River Highlands State Park

My second visit was in the midst of my speed run of the 2019 Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge locations (movie link).  I didn’t have enough time to get to the next location before sunset so I stopped for a quick hike here.

From the park entrance I hiked down the white trail connected to the red and then to the yellow.  I had planned a route at the trailhead kiosk, but the trails were hard to navigate once I started hiking.  I would recommend bringing a trail map.  Once I made it there the yellow trail was amazing a hushed pine ravine snaking back and forth a stream as it heads towards the Connecticut River.  Continuing down it would have brought me back to the campsite I stayed at, but instead I climbed up an unblazed trail to the overlook.

Unfortunately, the overlook is only a narrow vista of the river below.  I was there in late fall which meant I was able to see a bit more, but was left underwhelmed.  There is a weathered bench and an even more weathered info kiosk that is pretty outdated.  It was close to sunset so I went back up the yellow trail taking the green blazes back to the parking lot.

I look forward to a return visit and a true exploration of the park and perhaps I’ll be able to hear the Devil’s Blowhole…