Hiking Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
Trail Description: The Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region is located in Southern Maine. The Mount Agamenticus Loop is a popular trail that provides 360 degree views at the summit of the surrounding mountains in the distance.
Trail Info:
Where: York, ME Distance: 1.8m (1 hour) Difficulty: Easy toModerate Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Valley
How to get there:
Typing the location “Mount Agamenticus Trailhead” into Google Maps will take you to the parking lot. You can’t miss it. There is a lot of parking. It’s $2/hr to park and there is a barcode to scan for the app to use to pay. It was easy peasy in my opinion. And, worth the money based on how well they keep up with everything.
Coordinates: 43.21720438450835, -70.69198787482621
Link to google maps location here.
Hiking Tips
I suggest caution if it rained days prior. The trails in the forest are mostly roots and rock. Dry it’s no biggie but wet I don’t think it would be as enjoyable.
Download a copy of the trail map here.
There are multiple trail options. This guide is for the loop via Blueberry Bluff, Witch Hazel, and Ring Trail. The Big A trail has separate parking and is a 1 mile loop that’s mostly gravel & an easier option (stroller and wheelchair friendly).
The trail and parking lots are well maintained and great facilities. Nicest outhouse bathrooms I ever been in!
The Hike
Once parked at the Mountain Road parking lot, the beginning of the trail head is visible with markers at end of the parking lot.
There will be trail signs promptly upon starting the hike at a fork. Stay right and hop on the Ring Trail, which is the white marked trail.
As stated prior, the trail is very well marked. However, the trail is mostly rocks and roots. I saw some reviews mentioning that it was muddy and unpleasant after a rainstorm. And, I totally understand what they meant. The rocks and roots could be slippery. For us, it was dry and there were no issues.
There isn’t much of an elevation gain, only about 340 feet. But there is a small incline as you make your way to the top. Hiking along the Ring Trail, at almost 0.7m, there will be a small foot bridge with a path to the left at the end. This is the Witch Hazel trail. I did not see signs but based on the trail map, this was the way to go.
The Witch Hazel trail is brief. Only a few minutes to reach the Big A Trail. There will also be a small foot bridge.
And following the Big A trail at the top is where the first lookout platform is to take in all the views.
There is another lookout platform with stairs where you can see even higher out into the valley. There is also a fire tower, but it is fenced out and cannot be climbed.
Follow the Big A Trail out until it connects to the Blueberry Bluff, which is marked red. There is also an additional viewpoint here before the Blueberry Bluff.
Continue down the Blueberry Bluff back to the Ring Trail. Take a left at the sign back to the parking lot. You will cross the road at the end to get back to your car.
Southern Maine is tracking to be one of our favorite areas to visit and this was a great first hike in the area. Good hike to get the heart going and see some cool views. The platforms are a cool feature for viewing on the summit. And, the trails and parking lots are so well maintained. I cannot speak highly enough on that. I was not able to find a great guide with details for this hike so I am hopeful this will be helpful for others. It’s also good to see directions/steps before you go to get comfortability. Not a hard hike to follow but I understand where folks can get tripped up. I still do it many times. Luckily, my wife is always the voice of direction.
POST HIKE ACTIVITIES: The fun doesn’t have to stop here. Lots to do in the area. We stopped by the 90s themed brewery, Odd by Nature Brewing, for some post hike beers and nosh, which is about 8 minutes from the trailhead. And, the Nubble Lighthouse is roughly 15 minutes or so away. Definitely a trip to view. Cape Neddick is really cool. Many restaurants in the area as well. No matter what you decide to do, there is a lot to plan for a great weekend or day trip.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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How to Hike The Beehive Trail, The Bowl, & Champlain Mountain, Acadia National Park
Trail Description: This hike climbs The Beehive via cliffs and iron rungs that leads to The Bowl (a pond), and then climbs up to the summit of Champlain Mountain. There are amazing views from the summits and various spots on the trail.
Trail Info:
Where: Bar Harbor, ME, Acadia National Park Distance: 4.9 miles (5-6 hours) Difficulty: Strenuous Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Water, Pond, Cliffs, Summit
How to get there:
Sand Beach Parking lot in Acadia National Park. There are restrooms here. In addition, there is beach access and other hiking trails.
Hiking Tips
If you have a fear of heights, the Beehive Trail is not recommended for you.
If it has rained recently and the trail is very wet, I would recommend not including the steep climb portion of the Beehive Trail on that day.
Be sure to take this loop trail counter-clockwise. You do not want to climb down the irons rungs nor clog up traffic.
This is the one of the most popular hikes. It will be very busy, start early!
The Hike
The Beehive loop hike at Acadia National Park is probably #1 on most tourists' itinerary. This is a short and steep hike with some exhilarating but dangerous sections using iron rungs to climb up the side of the mountain. The hike is not for the faint of heart. The experience alone makes this a bucket list adventure. So, of course, it was one of my top priorities visiting Acadia for the first time. My wife and I went for a few days last fall. Due to time constraints, I needed to ensure I got the best bang for my buck. Luckily, The Beehive trail intersects with the Bowl which connects to the trail that summits Champlain Mountain. Now, you could do all 3 of these separately but this was a no brainer. This allowed my wife and I to see more amazing views in the allotted time we had.
The trailhead is located on the opposite side of the street, about 100 yards across from the Sand Beach parking lot. From the parking lot, start heading on the gravel path to the right of the parking lot entrance as you walk up to Park Loop Road. Cross the road and the trailhead for the Bowl Trail will be right there. Just follow the crowd! The trail is flat but rocky to start. After 0.2m turn right onto the Beehive Trail where Bowl Trail goes straight. Follow the blue blazed trail.
This is where the climbing begins. First are the short staircases. Then, there are a few narrow ledges with sheer drops. Followed by climbing iron rungs used to assist in the ascent up the vertical rocks. All completely exposed. You have some options here if you are not comfortable going up the Beehive Trail using the iron rungs. There is an option to access The Beehive from the backside or skip it entirely and choose to head to The Bowl. I enjoyed this as it was challenging and thrilling. And, the views were awesome. However, it is not to be taken lightly. It is dangerous. Take your time and be thoughtful to your fellow hikers. This part of the hike is relatively short.
At around 0.6m, we reached the summit of the Beehive Trail and enjoyed some amazing views of Sand Beach and Great Head. The hard work is worth it!
Continuing on the blue blazed trail, go straight through an intersection where a connecting trail leaves left. At 0.9m, this is where we reached the shore of a pond, known as The Bowl.
Follow the path with the wooden boards on the left along the shoreline for 0.1m to split in the trail. The Bowl goes left and Champlain South Ridge Trail will veer to the right. Take the right and follow Champlain South Ridge Trail. The sign indicates 1.6m to Champlain Mountain from here. There is an amazing view of The Bowl as you hike higher up the mountain.
Be weary of the blue markings along the trail and follow the cairns. There are more spectacular views at the summit of Champlain Mountain. This summit is less hectic than the Beehive so this is a good spot to have a snack and relax.
After soaking in the views, retrace your steps down to The Bowl. There are four paths leaving the summit, ensure you are heading the direction you came up. Once you get down to The Bowl intersection, bear right away from the pond and take the rest of the trail back to Park Loop Road for about 0.8m. You will pass two trails on the right leading up to Gorham Mountain and two trails on the left heading to the Beehive. Just keep going straight at all intersections.
This will lead you back to where you started. As mentioned above, we decided to combine all three trails so we can see more. I would highly recommend this particular loop in this fashion. Lots of great views. Amazing hike. The Beehive hype is real. Bucket list checked off.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Jones Mountain Preserve, New Hartford, CT
Trail Description: The Vista Trail is a red-blazed loop that circles the Jones Mountain Preserve. Most of the trail is an old carriage road that leads to summit views overlooking New Hartford and the Farming River to the north.
Trail Info:
Where: New Hartford, CT Distance: 2.5m (1.5 hours) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Valley
How to get there:
161 Steele Rd, New Hartford, CT 06057
You will see the parking lot located on the right coming from Route US-44W.
Hiking Tips
For trail map, click HERE.
Stay on the trails. Lots of hunting areas surrounding.
The Hike
Once entering the nature preserve from the parking lot, there is a footbridge crossing. There will be a fork for the start of the red blazed trail. This is the Vista Trail that loops around the preserve. Going right will lead you to the summit view. After about 0.3m there is a sign with an arrow toward the peak to follow.
This part of the hike is the most difficult. There is a gradual incline with an elevation gain of 367 feet as you make your way toward the carriage road. This will last for 15 minutes or so. Reaching the carriage road will occur at about 0.5m and it is fairly easy from here. At 0.9m there is another footbridge crossing.
This will bring you to the summit of Jones Mountain at 1.5m. The lookout is a splendid view of the Farmington Valley West to New Hartford.
Continue on the red loop for the rest of the trail. Due to storms, there is a road closure at the time of our hike. This forces you to hop onto the white trail inside the preserve. The white will lead back to the red and right to the parking lot.
Based on what I saw online, there are some monuments and mill ruins along other trails in the preserve if that interests anyone reading this. We chose to just tackle the summit view.
I am enjoying finding new hiking trails in Connecticut. This trail is fairly easy, has a good view, and will get your heart pumping a little bit. Any one looking to get into hiking or just need a break from a strenuous trail, I would suggest this. Fall is officially here as I write this post. This would be a good fall hike as well once the leaves change. Get hiking!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Pine Knob Loop Trail, Sharon, CT
Trail Description: The Pine Knob Loop Trail is located in Housatonic Meadows State Park and Housatonic State Forest. This short, challenging trail connects to the Appalachian Trail. The hike will bring you to a beautiful vista view of rolling hills over the Housatonic River valley.
Trail Info:
Where: Sharon, CT Distance: 2.8m (2 hours) Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Valley, River
How to get there:
By google mapping, “Pine Knob Loop Trail” this should lead you to the trail parking area. Link below.
https://goo.gl/maps/36Fa5oy7HjjrHTZP9
You will see the parking lot located on the left coming from Route US-7 N. There is a visible sign as well. The lot can fit 15-20 cars.
Hiking Tips
Go counter clockwise if you like your knees!
Not great phone service, so make sure to screenshot a map. Or my guide!
Due to storms, some trees are down with trail markings. Just make sure to keep an eye out.
The Hike
Beginning the hike, the trail leads directly into the woods. There is a small brook to cross that leads to the fork of the start of the trail, where you will see the blue blazed trail sign. Prior to the hike, my wife and I did some research and counterclockwise was recommended based on our findings. We prefer to go up an incline & scramble then come down on a steep decline. This is the knee friendly option and safer in my opinion (lessons learned). Also, I like to get the hard stuff out of the way. Staying straight at the fork on the blue blaze trail is how we started. The steep incline starts gradually about 0.4m into the hike. Really get the blood flowing out the gate.
The terrain will be a bit of a strenuous incline then leveling off with a small decline and then right back to steady uphill climb. Nothing your average hiker can’t handle.
At 1.1m, this is the time to catch your breath when you reach the first sneak peek of views. Then it is all worth it when you see the spectacular vista view of the hills and mountains of the North West valley of Connecticut. From here you can see Bald Mountain, Bread Loaf Mountain, Woodbury Mountain, DudleyHill, and Whitecomb Hill. Really impressive view.
After absorbing the stunning views, continue back onto the blue trail until this connects with the Appalachian Trail that is the white trail marking at about 1.3m.
Connecticut has had a plethora of storms lately so there are many trees down. Some had trail markings on them so be mindful of that. Otherwise, this is an amazingly marked trail and easy to follow. At 1.7m, you will see the rolling hills view again from the east. This view is blocked by some trees but is still amazing nonetheless.
At 2.1m, the blue and white trail will go separate ways. Turn left on the blue trail to finish the loop. We noticed a hatch brook that appears to have water cascading down on certain days but it has been dry lately. Nothing to see on this day. The rest of the hike was a fairly easy stroll through the trees and forest.
The Northwest part of Connecticut is unexplored territory for me. Based on my research, this area of CT offers many great hiking trails. The Pine Knob Loop Trail was my first experience in the area. And, I was not disappointed. The trail was not busy at all. We saw more people once we connected to the Appalachian Trail portion. I would highly suggest hiking poles for this trail. The hike offered various degrees of difficulty and an amazing summit view. This would be a great fall foliage hike. Also, there are two wineries within 15 minutes from the hike if you need to persuade a hiking companion. Looking for something different, check this one out!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Zealand Falls Hut to Zeacliffs, New Hampshire
Check out the new blog post an epic day hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This hike follows the Zealand Trail to the Zealand Fall Hut, and eventually to the Zeacliffs overlook. From here, there are incredible views of Zealand Notch and the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
Trail Description: The Zealand Falls Hut Trail will lead you through the forest up to the AMC hut. Along the way you will pass various wetlands. Hiking beyond the hut to the Zeacliffs, there is a stunning view of the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
Trail Info:
Where: Zealand Trail, Bethlehem, NH Distance: 8.2 miles (5-6 hours) Difficulty: Difficult Trail Type: Out and back Features: Wetlands, River, Brook, Pond, Waterfall, AMC Hut, Zeacliff Outlook, Mountain
How to get there:
Trailhead and parking area are located at the end of Zealand Road, Bethlehem, NH. That is what we put in the GPS. Zealand Road will be off Rt 302. Drive about 3.5 miles all way down the road until you see the parking area on the left. The parking lot is small but there is additional parking off to the right.
Hiking Tips
Be careful hiking on the rocks (may be wet)
Bring lots of water and lunch for the view at the top
The Hike
Hiking in New Hampshire is quite an experience. Every time I hike in or around the White Mountains, I never feel like I am in the northeast. The landscape is so unique and breathe taking. The views truly put you in a state of euphoria. I try to hike a few times a year in New Hampshire. One of best friends, Corey, has a place out there now, so that’s pretty convenient. On my last visit, Corey decided to lead a group of our friends on a day hike. Now, I’ve known Corey for almost 15 years. We have hiked all over together. I know when he says 3 miles it will NOT be 3 miles. While discussing our hike options, we decided for a longer hike in the 5-6 mile range. He mentioned reading about the Zealand Trail and how there are awesome views off cliffs right before Zealand Mountain. Although I was skeptical of his mileage number, I knew that Corey would lead us to some great views. Located in Bethlehem, NH, the hike follows the Zealand Trail to the Zealand Fall Hut, and eventually to the Zeacliffs overlook. From here, there are incredible views of Zealand Notch and the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
From the parked area, we saw the Zealand Falls Hut sign and began our way up the Zealand Trail using the blue-blazed trail. The trail starts off easy with good footing as it follows an old rail road bed. Soon after, we were thrown into the forest and the terrain became extremely rocky. Ah, those New Hampshire trails.
The first mile or so offers a few brooks and streams to cross leading up to the Zealand River. The trail is a gradual climb from the woods to a beaver pond and marsh area. This where we reached a sturdy wooded boardwalk (formerly known as the Z-bridge) crossing the wetland area.
A half-mile after this section, the trail veers to the left; continuing on the Zealand Trail. The trail flattens out and we crossed another footbridge over Zealand Pond. After a few paces, the trail brought us to the shoreline of the pond at a small opening in the trees.
I lost my friends as I typically do to stop for pictures. I was marching along by myself and I saw a white creature appear from the grassy meadow. Of course, my only reaction was that’s definitely a dire wolf from Game of Thrones. Unfortunately, I was incorrect. Two big dogs were ahead of their group. I was like “Cool dogs” and they were “Hey, cool shirt. We love donuts.” This was the first hike I wore my Hiking for Donuts shirt and I got a lot of reactions to it. The shirt is a great conversation starter. Lots of fun banter. My friends actually had a pretty serious donut debate for 30 minutes at one point in the hike. If you see my shirt on the trails, say hello!
tell me you don’t think that’s ghost from Game of thrones at a quick glance!
Hiking further just beyond this point, the Zealand Trail ends as it becomes the Twinway Trail (part of the Appalachian Trail). This was around 2.5 miles into the hike. And, now the really tough stuff begins. The ascent is real. The terrain will kick it up a notch. It was a pretty hot day and I haven’t hiked in this terrain in a while. I was struggling a bit. However, I like the challenge. And, I had goals of amazing views so I pushed ahead slow and steady. I could hear the falls. Five minutes later, I saw the sign for the Zealand Falls. This detour will be on your left and I highly suggest taking a view of the 25 foot falls. Given this was during the summer, the falls didn’t have much water but still impressive.
Not long after, I followed main path up the stone steps and caught up with my group at the hut. The hut is hidden by the woods. Once I reached the top, the hut just appeared. I can see my friends sitting on steps. I turned around and was welcomed with panoramic views. As with most AMC huts, this one is pretty cool. This hut sits hillside with a medium size stream bedside it that flows down to the falls. The inside is nice and can accommodate 36 people year round. This was a nice little break to enjoy the views from all angles.
here is a sign by the stream that shows another 1.3 miles to the Zeacliffs. And, accordingly to my calculations, the hike will be 8.2 miles long. I was duped again by Corey. Heading away from the hut, turn left when arriving at the Lend-A-Hand Trail junction to stay on the Twinway Trail. The steep ascend continues from the Zealand Hut. We heard some odd noise ahead about 100 yards from the hut. We discovered the noise was from a water pump that drew water from the Whitewall Brook down to the hut.
As the 1.3 mileage got closer, we all were urgently asking, “Are we there yet?” Finally, the trail leveled off and we saw a small sign on the left labeled , “View”. We made it! And, boy was it completely worth it. The sweeping vista over the Pemigewasset Wilderness was spectacular. The area was pretty crowded but we waited out for the prime spot to take pictures and take a lunch break. I was truly in awe and the skies were clear as day.
The Zeacliffs are the best views I have seen in the White Mountains to date. After soaking in all the views, it was time to go. We had another 4.1 miles to get back to the cars. If you wanted to reach the summit of Zealand Mountain, that would be another 1.6 miles from this spot. I read the views there are not as good but it would count towards the 48 4K footers. We were all ready to head back.
The descent on the way down was difficult until the path evened out. I took a tumble myself, fell right on my right buttocks, and my camera went flying. No one happened to catch that Kodak moment. Some rocks were very slippery. Always be cautious with a rocky environment. I would bring hiking poles for this hike and wear your best boots. And, keep a mental note of your surroundings. I was in the back of the group mostly on this hike by myself. A few times I came across some decisions that were questionable, but here I am writing this post today. Toward the very end, you will need to decide between two paths. I did not remember which one we took going up. Fortunately, they both take you to the parking lot.
The Zealand Trail to the Zeacliffs offers many types of scenery such as brooks, ponds, waterfalls, AMC hut, marshes, and some outstanding mountain views. Definitely one of my favorite New Hampshire hikes. The round trip took us about 6 hours. The trail was definitely crowded. But, the trails were wide enough where you wouldn’t be on top of other hikers. As I mentioned, this particular hike is 7.8 miles. Corey hoodwinked us yet again on the mileage but he did not disappoint with the hike. I would do it over again in a heartbeat. The challenging hikes stand out more and offer the best memories.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Black Pond via Mattabesett Trail, Middlefield, CT
The Mattabesett Trail extends through the state of Connecticut. Along this trail, there are great views. Black Pond has an amazing view from Besek Mountain. Check out the blog for pics and helpful info!
The Mattabesett Trail extends over 50 miles throughout the state of Connecticut. The first half of this horseshoe like trail follows high trap rock ridges of the Metacomic Ridge, from Guilford south to Meriden. The second part extends extends north from Guilford to Middletown where it ends at the Connecticut River. There are multiple areas throughout the state to hop on the trails. You will find numerous picturesque views along the way. One of my favorites spots to check out is Black Pond in Middlefield. I came across this trail a few years ago and the views are spectacular.
For the directions, the trail starts on Baileyville Road (RT 147) that intersects Meriden Road (RT 66). I always gps the restaurant Guida’s across from the trail. I park there and cross the street or there is a little parking area off the side of the road, where you will find the Mattabesett Trail blue-blazed marker.
Once we saw the marker, we headed into the woods to begin the trail. The trail is well maintained and marked pretty well. Thus, just follow the blue markers on this one. Nothing too tricky on this trail. Due to the storms recently, we saw quite a bit of trees down throughout the hike. And there are areas of rock formations where snakes may be hiding. Be on the lookout, I almost stepped on one.
About three-quarters of a mile into the hike, we came out to an open field that led us under power lines. We could see Route 66 highway from here, as the trail runs parallel to the highway. We then passed a brick and stone chimney along the way.
From here, the trail will begin to ascend up the mountain.
Until I was researching the area, I wasn’t aware this was called Besek Mountain. And, there is a ski area next to it, Powder Ridge. Once you reach the cliffs, you see the stunning view of Black Pond and Mount Higby in the distance as well. You can continue the trail from here and follow the blue-blazed trail further past the ski area chair lifts and the true summit of Besek Mountain. And you can go all the way to Guilford. However, this is where we stopped and turned around. We had our fun taking pics and checking out the view.
The loop was roughly 2.8 miles. The hike was moderate difficulty. The terrain was easy in the beginning but had some up and down sections. The hardest part may be finding the trail. This is a great morning weekend type hike with a rewarding view. Be sure to add this to your list, especially if you are local.
The Review
Black Pond via Mattabesett, 2.8M (Middlefield, CT) - 4 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Artists Bluff Trail, Franconia Notch State Park
Artists Bluff is one of my favorite trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire located in Franconia Notch State Park. This trail checks off all boxes for a great hike. The views are spectacular. Check it out!
Trail Description: The Artists Bluff Trail is a short hike that offers some of the best views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.
Trail Info:
Where: Franconia Notch State Park, Franconia, NH Distance: 1.5 miles (1-1.5 hrs) Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Views, Valley, Lake, Forest
How to get there:
From I-93 (Franconia Notch Parkway) get off on Exit 34C toward the Cannon Mountain Ski Resort and head west on NH 18. Go up roughly a half mile where you see a large parking area on your right. Walking across the empty lot in front of you will lead to the signs for the Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain.
Hiking Tips
Shortly along the trail, there’s a fork in the path that not clear which direction to go. Stay to your right to follow the Artist Bluff Trail. The other option will take you on the Bald Mountain Trail and will take you longer to get to Artists Bluff.
Great fall hike with amazing foliage.
The Hike
If you are looking for a great trail with amazing views that is relatively quick in New Hampshire, the Artists Bluff Trail in Franconia Notch State Park is exactly that. My friend owns a house close by and about 10 of us drove up for the weekend. After having too many beverages the night before, we wanted something relatively short on this morning. And, we wanted to beat the rain that was inevitable. We have hiked Artists Bluff in the past but it is a great hike and it is very satisfying. The loop is only 1.5 miles but it is challenging with steep sections. And, the trail will lead you to amazing views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.
Upon arriving we saw the parking lot off Route 18 on your right across from the Cannon Peabody slopes. We walked across the empty lot in front of us that led us to the signs of the start of trail for Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain.
We followed the Red marked trails to get to the bluffs. The trail starts off pretty easy then you have some steep inclines and declines as you get closer to the bluffs.
About .25 miles or so into the hike we saw split in the path to hike up to the summit of Bald Mountain on our left. This will add .5 miles to the hike. As we wanted to beat the rain, we stayed the course toward Artists Bluffs.
The trail eventually broke into the open and I saw views of Cannon Mountain. There was a storm recently in the Northeast and there were actually quite a bit of trees knocked down. I came across volunteers doing some maintenance to the trail and trying to clean up. After passing the volunteers, I came up to the rock that points to the direction of the bluffs.
Artists Bluff stands at 2,368 feet high. The views at the top are amazing. You get a great outlook of the Franconia Notch. We hung out for about a half hour at the top reminiscing and questioning prior nights beverage consumption. And, then we decided to head back. The initial descend was pretty tough and rocky but the trail got easier as the path took us along Route 18 across from Echo Lake. And, this took us to where we originally started.
I would do this hike again and likely many more times. Each season of the year I am sure you get different views. Fall foliage would be the best. The trail is well marked and the forest is beautiful. Even though this is close to the highway, it is still far enough away and quiet as you hike. For a hike in the White Mountains, I would say this was an easy level hike. However, I could see this trail being moderate for others due to some the steeper sections. The hike will only take about an hour. But you will always add 20-30 minutes at the top taking in the views. The only thing that would have made this better is if I had some donuts with me!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS
Arches National Park, Utah
Utah is filled of awesome and cool areas to explores. Especially, if you want to see some arches. Check out my blog on some must see landmarks in Utah!
Summer time is approaching and all I can think of is the endless possibilities to explore. A friend of mine recently went out West and sparked my memories of the trips I have taken. One of those trips was in Utah. In general, Utah is an underrated state. There is so much to do and so many cool national parks.
One thing about Utah, you can find many arches. You know…the rock sculptures that form natural bridges. There are over 2000 natural stone arches in Arches National Park alone, not counting the myriad of those found throughout Utah. After about 20 arches, you get the idea. You see so many in one area over and over you become a little too familiar. But they are awesome to see. You have to snap out of it and realize that you don’t see this type of scenery ever. With that said, my friends and I had a plan to hike to three very different arches that a each had a different and unique perspective. First, we would hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, the most popular to visit in Utah. Second a hike to Corona Arch, just outside of Canyonlands National Park, this is popularly known for adventure junkies that try to rope swing through the arch. There are many vids on YouTube, check this out. You could not pay me enough. And finally, Mesa Arch, located in Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky District.
The first stop was Arches National Park for the Delicate Arch. The hike was about 3 miles round trip over exposed open rock that was quite slick. The trail begins at a large parking area near Wolfe Ranch. On this day, the wind gusts were up to 55 mph as you got closer to the arch. Not a smart decision to wear a hat. In addition, debris, sand, sunglasses, you name it was flying around. This is a very popular hike so the top was super crowded. Due to the popular photos you can take here, this will be a populated area most of the time. We had to wait in line in order to get a picture in front of the arch. For the view, it was definitely worth it. The trail is well marked with cairns. The hike isn’t that difficult and it’s a must when you are in the area.
Next on the arches list was the Corona Arch. The trail head of this hike was on the bank of the Colorado River. This hike was far more desolate. We may have seen a hand full of people on the trail. This is a very cool hike with some fun parts of climbing as you approached the arch. Round trip you are looking at about 3 miles also. As I mentioned above, some people actually climb the arch and will rope swing through it. We got lucky that day and ran into a group of crazies from Seattle who were doing just that. It was pretty intense to see in person. I would have never expected to actually see this in person. We had a chance to speak with them and they mentioned they tested the rope with a bag of rocks and the rope didn’t work. Yet, they went ahead and did it anyways! My buddy Corey actually filmed some one of the swings and swapped contact info with guy who did it. The west is indeed wild.
Lastly, we set out to see the Mesa Arch. Most people who visit Canyonlands National Park make the 0.5 mile hike out to the Arch, especially around sunrise. However, we were slackers on this day and got there around sunset time. The arch is off the edge of a 500 foot cliff, part of a 1,200 foot drop into Buck Canyon. Not much to say about the hike since it was so short. It is fairly easy, well-marked and the terrain is slickrock. Nevertheless, the views at the Mesa were incredible. You can get a keyhole view of White Rim country. Endless pictures were taken for sure. Utah has an unbelievable amount of must see landmarks and countless outdoors space to discover. If you make it out west to Utah, make sure you check out some arches. You won’t be disappointed.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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River Highlands State Park, Cromwell, CT
This is the first hiking trail review on the Connecticut hiking challenge trails. Check out the blog to learn more about the challenge!
Trail Description: A view 150 feet up of the Connecticut River can be seen from the White Blazed Trail in the River Highlands State Park. In addition, there is water front with picnic tables to enjoy.
Trail Info:
Where: River Highlands State Park, Cromwell, CT Distance 1.5 miles (1 hr) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, River, Water
How to get there:
Directions in detail can be found here,https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=434748&deepNav_GID=1650.
River Highlands State Park, Field Rd, Cromwell, CT 06416
Hiking Tips
Good beginner hike or weekday hike after work.
Super buggy area. Bring bug spray.
The Hike
Finding good hikes in Connecticut is becoming less a challenge. And, that is a good thing. Most people just dismiss how much is truly out there. Recently my friend told me there is a hiking challenge in CT. I can’t believe I haven’t come across this. Of course, I googled and found Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge by the CT Department of Electric & Environment Protection (DEEP). They list 14 lesser known trails to encourage more hiking in CT state parks. There are rules and info here. You can win some prizes too. I think it is a great idea. I haven’t heard of most of the trails. I smell some new blog material. I am definitely on-board and will be joining in on the fun.
With that said, here in my very first hike of the Sky’s the Limit challenge. A rare weekday hike but if it is 90 degrees in May in CT, you get outside. Nichole and I went to River Highlands State Park in Cromwell, CT. This was an easier and quick hike. The hike offers views of the Connecticut River from 150 feet above the water. I would use this link for the trail maps. Directions can be found on the CT DEEP link above.
The park consists of multiple color trails. You can go multiple different directions. The biggest loop will take you about 2 miles but you can connect to many different trails and adventure as much as you want. The trails are very well marked and the terrain is pretty level. Maybe one or 2 short, steep sections. We chose the white trail from the parking lot. This takes you directly to the high bluffs overlooking the Connecticut River.
More river views.
From there we took the yellow trail down to the camping site. Typically, you can go to the bottom and walk out to get more views of the river. However, due to all the rain we had recently, the water was really high. Trees and picnic tables were covered. It is probably best to do this hike in the summer. Luckily, I did this a few years ago when the water was low.
After trying to snap some good IG pics, we continued to follow the yellow trail out to the parking lot. There are quite a bit of small bridges to cross over. And, this particular area is swampy and gets very buggy. Tons of mosquitoes. I suggest Deep Woods spray for this hike.
We did do some adventuring off the trails mentioned but it shouldn’t be more than 1.5 miles if you use the white to yellow marked trails. Barely took us an hour. This is a very good beginner hike. You don’t need boots but it is a wetlands area so it can be very muddy. It’s a good, quick hike for those locally.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Castle Craig and East Slope Trail, Meriden, CT
Castle Craig is a popular destination in Meriden, CT. There are awesome views from the top. Hiking the East Slope Trail, check out my review!
Spring is finally here to stay. Another beautiful weekend for outdoors. This weekend’s hike was an oldie but goodie. I have hiked up to Castle Craig a few times in the past. The hiking trails are pretty good and there are excellent views at the top. Also, there is an actual castle/tower, which can be climbed via stairs to the top inside the tower. Castle Craig is located in Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT. The park itself is fairly nice, covered with gorgeous daffodils and a large pond with fountains. There are various trails that take you up to the Castle Craig tower. This particular blog will be on the East Peak using the white/red/blue trails. The trail map I used can be found here.
Upon arriving at Hubbard Park, we drove straight until we saw a small lot to our left where the trail head starts.
From here we followed the white blazed trail through the walking tunnel over I-691.
Shortly after, we reached the small foot bridge that passes over a creek.
Continuing on the white trail led us to the Beehive Spring landmark.
From here we continued straight on the red blazed trail for a short distance until we saw the first blue blazed trail. This part of the hike got pretty steep.
The end of the steep ascend took us to the paved road. You have options here. Use the paved road up to the peak or continue along the blue trail to see overlooks of the town and cross the parking lot. We just went up the road.
At the end of the road, we reached our destination of the East Peak. Castle Craig tower sits atop the East Peak at 976 feet. The skies were absolutely clear and the views were spectacular. We reached the top to only find a few people but within minutes the peak began to fill out, which is typical.
After making more donut eating boomerang videos, climbing the stairs to the top of the tower, and taking as many pics as possible, we made our descend down the East Peak following the white trail. The downhill is steep at first but then becomes flat. I will say, I was disappointed to find a ton of broken glass at this section of the hike. This is a good hike. And, many families include young children and dogs frequently travel the trails. Take care of the trails! Who would smash bottles?!???! Not cool.
Eventually, the white trail led us down carriage road to the Halfway House.
We passed this landmark and continued to follow the white trail to Merimere Reservoir. Again, the skies were clear and got another great view. We continued alongside of the reservoir until we reached the pave road. We took a right walking down the paved road and took another right on the next road, Notch Road. Passing under 691, this lead us back to where we parked.
Hubbard Park is a great area. The park is generally very populated. On nice days, the hiking trails can be crowded. We had pretty good timing on our hike but did get overwhelmed once we reached the peak. I would suggest doing this during the week, after work if possible. If not, this is still worth the hike when crowded. The Castle Craig tower is unique and the views are fulfilling. I would rate this hike moderate for the average hiker. If you are not use to steep uphill, you may need some breaks. Like most Connecticut hikes, gym shoes are probably ok but hiking boots are best. This hike took my group about just over 2 hours and was 3.5 miles based on the way we took. I have done this hike 4x so far. Definitely recommend for a good Connecticut hike.
Hiking Trail Review
Castle Craig and East Slope,~3.5m (Meriden, CT): 3.5 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Hancock Brook Trail, Waterbury, CT
Spring weather is finally upon us. As summer approaches, I look forward to finding new hiking trails. I came across Hancock Brook on Instagram and the hike surprised me. And, no it's not closed. Read up on my advice to make sure you complete this trail!
It has been a long, very long winter in the Northeast. The weather finally felt like spring and that means it was time to find some new trails to hike. I came across the Hancock Brook Trail in Waterbury, CT on Instagram from some fellow CT hikers I follow. I never heard of it and the views looked cool. However, my research displayed this trail was closed including sites like Alltrails. After seeing recent posts and finding one actual site with directions on this trail, I felt comfortable enough to give it a go. And, I can confirm the trail is NOT closed. People are giving up too easily. Yes, there is a rotted bridge but the trail can be accessed elsewhere. For directions, plug into your GPS: Sheffield St., Waterbury, CT, 060704. Drive all the way down until you hit the quarry and there is a small parking lot to your right.
The Hancock Brook Trail is a blue-blaze trail along the edge of the Mattatuck State Forest. This hike is a 2.8 mile loop. The terrain does get quite rocky, which includes steep uphill and downhill portions and some climbing. The trail was covered in leaves on this day and was quite slippery because of that. I would consider this a moderately difficult hike for the average hiker.
Onto to the infamous bridge I kept reading about. Ignore the bridge.
From the parking area, you will start walking up the side of the quarry and look for the first Blue marker. Upon entering the woods, the trail splits and the trail to the right with one blue marker will take you along Hancock Brook. The first half mile or so will give views of the stream and its rapids. The trail is fairly narrow and gets unpleasant as you reach the inclines where the bushes have grown into the trail.
You will reach a spot in the trail where you hear lots of trucks and work on the quarry. There will be a sign to stay on the blazed trail on a tree with the Blue marker.
Continue this direction and go straight. This is a tricky part of the trail. The markings are not great until you reach the peak. You will want to veer right but that will take you the wrong way. There is a like a raised branch signaling not to go this way. If not, you will reach a small pond and you will see a very sketchy trailer. Do not go there. That is not part of the trail. You will be too close for comfort. Turn around. I just envisioned all the crazy TV shows I saw with a crazy dude coming out of a trailer and chasing me.
If you went the right way, you will reach the pond and see the trailer across far enough away. You need to make an abrupt left into the woods to start the incline. Once you do not see blue markings, stop and just turn around. We walked by it as well. I took pictures for guidance. The blue marker was covered by trees.
The trail will get tougher at this stage as you enter a pine forest. There is a mini pond with a bunch of trees down as you get closer to the ascend uphill. Keep an eye out for the blue markings. They are a little too far apart in this area. Once you pass this pond, the steep uphill will begin and there will be some switchbacks.
This tough stretch will be worth it as you will reach a beautiful lookout spot for views. The rock formation is called Lion Head and is the peak at 660 feet. This is a great spot to stop and soak in nature. Have a snack and fuel up on water. Maybe eat a donut.
The climb down was tough at first but got pretty easy as we kept going. And, the trail markings were way better. The spots where they were too far apart, I suggest going the way that made sense and you will find them. You will pass a few more lookout points to enjoy more views along the way.
At the end of trail, there will be a steep downhill section before you reach the quarry where you started. And, somehow we completely missed the waterfall coming in, or the water started to come down from melting while we hiked. Before we left, we took a closer look at what is called Hancock Cascades. This was to the left at the end of the final descend.
This was a surprisingly good hike. This took us about 2 hours and that is with stopping for 20 minutes. I don’t think I would have found it without Instagram. The hike was fun and didn’t take too much time. I would just be careful of the markers. There were times where it was lacking and you really had to keep an eye out. And, stay away from the Breaking Bad looking trailer!
Trail Review:
Hancock Brook Trail, Waterbury, CT (2.8m): 3 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Hiking in Iceland: Thórsmörk
In 2010, a Volcano erupted in Southern Iceland. This eruption occurred near a popular hiking path from Skógar to Thórsmörk. Luckily, during my trip, the hiking route was opened. The terrain was difficult and cut the hike short but the views along the way were mesmerizing.
On my eight hour flight to Iceland, there was a lot of time to spare. The movie selection wasn’t great. And, then I saw the film, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” Ben Stiller was in it and I figured it had to be decent. I started watching and realized, hey this is in Iceland. I turned to Corey and was like did you know this? And, he responded, yes I told you 10 times about this movie…..I’m not a good listener. As I watched, I would pause the movie every 20 minutes and say is this where we are going?!?!?! There was one scene where a volcano erupted and had Ben Stiller’s character running for cover. Pause again, I turn to Corey, are we going to see this? And he said, uh, we are hiking this. Oh snap. It’s about to go down. Eyjafjallajökull, you read that right, is a small ice cap located in Southern Iceland. In March, 2010, thousands of earthquakes were detected and caused an eruption in Fimmvörðuháls, the area of a popular hiking route from Skógar to Thórsmörk, which was then proceeded by a much more violent eruption at the top of the volcano, beneath the glacier. This second eruption caused massive floodwater to pour down the side of the volcano. Over 800 people were evacuated and Iceland’s Glacial Lagoons were destroyed. This even caused a stir with air traffic in Europe, which was paused for numerous days. Four years later, the devastation was still visible and lava was still smoking on the side of the volcano. As luck would have it, the hiking trails were opened and hikers can travel the route and take in these new views. And, that is what we planned to do if the weather permitted. We booked a night at the Volcano Huts in Thórsmörk, which was an awesome experience even if we didn’t attempt a hike. We had to take an hour long bus ride into Thórsmörk, crossing streams and passing glacier tongues.
The initial plan was to hike the entire trail close to 16 miles, see some lava. As we got closer, we realized there was no way we could safely make it to the Fimmvörðuháls pass. However, we like exploration and adventure. We decided to continue with our bold plan until we just couldn’t go on. Try to see as much as we can. You never know if you will be back.
After speaking with the guide at the hut, we started our trek onto the beginning of the Fimmvörðuháls pass. The trail began with small brooks through a woodsy path. And, just like that we were exposed to a large field and a visual of glacial capped mountains. The next section of the hike was an enormous, rocky flood plain that we had to cross. There was a mobile bridge positioned at the end of the rocky terrain where the river was currently running through. We made our way across the bridge to the base of the snowy mountain on the opposite end of the valley where we started. We began our accent up the mountain and the terrain quickly transformed as snow began to appear. We crossed paths with our first hiker of the day heading the opposite direction. We made sure we were going in the right direction and were informed that the terrain was going to get dicey. And, there were currently blizzard conditions farther up the trail. We had packed for the worst, tents, extra clothing and food, so we continued on. Goals of lava steaming were still in sight.
As we made our way up the side of the mountain, patches of snow turned into thick layers of snow. And, this is where things got interesting. There weren’t any prior footprints to just step in as no one had dared to travel this far. We had to carefully, side step along the along the ridge line. Or else we were going sledding down the side of the mountain and……goodbye. We passed multiple sections of pure snow/ice drifts on this very steep mountain slope. Definitely one of the times I had some actual fear and wanting to maybe just turn around. But, persistence always prevails. Eventually we reached the top of the ridge trail and proceeded onto flat land covered in volcanic ash, mud, and rocks. We continued to trek across the this plain until we reached the cliff on the opposite side of the mountain.
At this point, the remainder of the trail looked too risky. As we would need to descend down between the mountains and ascend back up. After what we just did along the ridge line, we called it at this point. We regrouped and chomped on treats to refuel. Then, Corey noticed smoke on the side of the mountain and realized that it was cooling lava. We have attained our goal of seeking lava! The scene was remarkable. The experience was epic. This is what HikingforDonuts is all about. Push yourself, go beyond your comfort zone, and discover what’s out there. .....Then eat a donut ☺.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Exploring Iceland, Part 1
Iceland is one of the more popular destinations for travel right now. Back in 2014, my college friends and I explored 10 days and 1400 miles. It was the most adventurous trip I have ever been on. Here are some of the sights and destinations of that trip.
Iceland is one of my favorite travel destinations. My trip consisted of 10 days of nonstop adventure. This was before it was the "cool thing to do". Iceland travel is everywhere on social media right now. I come across one person a month who has gone or is going. And, rightly so. Iceland is a great country and there is so much exploring. Back in 2014, my friend, Corey, brought up the idea of Iceland. I thought he was a bit whacky and told him to give me more details. As per usual, Corey was able to persuade myself and our other traveling friend, Nancy. This would be the first big exploration in another country. Corey spent over 3 months vehemently planning and creating the ultimate itinerary. And, he succeeded. I just sat back and looked at pictures for months. As the time came close, I was really excited. We had plans of driving all over the country, lots of hiking, hot spring swimming, eating different food, and taking in the culture. This post will focus on some areas of the trip. I will post the hikes separately because they were so awesome. I want to provide a small peek of what Iceland can offer. A new country can be daunting but the risk is worth the reward.
Raufarholshellir Lava Tube Cave
We flew into Reykjavík, picked up our tiny rental car and packed it to the brim. Seriously, the smallest rental I have had and it needed to fit 3 people plus 6 bags. Side note, the best decision we made was renting a car. We drove over 1400 miles and it was amazing. As I digress….we arrived 1am their time and went right to bed. Our trip was in June and it is light 24 hours a day during that time frame. Needless to say, we didn’t sleep much. In addition, we were welcomed with wind and rain that morning but that didn’t stop us from our exploration of Iceland. The objective of this day was to find a lava tube cave, explore, and save $200 not using a guide. Lava tubes are formed by flowing lava which moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. Some are active and will drain lava from a volcano. Some are extinct where the lava flow has stopped, cooled the rock, and left behind a long cave. We were definitely looking for an extinct one. Corey did quite a bit of research to even find information on where to locate one. This info is kept under wraps as most tour guides will not give this out in order to charge for the services. However, we are bad asses. We brought our own helmets and lighting. After driving up and down roads, we eventually found the Raufarholshellir lava cave, which ranks as the third largest in the country at 1360 meters long. Parking was located in a big, rocky lava field. Ironically, the only other vehicle in the lot was an Extreme Iceland tour van.
The beginning of the cave was pretty open with large spotlights where the roof had collapsed. As we descended down, it became more cave like. The ceiling was dripping water as the rain was able to get through. We eventually cross paths with the tour group and the tour guide reassured us of our path. As we went further, it got darker and darker. At one point, we all decided to turn our lights off. It was the darkest setting I have ever been in. It was surreal.
The terrain got more difficult as we reached the end of the tunnel. There was supposed to be a waterfall at the end but it was more of a fossilized cliff of the lava rock near the hole of the ceiling. We made our way back but not without a little scare. There were two tunnels to go down. We only went down one?!?!? I am horrible with directions. Nancy…is Nancy. That left Corey to make the decision. Even though we were concerned as some features seemed different, he made the right decision and we survived. Close call. Always be mindful of your surroundings, especially in a cave.
United States Navy plane crash
Our next adventure was a real surprise. Corey planned everything for the trip. I just handed over money and got on a plane. He took us to the middle of nowhere looking at map coordinates only. We parked the car on the side of the road, packed up our bags, and he said just walk this way. I had no idea where were going. After an hour had passed, we continued to walk through the black sand and I could barely see our car. I saw 4x4 tire tracks so I knew we were close to our destination. I saw the ocean. Then out of nowhere, there was an empty wrecked plane that had crashed resting in the black sand. There were other tourists groups there taking photos and touring the plane.
This was the remains of United States Navy plane. The Douglas Super DC-3 made a crash landing on November 24, 1973. The crew survived and left the wreckage behind and was abandoned. I know this tidbit now. Of course, I ran toward the scene with excitement and accidentally ruined the tourist’s pictures. We ended up taking pictures and exploring the inside for about an hour before we made our trek back to the car. This was an awesome experience and never did I anticipate it would happen in Iceland.
Seljalandsfoss
We did our best hitting every attraction and destination we could fit in our schedule through 10 days from Höfn to Grundarfjördur. I felt like I was in a different country each day. We went from gray volcano ash scenery to beautiful bright green landscape to clear blue water and beaches to mountains and glaciers.What an amazing country. And, if you like waterfalls, Iceland is the place for you. I imagine I seen more in 10 days than my entire life. The first one we came across was Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall was awesome from the road and even more amazing up close. This was the biggest waterfall I have seen. And, you can walk under the waterfall into a small cave.
Skógafoss
The next waterfall we came across was Skógafoss, one of the biggest waterfalls in the country. This waterfall is notorious for the visibility of rainbows on sunny days.
Reynisdrangar
The first black sand beach we visited was Reynisdrangar. I couldn't believe this existed in Iceland. I continued to be awestruck over the landscape of the country. And, this is barely 1/4 of the trip. More to come soon....#Icelandisawesome.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Grand Prismatic Springs & Geysers, Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the U.S. There is so much to explore. This post will focus on some of the sights such as Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Springs. A must visit.
In the summer of 2013, my best friends from college, Nancy and Corey, and myself decided to take our adventures out West and visit Yellowstone National Park. This was one of 3 national park we visited on this particular trip. We gave ourselves 3 days to explore Yellowstone. Once we arrived, we knew were going to see lots of wildlife. Buffaloes are everywhere! But don’t be that person who stops every 5 minutes to take a picture. You will have many chances, don’t start traffic. Before we got more familiar with the park and tested our luck with the animals, we got the more touristy stops out of the way. Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Springs, and the Geyser basins are pretty cool and must visits. Mammoth Hot Springs was another great spot if you want to see more hot springs.
Old Faithful
If you want to see geysers, go to the Old Faithful Visitor Center. You can tour the Geyser basins and watch Old Faithful geyser erupt. Once you get there is a schedule when Old Faithful will erupt, which is between every 60-90 minutes. It’s one of those things you have to see but it was mostly anti climatic. This was by far the most crowded area of the park.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Geysers and hot springs can get old quick, but Grand Prismatic Springs is absolutely beautiful. This is the largest hot spring in the U.S located at Midway Geyser Basin. The colors are fascinating. It is one of those visuals you see online or on TV and once you get there, it actually lives up to your expectations and more.
Mammoth Hot Springs
As if we couldn’t see anymore hot springs, the last stop was Mammoth Hot Springs. These hot springs were different than all the rest. You walk up a few flights of stairs that bring you to boardwalks above the steaming hydrothermal springs. The views were very different as the hot springs were located on a hill of a travertine.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS
Canada is underrated
My first real hiking trip took place in Canada of all places. Me and my buddy jumped in a car and drove up to very unique areas of Canada. We some saw great sights and hiked unfamiliar terrain. Take a read and you will learn some of what Canada has to offer. And.....it's awesome.
Back in 2011, I have never really been anywhere. I was in my mid 20s and I haven’t experienced much outside of the Northeast. I went on a cruise in college but cruises aren’t that adventurous. My best friend, Corey, would try his best talking me into hikes and trips. Generally, my response was “hell no”. He knew he could eventually wear me down and had to say just enough to intrigue me, which will continue to be a theme the next few years of my life. The idea presented to me was a road to trip to Canada but nowhere near Montreal, the only area I knew of back then. This also included camping and hiking. The camping part did not interest me but the idea of going to a unique part of Canada and driving peaked my interest. I really had no idea what I was in for but I have never been to Canada and trusted Corey’s planning and outdoorsy knowledge. The main destinations of the trip involved the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Yeah, completely random. Leaving from Massachusetts we made our way up through the tippy top Northwest of Maine to the boarder. I have never been this far up. It was wild. Once we got close, towns in Maine no longer had names, they were just route numbers. I remember clear as day, for like 100 miles, I saw 2 blueberry stands, a gun shop, and a truck bed shop. Where the heck was I??? 8 ½ hours later, we crossed the border. A simple car ride took us to another country. I couldn’t believe it. Everything looked so different. I was in for a life altering experience.
Our first stop was Saint John, New Brunswick. We started and ended the trip there. We were greeted with very rainy, foggy weather the entire trip. We checked into our hotel and walked around the city the first night. We were right off the water and we could see the cruise ship lines taking off. There was quite a bit to do here for food and drinks. There were lots of Americanized spots and unfortunately we ate at one. It wasn’t good. It is almost better to be more adventurous eating in other countries. The language barrier wasn’t an issue as this was a very tourist area of Canada. We were noob travelers and paid with our credit cards. And, we didn’t have time to exchange at the banks. I would suggest to handle that prior to your trip. With that said, this was a beautiful city. At the time, I wasn’t a big photographer but Corey was. Here is a cool photo he took.
The next few days consisted of exploring the Bay of Fundy. This bay has the highest tidal range in the world, meaning the low tide and high tide difference are dramatic. When we were there, the tide was in. It was crazy how far out it was and where I was standing. Just to think that when high tide comes, you would be in over your head. We visited Fundy National Park and camped in Alma, New Brunswick. One of the more popular attractions in the Bay of Fundy is the Hopewell Rocks. Here is where I realized what a tourist environment looked like. Sooo many people. Too many. We didn’t see many others until this point. I truly like taking in my environment and enjoy what I am seeing. It was tough because people were almost on top of each other. Could have been the fact we went during the busy season. There is an entry fee and there is a trail leading you down to the rocks, which is about a mile. With that said, Hopewell Rocks is pretty awesome. The rocks stand 40-70 feet tall. At that time, definitely something I had seen in my life.
After spending some time outdoors, we made our way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Now, I really felt in another country. Most people here spoke French. The city was a really good experience. There were tourists here but not as many as the other areas. This felt true to the country. I remember having a phenomenal meal at this pub and we sat outdoors just taking in our surroundings. The best part of Nova Scotia was taking a ride to Peggy’s Cove. This was a small community on the eastern shore of St. Margaret’s Bay. This is also a massive tourist attraction to the popular lighthouse and the scenic area of the village. This was brutal with the amount of people but it was just too beautiful not to enjoy. There were many old fishing huts and houses. Definitely a fisherman village. However, all buses and tourist stuff like ice cream shops took away from the old fishermen village vibe. And, yeah I totally had ice cream. We explored around the lighthouse for a little bit, which is the biggest attraction. I was in awe of the ocean views. We decided to take a hike off a beaten path two minutes down the road recommended by a guide at the visitor center. Parked on the side of the road and prayed for the best following the trail toward the bay. The terrain was different than anything I seen. We hiked with boulder to climb over and cliffs to scale along the coast. I got stuck in bushes. I was crapping my pants dangling over rocks above the ocean. I had sneakers on and a crappy book bag. I pretty angry with Corey how far we kept going. We were not prepared nor a clue where we were going but this ended up being a pivotal moment for me. We just kept exploring. This would be one of my first real hikes and first taste of exploration. I was glad to have this experience. If you have the chance, visit Peggy’s Cove.
In conclusion, Canada is friggin awesome. Go to Canada. There are so many cool things to do including hikes, sights, food, and beers. Road tripping through Canada and seeing all the different landscape. Experiencing a completely different culture. I would do it all over again and probably 10x better. This was first big time trip involving outdoors & nature. I was completely hooked! As will you see, as you hopefully continue reading the blog, this has been just the beginning.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Sunset Rock State Park, Crescent Lake, Southington, CT
Check out the Crescent Lake trail in Southington, CT. This was a confusing trail but well worth the views. Enjoy!
Trail Description: Sunset Rock State Park offers a scenic hike around Crescent Lake that connects to the Metacomet Trail.
Trail Info:
Where: Southington, CT Distance 3.2 miles (2-2.5 hrs) Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Lake, Water
How to get there:
Address to GPS: 357 Shuttle Meadow Rd, Plainville, CT 06062. Parking lot is easy to find.
Hiking Tips
Three trails to choose from. The Blue to Orange trail takes you above the lake and is rockier and steeper. Much better views.
Be mindful if you lose the trail markings or end up on a different trail. There is a lack of trail markings. And, some confusing areas where trail markers change colors.
The Hike
On this brisk fall weekend, we decided to hike the Crescent Lake Trail in Southington, CT. This is one of those trails that there isn’t the best information online and it is poorly marked. I will do my best explaining but my advice is always have the map handy and make sure someone is good at directions!
The parking lot is easy to get to, it is off Shuttle Meadow Road. Once you park you will see the lake right in front of you and potentially some people fishing. There are 3 trails. The Red trail is the lower level trail which is mostly flat. This is to your far left from the lot. This is roughly 2m. The blue -orange trails takes you the upper levels to get good views above the lake and this is rockier and steeper. This trail is to your right from the lot. This is about 3.2m and this connects to the Red at the end once you descend down. There is also a green trail, but not sure where that takes you. It appeared to be just a woodsy hike.
We got lost a few times but Nichole is really good with reading trail maps. The issue is lack of markings/incorrect markings. And, the Metacomet Trail connects so you have to be very careful when the colors change. We took the upper trail followed blue-orange markers until we saw just orange then to red. There we were some tough sections where you could choose 3 directions but there are big orange arrows on trees along the way so be mindful of those. There is also an intersection where you see trail arrows for the Metacomet at the top, keep going toward the blue orange and you will pass a camp fire pit. Minus the confusion, it was a cool hike and the view was awesome from the top. I could of took pictures for an hour….luckily, Nichole stopped me. The upper trail I would suggest hiking boots. It was a moderate hike for beginner to intermediate. Some of the inclines got our hearts beating and needing some water. I think this would be a good spot to snowshoe. I hope to keep the fall hikes going. Another local spot in the books, glad we decided to try it even though the reviews were suspect.
Review:
Cresent Lake Trail, 3.2m (Southington, CT): 4 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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First Trip to the Adirondacks: Hiking in Upstate New York
My first trip hiking in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York. Adirondacks Travel Guide. I was able to wake up to Paradox Lake each day, hike Mount Severance, and check out Paradox Brewery. Moderate hike, amazing views along the way!
Trail Description: Planning your first trip to the Adirondacks? Discover beginner-friendly hikes, breathtaking views, and tips for exploring New York's stunning wilderness.
Trail Info:
Where: Schroon Lake, NY Click here for directions. Distance: 2.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Trail Features: Picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness
How to get there:
The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9. However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way. Once parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87.
Hiking Tips:
Put your name in the Sign In chart once you arrive.
This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes.
Adirondacks Weekend Travel Guide Recommendation: Mount Severance Hike and Paradox Brewery
The warm weather is finally here to stay in the northeast. Summer of 2017 looks pretty darn good. I have been planning as many trips as my wallet can handle. My weekends are booked up through almost October. There will be many adventures and lots of food. The first real travel this summer was thanks to friends of mine. They have a friend who owns a house on Paradox Lake. It was a good opportunity to check out some hiking in upstate New York. It was my first trip to the Adirondacks. The house was legit right on the lake. We had our own little beach area and dock. The house was pretty remote so there was no internet connection. It is good sometimes to go without the need of checking your phone on social media and enjoy where you are and who you are with. However, the second I had internet it was game on! It was absolutely, awesome views to see the sun rise and see the sun set. I tried to get good pictures, but I always get distracted by food. I couldn’t help it. My friend’s family always goes all out. It was a weekend of relaxing, filet mignons and tasty ribs.
I have never ventured to this part of New York. The Adirondacks has been on my list of areas to see for a while. When I saw the house was nestled in the Adirondacks Park, I quickly said, “I’m in!”. The first night we hung out at the house and settled in. The next day we did some swimming and soaking in the beauty of the lake. The weather was exceptional. Sun was out with a cool breeze. In the afternoon we headed into the town of Schroon Lake, which was about a 10 minute ride. It was a nice little town area full of small businesses such as ice cream shops, restaurants, and stores. Our mission on this afternoon was beer. We researched a local brewery prior to our stay and it turned out pretty good. It was called Paradox Brewery. All of the seating and bar taps were located outside. There was a food truck and corn hole boards. More importantly, the beer was good. They had a selection of 7 different beers consisting of IPAs, Pilsner, Rye Ale, Saisons, Sour and Stout options. They had one cider from another brewery, Awestruck, which was extremely delish. My favorite beers were the Double IPA and surprisingly the Sour. Sours aren't usually my thing but this one was so good I got a growler. The tartness I did taste was the mix of melons, limes, and citrus. It is a kettle sour aptly named "Oats and Gose". The brewery was a good find to have beers and hang out. I would give it a shot if you are in the area.
Paradox Brewery in Schrron Lake, NY.
The last day I was there, I had to get a hike in. There were a handful of hikes within 30 minutes or so of our location. The one that caught my eye was Mount Severance in Schroon Lake, NY. It was only about 10 minutes from the house rental. The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9. However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way since the beginning of the hike starts under I-87. Once you were parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87. One thing that stood out to me, there was a sign-in chart for hikers. I have never seen that before and I thought that was a great idea if people were to get lost or injured. For a longer or more strenuous hikes, I would like to see more of these. For this hike, it was very well marked and and a quick trip to the summit. I can see why this is a popular hike. It was roughly 2 .4 miles round trip and the summit offers picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness. The terrain wasn’t bad although we got caught in a little rain storm. There were some steep inclines and rocky areas but I would consider this a moderate hike. This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes. I really enjoyed it. Everything you want in a hike – good photo opportunities, optimal summit location, and fun. I would hike this again given the chance.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Ready to plan your trip? Let us know your favorite Adirondacks hike in the comments!
Taking the plunge!
Welcome to my blog! It is time to share my travels, hikes, foodie problems, and everything else awesome. Enjoy!
My name is Mark. I love traveling and exploring. Nothing gets me excited like a new adventure. I have been fortunate enough to travel to 27 States and 5 Countries. I have traveled through Canada, hiked all over Iceland (before it was popular and cool), and backpacked in Switzerland. And, I am a huge foodie. ..BIG TIME! I love all types of foods, especially donuts! I enjoy seeking out new and interesting places to eat locally and wherever I travel. I am generally the food guy of the group. That is my one true job. Find the most dynamite place to eat. So far, I have only really failed once and that was in Missoula, Montana. I deserve a pass on that one.
I can’t count how many times I have been asked about a city, hike, or restaurant and I say, “Haven’t been there. I hear it’s nice.” Or…”I think I have been there, but can’t remember.” And, one of my friends or my girlfriend will chime in, “Yeah, we did that.” I guess it’s a good problem that I have been to so many cool places. I just have a hard time keeping up! That leads to me to the blog. I have been thinking about a blog for years now. I figured what better way to look back at my memories than to start a blog, all while describing my trips, adding some food insights, and showing the pictures I take along the way. You may see any other awesome explorations whether it be a craft brewery on the weekend or trip to a new baseball stadium.
Denver biscuit company
My other main purpose for this blog is to help others find new places to eat, travel, and explore. There are places I never anticipated to travel but wanted to learn more. I hope this blog helps increase reader’s curiosity of exploration. I spend hours and hours and days researching trips, food, and hikes. I want to be able to enhance that research for others, offering my experiences and thoughts. I hope this will spark interest in others to enjoy new unexpected experiences with their eyes and bellies. If you don’t mind my interesting way of conversing and not the best grammar, please follow along and enjoy.
Donut Haus in Estes Park, CO
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips Every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and Share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by City Or State Here.
EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE
RECOMMENDED POSTS
RECENT POSTS
See where I’ve been recently on Instagram and follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS