Connecticut Forest & Park Association

09/07/2026

Wishing everyone a safe and restful Labor Day. If you're spending the long weekend on Connecticut's trails, forests, and parks, enjoy every step—and remember to Leave No Trace so others can do the same. Thank you to our amazing volunteers and staff who help keep these special places protected, open, and safe for all to enjoy.

📸: Nipmuck Trail, J. Koteen Photography

09/07/2026

09/05/2026

The Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition, held at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, showcases the skills and knowledge arborists bring, from newcomers to professionals. But it's not all about reaching the top fifty feet up. As Valentin Brito, this year's winner, puts it: "Competing was what got me into it, but what kept me here is the community." Read more about this year's competition: https://bit.ly/4gqAsK1

Connecticut Tree Protective Association, Blue Collar Tree Service, L.L.C., International Society of Arboriculture, New England ISA, NAOM

09/04/2026

Ready to get outside and explore this fall? 🍂🥾

Take an easy-paced Autumn Equinox Ramble through Highlawn Forest and learn about the changes happening in the forest. Join the Nature Nerds for a moderate 4-mile loop at Bolton Notch State Park. Curious about ultralight backpacking? Back by popular demand, don't miss the Mastering the Art of Ultralight Backpacking Seminar led by Mat Jobin (Reach Your Summit owner, guide, and thru-hiker) and Kristen Gardella (thru-hiker and FKT record holder) to get the tips, tricks, and answers you need to get started. Our SOLO Wilderness First Aid Course is sold out, but the waitlist is open if more spots open up!

Find details and register for all these events and more at ctwoodlands.org/events and ctwoodlands.galaxydigital.com.

09/03/2026

Back by popular demand! Whether you're a seasoned hiker chasing that elusive 10 lb base weight or just ultralight-curious, join Mat Jobin and Kristen Gardella for a judgment-free space to learn, ask questions, and gear up: https://www.reachyoursummit.net/events/mastering-the-art-of-ultralight-backpacking-seminar-6

08/31/2026

In her poem "Sometimes", Mary Oliver wrote, “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

These are not only words that Michelle Poudrette () lives by; they are words she walks by. Slow, deliberate, intentional—"I do not get anywhere quickly when I am outside." Read her reflections about slowing down on the Nipmuck Trail: https://bit.ly/4wZZHrB

08/29/2026

Waders, a post pounder, and helping hands. That’s what it took to build a new 100-ft backcountry boardwalk on the Nipmuck Trail in Ashford. The old boardwalk had started to twist and sink into the swamp. This time, the crew engineered something built to handle the swamp long-term.

The Bog Bridgadiers got it done, completing the build in just 5 days with some help from the Shenipsit Striders, who hauled in all the lumber ahead of time. 💪

Wading through a swamp to create safer trails and protect wetlands? Just another Tuesday for the Bog Bridgadiers. 💅

Want to get more involved with the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails? Whether you join us on a trail crew, become a member, or volunteer your time, there are plenty of ways to help keep trails like this one in great shape. Find ways to get involved at ctwoodlands.org.

08/28/2026

Walk through nearly 400 years of American history, one trail blaze at a time! 🇺🇸

In celebration of America's 250th birthday, the Shelton Trails Committee has transformed the Paugussett Trail into an 8-mile walkable timeline of U.S. and colonial history. More than 40 temporary history markers have been installed along the trail, taking hikers from 1637, when Puritans first arrived in the area, through the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Civil Rights era, and present day.

Markers are northbound only and will be up through the end of the year. Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to plan a hike with history at every turn. 🥾

The Paugussett Trail is maintained by CFPA volunteers and Shelton Conservation Trails Committee. Be prepared for some rocky stretches and brush up on your blaze reading before you go! Full details and a custom trail map at sheltonconservation.org/trails

08/27/2026

It's that time again, put in a request now to get a free tree planted on your property this fall!

Hartford faces some serious environmental challenges. We have one of the highest rates of asthma-related hospitalizations in Connecticut. Summer temperatures here can be up to 19 degrees hotter than nearby towns due to limited tree cover. Flooding can overwhelm streets and basements with stormwater and sewage.

Trees help address these issues and build a healthier local environment, so Trees for Hartford is offering to plant free trees for residents of Hartford who want one!

Be part of the solution. Support your community and enhance your own yard by signing up for a free tree and spreading the word about this initiative.

To learn more and request a free tree, please visit bit.ly/HartfordsFreeTrees

08/26/2026

The trails at Ragged Mountain Preserve are officially open!

When storms tore through Connecticut over the July 4th weekend, this Preserve took a direct hit that dropped hundreds of trees, many in one concentrated pocket. The map above shows just a handful of those blowdowns and how dense the damage was. The Metacomet/ New England National Scenic Trail - NET between the central Preserve and Andrews Street to the north (NET Section 14) was among the hardest hit.

Since then, CFPA-trained and certified sawyers and volunteers have logged an incredible 315 hours across 12 work parties, clearing 70 major blowdowns and blockages.

That's not a typo. Over three hundred hours of work and twelve separate trips up the mountain to cut through trees that were tangled, stacked, and under tension. That's what it actually takes to say "the trail is open."

Thank you for your patience while this work got done, and thank you to every volunteer who gave their time, skill, and sweat to make it happen. This Preserve is walkable again because of you.

If you're near Ragged Mountain, we'd encourage you to go see it—the scale of the storm damage is striking, and it'll be worth watching how this stretch recovers over the next few years.