The scenic Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, located in the state’s northwest corner, are a popular destination for New York City-ites looking for a rural escape. The area’s fall foliage, rustic New England architecture, plentiful farms, and antique shops draw in both casual tourists and owners of second homes — so much so that the Litchfield Hills have been called “The Hamptons of Connecticut.”
When it comes to running in the Litchfield Hills, options range from lengthy bike paths to conservation land to scenic rural streets and villages. Favorites include the extensive Farmington Canal Heritage Trail/Farmington River Trail bike paths, pretty rural roads in Kent, Norfolk, Barkhamsted, Litchfield, and Salisbury, and easygoing trail/dirt road runs on the Appalachian Trail, White Memorial Conservation Center, Steep Rock Preserve, and Larkin State Park.
Public transportation is virtually nonexistent in the Litchfield Hills, so runners will need a car to get around. Most won’t mind driving — almost every major route through northwest Connecticut is a scenic drive, and the further you travel, the more great runs you can take!
