Day Trip To Kent Falls In Connecticut

Kent Falls State Park is a quiet stop worth making if you travel around western Connecticut. A short trail leads up along the cascades, with platforms where you can stop and watch the water. Wear proper shoes, not flip flops like I did, and stay on the trail, because entering the water is not allowed in the park.

Good to know today: The park is open daily from 8 am until sunset. Cars registered in Connecticut park for free. Other cars pay 10 dollars on weekdays and 15 dollars on weekends and holidays. Swimming, entering the water and climbing on the falls are not allowed, so stay on the marked trail. Dogs are welcome on a leash. Fees can change, so check the official park page on ctparks.com before you go.

Few weeks ago I absolved lovely day trip to falls in Connecticut,  in Kent Falls State Park. These falls are mostly known for local people and I must say, I’ve never heard of Kent Falls State Park before I came to Connecticut. Tourists don’t know about this place, so if you’re looking for a quiet place where not everyone had been, stop by and enjoy what Kent Falls offer.

Kent Falls became Connecticut’s eighteenth state park in 1919 with a gift of 200 acres by White Memorial Foundation and by this day, its area takes little more over 295 acres. Kent Falls include series of cascades that descend over 250 feet through the forest. To discover this spectacular place by visitors, there was built the Kent Falls Trail which is long quarter mile and takes you up to the falls. The trail is short, but the stone steps are steep, so wear proper shoes, not as me. I’ve done this in flip flops and survived without broken bones. As you’re ascending, you can stop by on one of many viewing platforms to enjoy this beautiful cascades and take pictures. You don’t have to be worried about other people on the pictures, there aren’t many of them. This is big advantage of barely known places like this.

Picnic area and wheelchair access

Right on the bottom of Falls, there is large picnic area, favorite especially for families with young children. While walking around here, I’ve seen lot of children playing in the water, while their parents were preparing dinner on grill. Today the park rules do not allow entering the water. Many people just drive here to walk their dogs or enjoy sunshine on green lawn. Next to the picnic area, there is big parking lot (maybe unnecessary big) for your vehicle. There are few parking spots for disabled people, so if you’re disabled you can come and enjoy this beauty, as well. The parking, picnic tables, restrooms and the trail to the base of the falls are accessible. The steps up along the falls are not.

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Warning signs people ignore

As I wrote, this state park is not that popular for tourists, although you will find lot of boards with warnings, that coming off the trail is prohibited, but nobody pay attention. It’s wrong that people are not paying attention to the boards, because this ecosystem is weak and we want to save it for further generations, and the park rules do not allow swimming or entering the water. Wet rocks by the falls are slippery, so stay on the trail. Many of my friends have done it and spammed my Facebook page. I skipped entering the waterfall, just walk little bit in the water and it was very cold what didn’t surprise me.

Kent Falls State Park is one of those places you always find by accident and nobody knows about them. If you will ever have travels around Western Connecticut, consider stopping by and take a picture of the falls from the trail.

Milan Bardún 2014 because it’s better to travel than to arrive