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New Canaan, Connecticut

Looking for the best hiking in New Canaan? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around New Canaan. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near New Canaan

  • Washington, Connecticut

    Hike Meeker Trail

    3.3 mi / 639 ft gain
    Meeker Trail is a 3.3 mile out and back hike that takes you by a lake located near New Preston, Connecticut.
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  • Monroe, New York

    Hike the Jessup/Highlands/Long Path Trails

    7.8 mi / 500 ft gain
    This trails starts at a small park in Woodbury called Gonzaga Park.  Closed from mid-November to April, you are still able to park just outside the gate if that is the time of year you are hiking.  Three different trail names share this path.  The Jessup trail starts/end at Gonzaga Park and trave...
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  • New York, New York

    High Line

    4.6
    1.47 mi / 26 ft gain
    Built on a historic freight rail line and perched above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side, the High Line is a public park that features a green-lined walkway. Park hours depend on the season, although it never opens before 7am, so best to go for sunset. Although you may have some company on wa...
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  • Washington, Connecticut

    Hike the Mount Tom Tower Trail

    1.3 mi / 337 ft gain
    Starting from the parking lot of Mt. Tom State Park, hop onto the Tower Trail (yellow trail) which leads more into the woods. During winter time, the trail may be slippery, please use your best judgement and always know your limits. Gaining about 300 feet in total elevation in approximately 1 mil...
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  • Tuxedo Park, New York

    Hike to the Sterling Ridge Fire Tower

    5.0
    8.5 mi
    Start out by turning right when you walk out of the visitor center onto Sterling Lake Loop (Blue Blazes). The visitor center is worth going in as they have a full diorama of the park with LED light to show trail routes. About .3 miles into the hike you will cross over a small bridge with a waterf...
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  • New York, New York

    Brooklyn Bridge Walk

    5.0
    2.4 mi / 26 ft gain
    Brooklyn Bridge Walk is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near New York City, New York.
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  • Brooklyn, New York

    Brooklyn Bridge Walk via Brooklyn

    4.7
    1.12 mi / 0 ft gain
    Brooklyn Bridge Walk via Brooklyn is a point-to-point trail that takes you past scenic surroundings located near New York City, New York.
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  • Patchogue, New York

    Fire Island's Watch Hill

    4.0
    2 mi
    If departing from NYC, catch the early LIRR train from Penn Station (or Atlantic Terminal) towards Patchogue. You may have to transfer at both Jamaica & Babylon, but it's an easy hop across the platform. Trip will take approximately an hour and a half and cost around $15, Off Peak, each way. ...
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  • Brooklyn, New York

    Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

    5.0
    1.34 mi / 75 ft gain
    Brooklyn Botanical Gardens is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near New York City, New York.
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  • Dover Plains, New York

    Hike Dover's Stone Church

    4.5
    Dover Stone Church has been a beautiful and popular destination in the Hudson Valley for some time, and recently the park purchased a new parcel of land and added three trails through the nearby woods. But the gem of the park is, and always will be, the impressive cave with the creek and waterfal...
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  • Brooklyn, New York

    Prospect Park Loop

    4.0
    3.65 mi / 223 ft gain
    There are multiple places to enter Prospect Park. If you're looking for the main entrance to Prospect Park, it faces the stunning Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch in Grand Army Plaza. It is adjacent to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the flagship Brooklyn Public Library, and the Brooklyn Museum. As you...
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  • Cedar Grove, New Jersey

    Hike at Mills Reservation

    4.7
    2 mi / 200 ft gain
    Mills Reservation is over 150 acres of wooded area located off of Normal Ave. near the Cedar Grove reservoir. Parking space is limited due to the small size but there is another hidden lot towards the back if you make a right out of the parking lot and then the first right turn onto Highland Ave....
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  • Kent, Connecticut

    Hike the Ridge Loop Trail, Macedonia Brook SP

    3.0
    For a quick weekend trip from Newport, RI, Macedonia Brook State Park had a lot to offer for its size. In three or four hours, with lunch, you can hike the 6.4 mile ridge trail and get some fresh air without having to hike on too busy of trails. The elevation gain is only around 700 ft, however, ...
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  • West Milford, New Jersey

    Hike Bearfort Mountain

    5.0
    5.06 mi / 1007 ft gain
    Bearfort Mountain is a great weekend morning hike that borders NJ and NY. Parking can be tricky as the entrance to the lot looks like it is Greenwood Lake Marina's boat storage area. Once parked, find the trail entrance at the top of the little hill and continue to the blue on white marked trail....
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  • Kent, Connecticut

    Explore Kent Falls

    5.0
    0.75 mi / 250 ft gain
    Every now and then you need a day to rest those sore muscle from all your recent adventures. The only issue is, you don't want to sit around inside, you want to be outside. Insert a trip to Kent Fall State Park. The perfect rest adventure day.Located 1 hour and 45 minutes north of New York City i...
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  • Meriden, Connecticut

    Hike the Metacomet, Blue, and Yellow Loop

    5.0
    4.5 mi / 976 ft gain
    Start from the Castle Craig road entrance. Walk until you're greeted by a beautiful reservoir. You'll notice the strange but beautiful Mine Island in the middle of all this. You'll also notice markers for White Trails and Yellow Trails. The White Trail is an easier/wider trail. The Yellow Trail C...
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