20s & 30s Afterwork Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve Hike

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 3 - Easy
Trip Leader(s): Lee Thao
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001Aed7
Audience: 20’s & 30’s

Description: Break up the work week with a sunset trek through a preserved Connecticut treasure: the Green, Red, and White Trail Loop at the Trout Brook Valley Preserve! Snatched from the jaws of developers by concerted citizen action, this pristine 1,009-acre open space offers some of the finest trail networks in Fairfield County. 🌄🌲 Our 5.2-mile route strings together three classic trails to give us a comprehensive tour of the preserve. We'll hike past dramatic displays of New England nature at its best, winding through lush valleys, active apple and blueberry orchards, and over some steady, sharp inclines that will definitely get the heart pumping. The absolute highlight of the evening will be hitting the scenic overlooks along the Purple Popp Mountain section to catch sweeping views of the Saugatuck Reservoir . As we look out over the water, we’ll be standing right above local history—the small 19th-century village of Valley Forge now lies flooded 100 feet beneath the reservoir's surface! This route is roughly 5.2 miles with ~705 ft of gain — a perfect mid-week workout with a great balance of local history, steady climbing, and rewarding views. 🎒 What to Bring: 1.5+ liters of water 💧 Snacks to keep your energy up 🥨 Sturdy shoes (hiking shoes or trail runners for the rocky slopes) 🥾 Hiking poles 🥢 (for navigating the sharper, rocky inclines and descents!) Layers — the ridges and reservoir overlooks can get surprisingly breezy as the sun goes down. 🌬️ 🅿️ Parking: FREE for all vehicles. Specific parking & meetup location will be emailed to confirmed participates. 🍻 Social: After we wrap up the loop, we’ll head over to nearby Redding (about a 10-15 minute drive) to grab dinner, a drink, and unwind. We will take a poll after the hike to decide where we will go for dinner. We’ll be heading to one of two local favorites in Georgetown: Milestone Restaurant : A fantastic neighborhood gathering spot known for its thin-crust artisan pizzas, excellent bar burgers, hot wings, and great classic cocktails. 🍕🍸 Wire Mill Saloon & Barbeque : A cozy, authentic BBQ spot serving up incredible slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs, and homemade sausage right by the river. 🍖🔥 📧 Confirmed participants will receive: Weather updates A Google Sheet for optional carpooling Exact meeting location and trailhead coordinates Aspetuck Land Trust Official Site: https://www.aspetucklandtrust.org/trout-brook-valley-preserve Connecticut Tourism Office: https://ctvisit.com/listings/trout-brook-valley-state-park-reserve Explore Connecticut: https://explorect.org/trout-brook-valley/ AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/connecticut/trout-brook-valley-preserve

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!