Early Bird on the Trail

Home
United States
Norfolk, CT
Early Bird on the Trail

place to share

06/15/2026

There’s so much to love about this hike! 💗🥾

Try this 5 mile loop in Kent, CT - a portion of it along the Appalachian Trail - and you won’t be disappointed!

It was the first hike this weekend after finishng school and wow did it feel good. You’ll see Fuller Pond, walk through a wide open meadow, then up to Caleb’s Peak on the AT, and loop down to the other side of Fuller Pond to get back to your car.

It’s 5 miles but only 785 ft of elevation gain so it’s not too difficult

This is a custom route I made on AllTrails so if you’d like to try it comment SEND and I’ll send the AllTrails link to your Instagram inbox!!

Happy hiking! Temps this week seem perfect for getting out there ☀️🥾🌲

AllTrails

06/08/2026

It’s mountain laurel time! 🌸🌸👏🥾🥾

Finally visited Connnecticut’s Mountain Laurel Sanctuary in the Northeast corner in Union, CT.
Mountain Laurel is CT’s state flower! And now is the time you’ll see it popping up all along the trails & certain mountaintops.

You can park at the front entrance of the sanctuary and walk down a mainly flat gravel path that winds through tunnels of pink and white mountain laurel. Some are in bloom and some have a bit to go so getting there in the next two weeks should be good for peak viewing!

🌸The Mountain Laurel Sanctuary in Union protects one of the largest mountain laurel groves in New England! Connecticut’s state flower blooms here each June, creating dreamy pink-and-white tunnels through the forest. I learned that the flowers have tiny pollen catapults that launch pollen onto visiting bees. 🐝✨

At the end of the gravel path there’s a trail you can hike through the woods if you and the dogs need a bit more! 🥾🥾

And of course, the weekend walk isn’t complete without a visit to some sort of bakery. We found one that’s 10 minutes away. Check out Always Moore Cafe for a breakfast sandwich on a croissant 😍 a hot cup of coffee, sandwiches, and prepared foods to go!

Happy mountain laurel season 🌸🌸🌸

06/05/2026

Come one come all to Connecticut Trails Day! 🥾🌲 The largest National Trails Day® celebration in the country 😍

This weekend, June 6 & 7, choose from over 200 FREE guided hikes, walks, and outdoor dog & family friendly adventures happening across CT. I couldn’t believe all the different guided hikes at some of my favorite trails in CT - swipe through to see! And head to trailsday.org to sign up! ✅

Whether you’re looking for a dog-friendly hike, family-friendly outing, unique nature experience, an accessible adventure, or a hike with local history, there’s something for you..

Here are a few hikes with big views to choose from:
🥾Peoples State Forest
🥾Mount Sanford
🥾Ragged Mountain
🥾Lamentation Mountain
🥾Metacomet Trail
🥾Pine Mountain

And then these super cool unique events: ! ✨ Goat Walk (Berlin) 🦋 Night Moths at McKeon Farm (Wilton) 🦀 Horseshoe Crab Walk (Madison) 🐦 Introduction to Birdwatching (Canton) 🌿 Nature Detectives Family Fun Hike (Middlefield) 🏞️ Tory’s Cave Loop & Boardman Mountain (New Milford)

🌟All events are free and led by experienced guides
🌟Find an event near you and register at trailsday.org

Hope you have fun out there and happy trails!! :))

NationalTrailsDay

05/29/2026

What I hope many more summer nights look like coming up!
Couldn’t believe how pretty this view was, and just tried it for the first time last night. The view faces west so it’s perfect for sunset! 🌅

Located in Suffield, CT on the New England Trail, the same trail I shared a post about the other day for a hike in Guilford. As mentioned in that post, the New England Trail runs from the shoreline of Connecticut all the way up to the top of Massachusetts to the New Hampshire border.

Find it on AllTrails: New England Trail (NET) CT Section 21 Mountain Road to State Line
shows it as a point to point hike, which you can do or if you just walk a little more than halfway, it will take you to these westerly views.

Happy hiking in CT! 😍💚💚💚🍀🍀🥾 we’ve got so many to choose from!

05/27/2026

They do exist! Love finding hikes with views along the shoreline and I plan to spend more time exploring out here this summer. 👏💚

This was a new one to me, a 1.7-mile loop along the blue-blazed New England Trail, a 235 mile New England Trail starts in Guilford and goes all the way up through Massachusetts to the border of New Hampshire.

So you could make this longer hike if you wanted to continue the NET! 🥾🥾

Love how there’s always more views to be found and trails to discover!
📍Bluffs Head, Guilford CT
💚💚

05/16/2026

Such a beautiful sunset last night, with golden rays poking through after a few showers✨✨🌤️

reminds me that you have to get out there every chance you get! 😍💚🐶🐶

And if you’re looking for other ways to hike to this spot besides the main trail, I’ve got a post with 4 different trails to take up Talcott Mountain. It’s fun to try a new way to a view you’ve been before!

🌟Comment ‘send’ for the Talcott Mountain Hikikg Guide 👏💚

05/10/2026

Explored a new spot after work Friday that I’ve had saved forever on AllTrails and can’t wait to go back! 💚🌊

It was another reminder about all the beautiful trails we have in Connecticut and how you don’t have to go far for a new adventure. 🥾🥾

Once a to***co farm, the 473-acre Northwest Park in Windsor is home to over 12 miles of wooded trails, fields, wetlands, and views all along the Farmington River. Love any trail that winds along a river! 🌊🌊
There are farm animals and a nature center on site, too!🐮🌾

I loved the wide, easy paths through the woods. We were a bit rushed getting there so close to sunset & only did a short piece of the trail but there’s a 5.4 mile loop you can do or just walk a small portion of it.

🌟If you love river trails too, comment SEND and I’ll send you a post with 9 different river walks in Connecticut! 🌊🌊

Happy Sunday and happy Mother’s Day 😍
💗💞

05/07/2026

💚Where the trail meets the cone! 🥾➡️🍦

In the mood and on the hunt for CT’s best ice cream spots paired with nearby hikes!

And visiting Tulmeadow Farm Store this week after work with the farm trails right behind the ice cream shop was the perfect way to kick off these warmer nights + late sunsets 🌞

If ice cream and a nearby trail sounds like fun to you, too, then check out my post featuring 10 different hikes in Connecticut paired with nearby (and the best!) ice cream shops.

🌟Comment ‘send’ to get the post pairing 10 different trails + ice cream shops in CT! 🍦💫⛰️

🐶🐶🍦🍦and find treats for the dogs, too!

Address

Norfolk, CT
06058

Website

https://earlybirdonthetrail.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Early Bird on the Trail posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company in Norfolk?