20 Connecticut Hikes With Great Views

Looking for stunning views in Connecticut? As someone who has done a lot of hiking around the state, I’ve got you covered. This guide highlights some of the best hikes across the state where the payoff is panoramic vistas, scenic overlooks, and memorable moments. Whether you’re after a quick walk or a challenging climb, these trails deliver.

Lantern Hill

A view from atop a rocky cliff overlooks a small lake surrounded by dense green forest under a partly cloudy sky. A building sits near the lake’s edge. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

This is one of my favorite hikes with views in southeastern Connecticut. Lantern Hill offers a short, but steep, trail that leads to views of Lantern Hill Pond and Foxwoods Resort. On clear days, you can even see Long Island Sound in the distance!

Hubbard Park

Aerial view of a lake surrounded by bare trees and hills under a mostly cloudy sky, with a small wooded island near the center of the lake. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

In Hubbard Park, there are trails leading to East Peak, West Peak, and South Mountain. Hiking these trails is a great way to explore the park’s diverse terrain within the area known as the Hanging Hills of Meriden. The West peak is said to be the highest point within 25 miles of the Eastern United States coastline from Cadillac Mountain in Maine to Florida.

Gillette Castle State Park

A wide river bordered by dense green trees with small boats visible on the water under a clear sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

There are multiple trails to explore at Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam. The trails at this park were once the rail beds of William Gillette’s Seven Sisters Line. The most notable view in the park is overlooking the Connecticut River behind the castle. You can also hike down to the shore of the Connecticut River.

Talcott Mountain State Park

View from a rocky ledge overlooking a vast landscape of green trees, fields, and distant hills under a clear sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury is another great place to hike for some great views. There are various scenic viewpoints as you make your way up the mountain. At the top is Heublein Tower, a 165-foot tower which you can go to the top of for 360-degree views. It’s one of the best hikes near Hartford, Connecticut.

Devil’s Hopyard State Park

A person wearing a beanie, sunglasses, and hoodie sits cross-legged on a rock with a forested landscape in the background. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Devil’s Hopyard State Park is home to one of the best waterfalls in Connecticut, but it also has a ton of hiking trails to explore. You can hike to the Tablet Rock Vista to get some great panoramic views of the surrounding area. There are also plenty of trails along the Eightmile River.

Bluff Head Preserve

Aerial view of a small lake surrounded by trees and sparsely populated houses on a clear day. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Bluff Head Preserve is a relatively short hike to do in Guilford that offers some great views. Since it’s short, it can be quite steep, but it’s worth it for the views of Myer Huber Pond below. This trail can be a bit buggy in the warmer months.

Beseck Mountain

A round, tree-lined lake is surrounded by green hills and forest under a clear blue sky on a sunny day. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Beseck Mountain in Meriden offers beautiful views of Black Pond below. The best way to hike this trail is starting at Black Pond and taking the Black Pond Trail to the Mattabesett Trail. If you do the Beseck Mountain via Mattabesett Trail on AllTrails, it’s not a true parking area and it’s a bit of a longer hike.

Crescent Lake

A lake surrounded by dense green forest with distant hills and a partly cloudy sky in the background. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Hiking at Crescent Lake in Southington offers some great views. You can hike a loop around the lake and get to a vantage point that overlooks the lake as well. Most of this trail is through shaded forest and there are some steep sections with loose rocks. The views are worth the hike!

Haystack Mountain

A panoramic view of a rural valley with scattered farms, surrounded by rolling hills covered in autumn foliage. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Haystack Mountain in Norfolk is a relatively short hike that offers some great views. If you follow Haystack Mountain Rd all the way to the end to park, it’s just under a mile to hike to the stone observation tower and back. Climb to the top of the 34-foot tower for 360-degree views.

Mount Tom

Aerial view of a lake surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage and scattered houses. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Hiking to Mount Tom Tower in Washington, Connecticut is a great spot to enjoy scenic views in the Litchfield Hills. Take the Mount Tom Tower Trail to the tower and you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful views. My favorite view from the top of the tower is of Mount Tom Pond below.

Chauncey Peak

A river winds through a dense green forest under a clear blue sky, with distant hills visible on the horizon. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Chauncey Peak in Giuffrida Park in Meriden is a great hike with some great views. This is a loop trail that starts along the shore of the reservoir and then takes you up a steep incline to Chauncey Peak for beautiful views of the reservoir below.

Sweetcake Mountain

A large lake with several small islands and a shoreline lined with houses, surrounded by trees with early spring foliage under a clear sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Sweetcake Mountain in New Fairfield is a short hike that offers great views of Candlewood Lake. This hike is just under a mile long with 249 feet of elevation, so it is pretty steep. But, the views make the steep hike worth it!

Squantz Pond State Park

A calm lake bordered by hills with sparse trees, a grassy field with scattered rocks in the foreground, and houses visible along the distant shoreline. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield offers some beautiful water views as you hike. To really get some great views, I’d recommend doing the Squantz Pond and Pootatuck State Forest White, Blue, Yellow Trails on AllTrails. It’s a bit of a longer hike, but you’ll get great views of Squantz Pond.

Mary Moore Preserve

A red barn with a silo sits among trees with autumn foliage, set against a backdrop of forested hills and cloudy skies.

Mary Moore Preserve in Sharon offers beautiful views of rolling hills in the northwestern part of the state. This trail has farm views, water views, and sometimes you’ll even see cows during your hike. It offers great views year-round.

Sleeping Giant State Park

A rocky overlook with some graffiti, looking out over a vast forested landscape under a partly cloudy sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden has a large network of trails to explore for various skill levels. Many people like to hike up to Sleeping Giant Castle, but there are a various viewpoints to discover throughout the park, including one that overlooks Quinnipiac University.

East Rock

A person stands on a rocky cliff edge overlooking a city skyline and dense green forest under a cloudy sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

East Rock Park in New Haven has a ton of trails to explore. There are multiple peaks you can hike to within the park. There’s a 5-mile loop you can take to really see most of the viewpoints in the park. You can also just hike to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, which has panoramic views of New Haven and Long Island Sound.

Black Rock State Park

Aerial view of a small rural town with open fields, scattered houses, and tree-covered hills under a clear sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Black Rock State Park in Watertown has a ton of trails to explore. There are a couple different lookouts you can hike to in the park. There are some trails that connect to Mattatuck State Forest if you’re looking to do a longer hike.

Old Furnace State Park

View of a forest with autumn foliage in shades of green, yellow, and red, surrounding a calm reflective lake under a partly cloudy sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Old Furnace State Park in Danielson is a popular hiking area in northeastern Connecticut. The most popular trail is a loop trail to Ross’s Cliff, which offers beautiful views of Furnace Pond below. You’ll also hike by Lower Ross Pond as well during that hike.

Lovers Leap State Park

A wide river curves through a forested landscape with autumn-colored trees and a sandy riverbank exposed in the center. The sky is clear and blue. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford offers some beautiful views of the Housatonic River. There is a short loop you can take that’s just over a mile to enjoy various viewpoints in the park. There’s also a historic wrought-iron lenticular truss bridge you can see in the park.

Machimoodus State Park

View of a lake surrounded by trees with autumn foliage, under a clear blue sky, seen from a wooded hillside. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Machimoodus State Park in Moodus offers great river views. From this park, you can see the Salmon River. Mount Tom in the park offers a nice vantage point for viewing the river.