Mohawk State Forest

This is a very pretty state recreation area in the Litchfield hills with a number of nice scenic overlooks and a variety of easy to moderate hiking trails ideal for short sojourns. Particularly nice in the fall.

Winter is no excuse!
Get outside and experience the great outdoors like never before. Put on a pair of good hiking boots, bundle up, and tread the trodden trails (do I hear Dave Matthews Band in the background?) of Mohawk State Forest in 18 inches of snow.
How, you say? Chances are that the snow-​covered hiking trails will be packed down by the snowshoeing patrons that came before you. The result? «Snow-​booting!» [Trademark Jason M. of Berlin, CT]
For obvious reasons, you can’t trek that fast in the snow. But if you find the blue trail where it meets Tornado Road, a good hike will take you to the summit in about 40 minutes. 360 degree views from the top, quite stunning when all of New England is blanketed in the white stuff.
If you’re feeling richer, and don’t like physical activity, there’s always the ten miles of designated trails for snowmobiling. No matter what, it’s a pleasant place to be one with nature.

There are a lot of ways to enjoy this spot. I like hiking and camping so I’m going to recommend getting on the blue blazed Mohawk Trail and hiking the entire length with some good friends. If you have children there’s an awesome summer hike where you start from the boat launch, hike up the mountain, picnic at the top (someone can even drive a cooler with some food up there) and then hike down to the campground/​picnic area (make sure to stop for cool clean fresh spring water along the way before backtracking for a swim at the boat launch. If you’re older and can swim well the rocks across the way make a great hangout away from people and cars. Nothing here is too challenging. You can do the entire trail in a day easy if you keep moving. I loved it. I loved slogging through the swamped out overflowed beaver dam area. I loved coming up over the hill to see the amazing views below. I loved seeing some wildlife (deer, turkeys and an owl). I loved just spending time on the trail and not being in the office. I’d love to come back here with smaller kids and do a baby hike. I’ll make up stories about ghosts and zombies and werewolves in the gutted out «castle» and talk about sea monsters as we wade around in the lake. I’ll cook them hot dogs and they can cook me marshmallows. It could be a great day. Put one together for yourself!

Going with young kids? In your car? Need it to be handicapped accessible? Looking for a picnic site without a long walk? A brief bramble? A mountain biking spot? This is your place.
But. If you are looking for a challenging, heart-​pumping, adult and/​or older kids hiking adventure away from the sound of cars, this is not your spot. It is too rinky dink and automobile-​based for that. Instead, get in your car and head 30 minutes northwest to Salisbury where you will find Lion’s Head and Bear Mountain… and a true hiking adventure replete with spectacular views, cardio-​filled climbs, and absent of cars.
I do think, however, that Mohawk would offer excellent trail running, if you are into that, and snowshoeing and xcountry skiing in winter.

This is a very very good place to visit with family and friends for a peaceful picnic day. This is within an hour’s drive from most parts of Connecticut and it is a pleasant surprise. As we entered the forest, we could drive through the forest until the top vista point. There are many scenic points in between where you can stop and watch the spectacular scenery. There are a lot of picnic areas with tables along the drive in the forest. You can have a great lunch with your family and friends in a very peaceful environment.
I had been there in 2010 summer with my family and then, again visited with my friend’s and my families. My friend’s family too liked the place very much and thanked us for recommending this place. The view from the top vista point is awesome.
For a day’s trip, we clubbed Mohawk Forest with Housatonic Meadows State Park during our first visit. For our second visit, we clubbed Mohawk Forest with the Kent Falls. Both were great days! The countryside drive is also awesome and rewarding.

As a «city slicker» as my dad puts it (the guy born in New Jersey), I have a long history living across the road from this mountain. He does the walk every day by himself and back. Thus whenever I’m up there he forces me to do the walk while my mom avoids it like it were an afternoon of church.
Through every muggy, disgusting summer of bugs and frigid, impossible winters I have dragged my butt up and down this park. As a young girl in little Doc Marten mary janes whining and plotting an equal intolerable demise on my father, to a now older disgruntled girl but lugging a digital camera like a tourist. Saw it, lived it, shoplifted the t-​shirt.
It’s not difficult to navigate on or off the path, very straightforward with lots of little camp buildings, picnic stops and hidden treasures along the way. There used to be this beautiful overlook that kids carved their initials in on the top on Mohawk Mountain (not the ski resort), but was torn down. There is still off one of the paths is an open stone castle-​y building.
For those who want to be on the driving path, on the other side towards the overpass has an equally impressive overlook. I recommend walking for better wildlife views.
For photographers, nature enthusiasts, people who want to get their groove on with some trees, it’s what you dream about.