Get Ready for Fall Foliage in Litchfield

The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) just released its Connecticut fall foliage map predicting peak autumn colors will begin sweeping across Litchfield Oct. 3 and remain vibrant through around Oct. 23.

Click here to view foliage map

Litchfield is an autumn haven—partly because there’s so much more to enhance the experience, like coffee, tea & baked goods, outdoor dining, shopping, and history, and partly because our wealth of preserved lands and hiking trails provide so many terrific opportunities to appreciate the autumn leaves.

Here are just a few of our favorite places for fall foliage immersion:

• From a home base at The White Memorial Conservation Center, don’t miss these stops:
1. The viewing platform on Apple Hill, which offers a panoramic view of Bantam Lake and the canopy of foliage stretching toward New York.
2. The Plunge Pool overlook (shown here) at Five Ponds. Photos fail to reflect the sense of drama you feel in standing high above the pond. (We also love the intimacy of the loop around Heron Pond.)
3. The popular Boardwalk at White Memorial trail. No explanation necessary.
4. Point Folly on Bantam Lake. Walk just before sunset and you may see the foliage across the lake to the east brilliantly lit up in the last light, and a dramatic sunset to the west.
Trail maps: https://whitememorialcc.org/trail-maps/

• Topsmead State Forest: In addition to walking the meadow paths and woodland trails, enjoy a tour of Edith Morton Chase’s historic Tudor-style cottage. (2nd and 4th weekends through Columbus Day weekend; https://www.friendsoftopsmead.org)

• Discover the Nancy Danaher Trail on the Stillman-Danaher Preserve of the Litchfield Land Trust. The heavily-wooded landscape includes “a broad high plateau, a valley with a double stream crossing, striking rock outcrops, stone walls and an old woods road.” The hike is about 2 miles and the preserve is off Route 118 just 5 or so minutes from the Green. (https://www.litchfieldlandtrust.org/…/stillman-danaher…)

• Hike up to the Mt. Tom State Park and Tower for panoramic 360-degree views. https://portal.ct.gov/…/Stat…/Parks/Mount-Tom-State-Park

Before and after your foliage excursion, refuel at any of our popular bakeries and cafes, break for lunch and shopping, and stay for dinner. (Leave a comment or message us if you need recommendations.)

In the center of town, also make sure to visit the Litchfield Historical Society (free admission), and from October 16 to 31 don’t miss the display of scarecrows in the meadow behind the historic Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School, the nation’s first law school.