A Guide to National Parks in Connecticut

Connecticut is home to a section of the Appalachian Trail, Weir Farm, and Historic Coltsville National Historical Park.
Written by Sarah Gray
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Whether you’re looking for art, history, or natural wonders, Connecticut has a national park for everyone—a 48-mile section of the Appalachian Trail, the art-focused Weir Farm, and Industrial Era Coltsville all call Connecticut home.
Visitors may wonder if there are any national parks in
Connecticut
, but it will soon be home to America’s most recent addition to the national parks program—Coltsville. In addition, visitors to the Constitution State can learn about America’s most famous Impressionist painter at Weir Farm or hike a section of the Appalachian Trail.
To help you plan your visit to Connecticut’s national parks, car insurance comparison
super app
and licensed broker
Jerry
has done all the research for you. This guide contains everything you need to know about planning your trip, from what to do to when to visit. 

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Location: The trail office is located in
Harper’s Ferry
,
West Virginia
, but the trail itself winds through 14 states from Springer Mountain,
Georgia
to Katahdin,
Maine
.
Hours of operation: Generally, the trail is open year-round, though Northern sections are sometimes closed due to weather in the winter months.
Admission price: Free

What makes the Appalachian National Scenic Trail special?

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (The A.T.) is the world’s longest hiking-only footpath and includes about 48 miles of trail in the northwest corner of Connecticut. The A.T. hosts about two million visitors per year, a few of whom manage to hike the trail’s full 2,190 miles, which can take upwards of six months to complete.
The A.T. also has these distinctions:
  • A jewel in the “Triple Crown of Hiking” in the US, which includes The A.T., the
    Continental Divide
    , and the
    Pacific Crest Trail
    .
  • A nearly mile-long stretch of trail in CT along the Housatonic River was the first section of the trail built with universal accessibility in mind.
  • The trail is home to countless animal species, including black bears, elk, and even moose to the north. 

What to do on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Obviously, the main activity for the trail is hiking, but visitors can also camp along the trail. The northwest corner of Connecticut is home to 48 miles of the A.T. for your hiking adventures.
Sticking around for a while? The
Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Connecticut Chapter
is an 8000-member group that sponsors activities dedicated to trail maintenance all along the A.T. They also run programs and offer resources for hikers and outdoor adventurers in the area.

When to visit the Appalachian National Scenic Trail

The trail is open year-round, but the best time to hike any section is in the late spring and early fall. In Connecticut, the best time to hike the trail is the fall due to the myriad of leaf colors decorating its length.
Though the sheer expanse of the A.T. lends itself to ensuring people stay spread out, the trail can get a bit crowded in spring and fall, especially at access points that feature parking and various shelters and camping locations.
Pro Tip If you plan to hike with your dog, consider keeping it leashed to protect it from wildlife. 
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Weir Farm National Historical Park

Location: 735 Nod Hill Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897
Hours of operation: Weir Farm’s grounds are open from sunrise to sunset year-round, but buildings are only open from May 1 to November 1.
Admission price: Free

What makes Weir Farm National Historical Park special?

The former home of American Impressionist artist,
J. Alden Weir
, Weir Farm is a national park devoted to art and artists. The park preserves the classic New England property with original buildings dating from the 1700s and 1800s. Visitors can see many of the vistas and gardens that inspired some of Weir’s most popular paintings.

What to do at Weir Farm National Historical Park

From guided tours to workshops, Weir Farm offers something for the whole family:
  • Walks and workshops: In-season, Weir Farm offers a number of
    scheduled programs
    , such as wellness walks, pond hikes, informal art instruction, and painting workshops.
  • Self-guided tours: Visitors can explore the farm grounds on their own year-round.
  • View original art: In-season, visitors can view works created by three generations of artists who lived at the farm in the Weir House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio.
  • Become a Junior Ranger: Weir Farm offers activities for kids to explore and learn about the site. Completing one activity earns your kid a badge, and completing more than one earns them a special Junior Ranger patch. To account for Covid restrictions, Weir Farm even offers a
    Virtual Junior Ranger Program
    .
  • Residency: Artists can apply for
    month-long residencies
    during which they’ll live and work at the farm.
  • Art in the Park Annual Festival: Though canceled for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Weir Farm has historically held a
    weekend festival
    featuring demonstrations, activity stations, free-to-use art supplies, refreshments, music, and more.

When to visit Weir Farm National Historical Park

Though May has some of the best weather for visiting Weir Farm, the site hosts countless school groups during the spring, so if you hope to take part in Ranger-led tours and explore inside the historic buildings, plan your visit in the afternoon or on the weekend. October is another perfect time to visit and take in the fall foliage.
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Coltsville National Historical Park 

Location: 120 Huyshope Ave Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Hours of operation: Coltsville is a park-in-progress, so hours change regularly. Visitors should adhere to posted hours at the time of their visit.
Admission price: Free

What makes Coltsville National Historical Park special?

The park awaits official transfer of the Forge and Foundry to the National Park Service—once this is complete, Coltsville will become America’s newest National Park. Coltsville offers historic and architectural places of note including:
  • Coltsville Industrial City: Samuel Colt didn’t just build a production facility for his new-model revolver, he built a city for his workers. Complete with
    housing
    , recreational facilities,
    gardens
    ,
    parks
    , and farms, Colt’s goal in building the city was to ensure his workers’ happiness, which he knew would increase productivity.
  • The Blue Onion Dome: The blue dome atop the
    Colt Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company
    building has long been a unique fixture in Harford’s skyline. Inspired by Samuel Colt’s travels through Europe, the dome was originally topped by a bronze horse sculpture, which is now available to view at the
    Museum of Connecticut History
    in Hartford.
  • Church of the Good Shepherd: Built in the Gothic Revival style by Elizabeth Colt as a memorial to her husband, the
    Church of the Good Shepherd
    is a functional place of worship filled with symbolic stonework, such as revolvers, gun parts, and horses.

What to do in Coltsville National Historical Park

Since Coltsville is still a
developing park
, activities are limited. Once established, the park plans to host regularly scheduled activities during its normal visitor season from May to August. Here are some of the current options:
  • Self-guided tours: Visitors may take a self-guided walking tour using the
    Coltsville NHP App.
  • Ranger-led tours: The park is working to develop a schedule of
    ranger-led tours
    for the near future.

When to visit Coltsville National Historical Park

Since it’s not yet an established park, Coltsville doesn’t have a “peak season,” but, like so many national parks, the best time to visit will be during the late spring and early fall when the weather is ideal for outdoor walking.
Pro Tip Remember that Coltsville is not yet an established park, and many of its areas are still privately owned. Please adhere to posted signs designating areas open to tourism and those closed to visitors.

How to prepare to visit Connecticut’s national parks

It’s fun and easy to visit America’s national parks, but follow these tips from car insurance and travel expert Jerry to make your visit seamless:
  • Consider picking up an
    America the Beautiful nationwide pass
    if you’re planning to visit parks outside of Connecticut. All of Connecticut’s parks are free, and none currently offer a pass stamp, but the nationwide pass is still a great way to keep track of and save money on your national parks adventures throughout the country. 
  • Odds are, you’ll be driving to visit one of Connecticut’s national parks, so make sure you’ve got your vehicle
    up-to-date on maintenance
    and repairs.

Where to find affordable car insurance in Connecticut

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