this short loop trail
    • Wolf Rock – This section of the Nipmuck trail has a new slight reroute from eroded old wood steps to well placed stone steps
    • Mahoney Pond – Hiked this short trail and found fresh forest management before taking another crack at searching for Devil’s Den
    • Lillinonah Trail – First hike of this rugged blue blaze loop, great rock features and surprisingly challenging
    • Pootatuck State Forest – Hiked out the fantastic overlook and then down into Squantz Pond State Park to see the impressive Council Rock
    June
    • Nipmuck: Boston Hollow – Had some elements added that make it feel like someone’s grief trail? Still love the rugged loop
    • Hollister Preserve – Last hiked when I made the movie, still a gem of an overlook
    • Sheep Farm – First hike, did the shorter loop here and was surprised to find a waterfall
    • Atkinson Preserve – First hike of the trails here and branched out into Nathan Lester to see the remains of the Ledyard Oak
    • Stickney Hill – Just outside the heart of Rockville, this trail seems like it should be popular with locals but isn’t
    • Adams Mill Trail – Despite seeing some complaints of a vaguely sketchy area, I thought this was a fantastic hike and have high praise for the Hockanum River volunteers who built this trail
    • New State Trail – First hike, continued explorations of the varied Hockanum Trail, this one feels unique but I’m not sure why
    July
    August
      • Bailey’s Ravine – I’ll mention every time how no two hikes have ever been the same here
      • Sprague Land Preserve – Revisited green and blue for an afternoon hike
      • Devils’ Hopyard – Explored the red trail for the first time despite the rain
      • Hayward Reserve – A newish lasso loop trail that’s just darn pleasant
      • Dorwart Preserve – Newfound enjoyment on this trail, much better than I remember
      • Peoples State Forest – Hit Indian Shelter caves for Sky’s the Limit and then over to the Lighthouse and lookout, fantastic hiking abounds here
      • Massacoe: Great Pond – First hike, explored the popular loop here for Sky’s the Limit, interesting to see all the birds in the pond
      • Laidlaw Recreation Area – First hike, simple short town park loop, that recently received some TLC
      • Weigold and Auperin and Tobiassen Forest – W & A were new to me but Tobiassen was last hiked eight years ago, loved the mossy rock features
      • Chenes Roches Preserve – My third Joshua’s trust property that I hadn’t hiked since 2016, explored the new dense mountain laurel ridge trail
    September

      • Couch Preserve and Williams Preserve – First hike here since Williams opened in 2018, trails have become established, a new blue trail has been added, and the viewpoint at the river has been cleared

    October
    November
    December

    Boating/Fishing

      • Halls Pond

    Disc Golf

      • Davis Forest
      • Panthorn Park
      • Columbia Rec Park
      • Ecker Hill
      • Preston Ridge Vineyard
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    Hi, I’m Matt.

    I’m building ExploreCT to be the guide for all your outdoor adventures. All the trails, views, and waterways this great state has to offer.

    Now get out and explore!

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