East Haddam

If you’re looking for the best hiking trails in East Haddam this is the complete guide to all the long trails, waterfalls, and history it has to offer.

East Haddam has 29 hiking areas for 61 miles of trails.

• 2019 Plan of Conservation and Development
• East Haddam Conservation Commission
• Historical Society
• CTMQ’s Guide to East Haddam

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Town Parks

• Burnham Brook Preserve –★★– 2.2 miles – A loop hike through varied terrain that feels longer than it is, often overgrown
• Chapal Farm Preserve –★★– 1.3 miles – The eastern terminus of the Goodwin Trail with brook views and a paved path
• Davison Memorial Walking Park (Cave Hill) –★★– 0.77 miles – A short hike with a nice overlook and rocky ledges above Cave Hill.
• Dean Easement –★★– 2.25 miles – Mostly wide loop hike with connections to Hatch Lot
• Harris Reserve –★★– 3 miles – Bit of a wet woods hike with loop options, I missed the vista
• The Hatch Lot –★★– 5 miles – Great varied loop trails include an overlook, rolling terrain, rocky hollows, and mossy marshes with connections to Dean Easement
• Lena Reserve –★★– 4 miles – Newly expanded trails make full use of the property in a wide forest loop
• Nichols Field –★★– 2.15 miles – Hiking trails that intermix with a popular disc golf course
• Roaring Brook Reserve –★★– 1.6 miles – A double lasso loop offers brook views, old mill sites, and many black birches
• Rose Farm Preserve – Unexplored
• Sabine Reserve –★★– 2.6 miles – An trail system branching off an old road passes old foundations and a view of the Moodus Reservoir
• Shugrue Farm Reserve –★★– 2.2 miles – Trails climb to a pine filled summit loop
• Urbanik Reserve –★★– 1.2 miles – Inner and outer loops with a man-made pond view and nice wooded hike

Land Trust

• East Haddam Land Trust
  • Ayers Preserve – Unexplored
  • Ballahack Preserve – Unexplored
  • Duncan Preserve –★★– 1 mile – Packed into a short loop are the site of the town’s first church, a quarry, and views of the Connecticut River
  • Golet Farm Preserve – Unexplored
  • Hammond Mill Preserve – Unexplored
  • Hidden Valley Farm Preserve – Unexplored
  • Miller Farm Preserve –★★– 1.5 miles – A simple loop through now wooded old farm fields
  • Olde Field Preserve – Unexplored
  • PeGus’s Path Preserve –★★– 0.8 miles – Steep climbs along a wooded hill that can loop with a quiet dirt road walk
  • Sheepskin Hollow Preserve –★★★– 3 miles – Loop options with views of a small waterfall and pond
  • William Jezek Memorial Preserve –★★– 0.6 miles – Short out and backs to a view of the Moodus Reservoir

State Parks / Forest

• Babcock Pond WMA –★– 4 miles – Water access, hunting access, but not much for enjoyable hiking
• Brainard Homestead State Park –★– No trails – Open fields and old homestead foundations
• Devil’s Hopyard State Park –★★★★– 8.5 miles – A gem of the state with Chapman Falls, a covered bridge, an overlook, and several trail options
• Gillette Castle State Park –★★★★★– 2 miles – A must-see historical and architectural delight and trails on an small private railway
• Machimoodus State Park –★★– 4 miles – Popular easy walk to a view of the Salmon River
• Sunrise State Park –★★– 2 miles – A former resort, old buildings (or where they once stood) cover much of the park. And a boat launch to the Salmon River

Blue Blaze

• N/A

The Rest

• Audubon
  • Harlo N. Haagenson Preserve – Unexplored
• The Nature Conservancy
  • Chapman Pond Preserve –★★★– 3 miles – A deep woods loop with a Connecticut River campsite at the far end
• Richard H. Goodwin Trail –★★★– 13 miles – The eastern terminus of this long trail runs through the eastern woods

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Coming soon!

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• Moodus Mud Coffee

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East Haddam is the 55th oldest town in the state incorporated as East Haddam (“Haddam East Society”) in May 1734 coming from the native american name, “Macki-moodus”.

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Now go out and hike East Haddam, CT!