Notes: Parked in a small lot at the north end of Toomey Rd. right at the trail head.
A lovely hike up a mountain and back. Stopped for a lovely lunch at the top of the ski slope then continued to the summit. One downside, there is a road that goes to the summit so our peaceful hike was occasionally interrupted by loud motorcycles or car stereos as we neared the top. Even so, it was a beautiful hike, highly recommended for a warm fall day as the leaves start to change.
Notes:There are a few parking spaces along the road by the trail-head which is right at the CT/MA border. A larger lot is located about a 1.25mi south on Mt Washington Rd near the trailhead should you wish to do this hike in reverse.
I have wanted to do this hike for years: •Three peaks (Round Mountain, Mount Frissell and Brace Mountain)… •In three different States… •Plus the highest point in Connecticut… •As well as the New York / Connecticut / Massachusetts Tri-Point (where all three State borders touch)… •All in one 5.25 mile hike!
The first mile is the most difficult as you ascend Round Mountain (in CT) and then Mount Frissell (in MA), both of which afford beautiful views along the way. After you reach the summit of Mount Frissell you cross back into Connecticut at the CT Highpoint. A short trip down the trail is the NY/CT/MA Tri-Point where you will find a stone obelisk that marks the spot the three borders converge (although they left Connecticut off the marker for some reason!?!).
From Frissell’s summit it is a much easier hike along a ridge to the top of Brace Mountain in New York. The summit is very open with absolutely amazing vistas. After that it’s an easy and pretty downhill trail through the woods back into Connecticut ending at Mt Washington Rd. The last 1.25 mi is a dull but quick stroll along the road.
Recommended stop: If you came up Rt. 22 in NY, drop by McEnroe Organic Farm in Millerton for an excellent meal in their beer garden. We ate there and watched the sun set – perfect end to a wonderful adventure. http://www.mcenroeorganicfarm.com/
An amazing place for a fall hike with great views of the surrounding countryside. We hiked nearly the entire Blue Loop; parking at the Camp Office, we took the Yellow trail and then hiked the Blue in a counter-clockwise direction – it was about 6.7 miles.
The park is close to Kent, CT – a very pretty little New England Countryside town that is now filled with trendy (and expensive) galleries and eateries. We were going to stop for some coffee and pastries on the way out but the whole town was absolutely swarming with people! So take note if you plan on visiting with your hike – it gets very crowded on pleasant fall days.
Rock Scramble:If you go to the AllTrails review of this hike, you will see warnings of a difficult rock scramble section of the loop hike. These are not exaggerated. There is a very steep and rocky elevation change to be negotiated, including two 4-5 foot ledges that must be scaled up. Our pupper is a “big, strong, sturdy girl” – but she still needed two big boosts at those sections and ended up with a scraped up leg (I carry a human & doggy first aid kit in my day pack and recommend you do the same). If you have a smaller dog that can be lifted up or down, then it will be no problem. But bigger dogs will need to be OK with getting pushed/pulled over the ledges. It’s not impossible, but it’s difficult. Going up seems to be easier for the dogs than going down. You can avoid the scramble all together by doing an “out-and-back” hike to the summit of Cobble Mountain along the “Macedonia Ridge Trail.” Frankly, the Ridge Trail was the most scenic part of the park other than the the tip of Hilltop Pond (which can be reached by car for a quick scenic stop if you wish).
Notes:Beaches in Maine and Acadia National Park are open to dogs mid-September through mid-May. Check the town or Park Service websites for more info.
Acadia National Park bills itself as one of the few dog-friendly National Parks. Neighboring Bar Harbor also has a reputation as a dog-lover’s Mecca. Neither disappointed.
We decided to take a vacation our dog could join us on and settled for Acadia and Bar Harbor. We love hiking and exploring with our mutt and this seemed like the perfect destination. With a little planning and research we found activities and destinations for the entire trip that were all dog friendly.
We headed out in mid-September when the beaches in Maine and the National Park were closed to swimmers but open to dogs. In addition, the summer crowds had thinned substantially and prices were cheaper. Traveling in “shoulder season” has it’s perks. The weather was perfect: high 70’s during the day, cool-crisp evenings perfect for sitting by the fire pit.
The drive is long but can be broken up with stops at many of Maine’s picturesque sea-side towns. Many had coastal walking trails or great little downtown shopping areas (though some were a bit tourist-y). We made stops in York, Ogunquit, Kittery, Freeport and Kennebunkport.
Bar Harbor is, as mentioned, super dog friendly. We had no issues finding a hotel that allows pets. Most restaurants have outdoor seating on a patio or deck where you can eat with your dog. There was even a dog-themed coffee shop.
The park and the surrounding islands are filled with miles upon miles of trails for hiking or walking – including the famous carriage roads. You can test your dog’s sea-legs on one of the mail boats that goes between Northeast Harbor and the Cranberry Islands. And, if you go off season, there are some amazing beaches to stroll down.
Not to be missed: Stopping at Jordan Pond House Restaurant inside the park for one of their world-famous pop-overs. There is outdoor seating that is dog-friendly. Lollipop lucked out the day we visited: it was windy and a tray of pop-overs got blown onto the ground. The servers split them up among the many happy visiting dogs.
Not to be missed: Sunrise on the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Due to fog / overcast weather, it took us three pre-dawn trips, but on the last day it cleared and was spectacular. Get there well before sunrise as it gets quite crowded at the summit parking area.
