Chester

Cockaponset State Forest

Date visited: 3/13/2021

Not to be confused with Cockapoo (Lexi's breed), this was Cockaponset State Forest. Featured here is Pattaconk Lake. We explored some of the trails, but only walked for about a mile and a half or so. This was our 5th stop on a very busy day. The last photo is titled "Cockapoo at Cockaponset."

Constance Baker Motley Preserve

Date visited: 4/16/2022

Other than the Cockaponset forest, there are not many hiking trails in Chester. This one is actually brand new. The trail itself is called the "Little Rock Nine Loop Trail" and was built in 2020 by William Myers, Chester Land Trust President. It's a short trail, but it's a challening one. Perhaps one of the most challenging trails we tackled. It's steep and rocky. There's a bench with an overlook at the top. The stone staircase we hit on the way down is the highlight.

Downtown Chester

Date visited: 4/28/2025

A few months ago, I came across a list of walkable small town centers in Connecticut while browsing online, and this one caught my eye. I made a mental note to check it out in the spring—and now that spring is here, we finally made the trip! It's a charming little town, with shops, restaurants, and art galleries. We walked up to the museum and library, and wandered through the center of town. The only downside is that the town is quite small, and the sidewalks don't really extend beyond the center, so we were limited to about a mile and a half of walking. Still, it was a lovely place to explore on a mild spring day.