Cornwall: River Landscapes, Hiking Trails and History

Cornwall brings together a historic structure, riverside recreation and nearby hiking destinations. If you are considering the town as a place to stay, its different attractions are easy to distinguish: the West Cornwall Covered Bridge represents architectural history, the Housatonic River offers activities on the water, and the trails range from short walks to challenging routes. This can help you decide which aspects of Cornwall are especially appealing for your trip.

Covered Bridge in West Cornwall

The West Cornwall Covered Bridge is one of the last covered bridges in Connecticut. It is 172 feet long and 15 feet wide, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The measurements give a concrete sense of the structure’s size; its listing on the Register adds historic status to this architectural description. Anyone interested in historic structures will find a clearly identified example here in West Cornwall.

Riverside Recreation and State Park

Housatonic Meadows State Park is a 452-acre public recreation area on the Housatonic River in the towns of Sharon and Cornwall. Opportunities there include camping, hiking, picnicking, canoeing and fly fishing. The Appalachian Trail also passes through the state park. The activities span a range of ways to enjoy the outdoors: in addition to hiking and canoeing, camping, picnicking and fly fishing are also available.

Paddling, fishing and hiking are listed for the Cornwall section of the Housatonic River. This adds river recreation specific to this section to the description of the park. If you want to distinguish between a stay in the recreation area and activities on the water when planning your trip, the information about the park and river offers two useful perspectives on the landscape.

Hiking Trails and Routes of Varying Lengths

Two nearby trails differ considerably in length and difficulty. The Pine Knob Loop Trail is in Housatonic Meadows State Park and Housatonic State Forest, west of the Housatonic River and north of Cornwall Bridge. This short, challenging loop is 2.6 miles long, shares part of its route with the Appalachian Trail and offers views over the river valley.

By contrast, the trail in Welles Preserve is one mile long and easy. The described walk takes 15 to 20 minutes and crosses Bloody Mountain through the forest. It includes a very short climb and views of Cornwall Village. There is a picnic table at the top. The parking area is on Town Street, four-tenths of a mile from the junction with Route 128. The two trails therefore contrast the challenging Pine Knob loop with the shorter, easy walk in Welles Preserve.

A longer option near Cornwall is the 18.2-mile section of the Appalachian Trail from Falls Village to West Cornwall Road. Features include a river and some challenging climbs. The Mohawk Blue Blazed Trail runs through the pines and is a popular starting point and destination for excursions in Cornwall. The options thus range from short trails to a longer section of the Appalachian Trail, with routes differing in length, difficulty and scenery.

Seasonal Farmers’ Market

The farmers’ market in West Cornwall is seasonal and offers produce and other local products from farms and artisan vendors. As the schedule may change, check the current dates before visiting. The market adds another local dimension to Cornwall alongside its structures, river activities and hiking trails.

Discover more destinations: Sharon, Plymouth, Canaan, New Milford, Warren, Litchfield, Northfield, Morris

Go to the main travel overview: Litchfield.