For this edition of Guide to Greenwich, I explored three different nearby hiking and walking trails.  In search of the best trail, I weighed the panoramic views as well as the difficulty level of each trail.

Tod’s Point

The first destination I visited was Greenwich Point Park, Tod’s Point.  Usually, this location is only available to Greenwich residents, however, since it was winter and off-season, I was able to enjoy the beautiful walking trails this spot has to offer.  Upon arriving, I was greeted with picturesque views of the Long Island Sound spanning all around me.  I ventured on a walking loop that closely followed the coastline.  Gorgeous scenery surrounded me throughout my entire walk.  The trail I chose lasted three miles and took me about an hour to complete, not including the time I took to stop and enjoy the vibrant sunset.  The terrain of the trail was also flat, which made for a leisurely stroll.  While walking, I encountered only a handful of other people who all acknowledged me with friendly smiles, creating a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere.

Saugatuck Universal Access Trail

For my next adventure, I visited the Saugatuck Universal Access Trail in Redding, Connecticut.  This location was the furthest distance away, about a forty-minutes drive.  This trail was very isolated, and the drive leading up to this location was barren and predominantly accompanied by forest.  After arriving, there were several points of entry available for me to start the hike.  I began my hike at the first entry point and was immediately greeted with stunning views of the Saugatuck reservoir.

The overall hiking trail was about 12 miles long, sporadically offering glimpses of the reservoir, but primarily showcasing beautiful views of the forest in the surrounding area.  This terrain was more challenging to navigate, and there were times when I felt myself stopping to catch my breath.  There were also moments on the trail when following the path was difficult, as it was not always clearly marked.  While on the trail, I encountered only one other person, and the experience of being alone in nature created a very serene moment.  Overall, this hike was the longest out of the three, taking me approximately five hours to complete.

Mianus River Park

The last destination I visited was Mianus River Park in Stamford, Connecticut.  Once I arrived, I was already at the beginning of the trail.  This hike was entirely in the forest, with occasional views of the river throughout.  The foliage that the trees along this trail provided presented unbelievably vibrant colors.  This location was the most congested out of the three, so I encountered many people along the way.  There were times along this hike when I could leisurely walk and other instances that were more arduous. This trail’s level of difficulty falls between that of the other two locations.  From start to finish, the trail is about five miles in length, however, because I only completed three miles, the trail took about an hour.

Winner

After spending time at these three different trails, I have deduced that the winner of this edition of Guide to Greenwich is the Saugatuck Universal Access Trail.  Although this location was the furthest, the drive was worth it.  The gorgeous views and the peaceful, isolated atmosphere ultimately complemented the rugged terrain while establishing a satisfying challenge.