Lively Hound Adventures in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut
- Luie Boone
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
This travel spot is featured in our fifth blog series, Bowwows Belong.
If your hound is lively like Luie Boone, the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut are the most paw-some place for adventures together.
This storybook corner of New England isn’t just easy on the eyes! It also has some impressive history, too. During the American Revolution, the region’s rugged hills and tucked-away valleys made it a safe inland hideout from British attacks along the coast. Towns like Litchfield quietly did their part, housing supply depots, ironworks, and even prisoners of war, including captured British and Hessian soldiers! Local iron furnaces churned out cannons, cannonballs, and tools helped keep the Continental Army in the fight. Not bad for such a peaceful place, Luie Boone supposes.
If you want to honor the history of the town's Revolutionary War soldiers, you can visit the Soldiers' Tree located in the eastern section of the Litchfield Green. There is a small marker that stands near the tree.
Later on, those same rolling hills and dreamy landscapes inspired 19th-century artists and writers, helping shape the classic American countryside we still picture today!
Fast-forward to today, and the Litchfield Hills are a dream destination for dog-loving travelers. Think winding back roads, charming villages, fresh air for days, and plenty of spots where your pup is welcomed with open arms (and maybe a scratch behind the ears). Whether you’re chasing trails or strolling town greens, it’s the perfect mix of adventure and laid-back lounging.
Litchfield makes an easy and dog-friendly home base, with walkable streets and a central green that’s perfect for a leisurely sniff-and-stroll. Grab a bite at West Street Grill’s outdoor seating. This spot offers upscale, seasonal fare... including wine. Luie Boone doesn't know much about wine, other than that it can make his hoomans a bit tipsy and more prone to give him treats.
For a slower pace, Cornwall delivers peaceful countryside vibes with rolling farmland and dog-friendly trails at Mohawk State Forest. This state forest features a nearly 1,700-foot tall mountain called the Mohawk Mountain, which offers gorgeous views of the nearby mountain ranges and forests. Thankfully, Luie Boone's hoomans assured him that he doesn't need to have a mohawk to visit. He'd rather look like a dog than a dinosaur. No offense to dinosaurs, though!
Just down the road, West Cornwall turns on the charm. Wander with your pup near the iconic covered bridge, stroll along the Housatonic River, and enjoy quiet roads and scenic paths made for relaxed, happy walks. There are also gorgeous white sandy beaches and secluded coves to explore.
Kent is another must-visit, especially if your dog loves a good waterfall view. Leashed pups are welcome at Kent Falls State Park, where forest trails and cascading water make for an unforgettable outing. The village itself is walkable, welcoming, and full of outdoor café seating and pet-friendly places to stay.
Washington and Washington Depot bring artsy flair and natural beauty together. Leashed dogs can explore Steep Rock Preserves' trails, which will lead you to three paw-some destinations. The first is an old railroad tunnel built by coal miners. The second is the Holiday House, a huge summer house built by a wool importer. Lastly, there's the Steep Rock Summit that gives you a 776-foot high view of the valley!
Bantam adds a breezy lakeside feel near Bantam Lake, perfect for scenic strolls and slow mornings. Stop by Arethusa A Mano for excellent coffee, house-made pastries, and artisanal bites while your pup lounges happily (even happily-er if they're getting some sweet, dog-friendly treats) beside you on the dog-friendly patio.
For true peace and quiet, Morris is a hidden gem. Wooded trails, open fields, and winding country roads invite long, meandering walks. White Memorial Conservation Center welcomes leashed dogs on miles of serene trails through forests and wetlands!
Bethlehem rounds things out with classic rural New England charm. A paw-some spot to visit here is the Nonnewaug Falls Trail. This trail is less than one-mile out-and-back, leading you past mossy gorges to an almost twenty-foot-tall, gorgeous waterfall! If you go past the main falls, you can get to a spot with mini-waterfalls. Luie Boone thinks that sounds like multiple spots for him to dip his paws in and get nice and wet and stinky.
And, hey, if you’re craving a slightly more energetic stop, Torrington delivers riverfront trails and green spaces where dogs can stretch their legs. Burr Pond State Park is perfect for hikes, picnics, or learning about the history of condensed milk. Yeah, that's right—the history of condensed milk. Turns out, the park was home of the world's first condensed milk factory!
With charming towns, endless sniff-worthy trails, outdoor dining, and welcoming places to stay, the Litchfield Hills are a tail-wagging favorite for dog-friendly travel. It’s classic New England charm—best enjoyed side by side with your four-legged adventure buddy.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Litchfield Hills,
Connecticut. Check it out below!
Rental Name: State Forest Getaway
This rental has 4 bedrooms with 5 beds and 2.5 baths.
Photos by airbnb.com
It features the following amenities:
Weber gas grill
Outdoor dining table
Hammock for summer months
Stone steps down to the brook
Brook that runs through the property
Trout that swim by all spring and summer
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
We’re staying at State Forest Getaway, and I’m bringing my stuffed rainbow trout, Ripple. He doesn’t come everywhere, but this feels like a Ripple-level adventure. The house is tucked deep in the forest with tall trees, birds that sing all day, and a babbling brook running through the property (WATER!). There are two little bridges to cross, a lit path to the house, and a backyard with picnic tables, a hammock, a fire pit, and quiet spots by the brook for thinking and paw-cooling. My hoomans heard that other dogs who stayed there loved the brook, so obviously I will too. Inside, there are warm floors, lots of beds (four bedrooms plus a library bed—excellent choices), a cozy living room with a giant screen TV, and a kitchen with a deck and grill. Ripple will supervise the trout while I supervise the humans, and even though we haven’t been yet, everything already sounds perfect.
Paws Venture Here
Luie Boone sniffed out and dug up these local gems for you to check out while vacationing in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut.
Testone Boulder
The Testone Boulder is a massive glacial erratic named in memory of Connecticut mineralogist Dino Testone (1914–1991), but Luie Boone mostly reckons it’s a very impressive rock worth stopping to sniff. You can see it while hiking with your pooch on the 1.8-mile Testone Boulder Loop Trail in Sunny Brook State Park, a route Luie Boone would describe as “just the right length before snack time.” Along the way, the trail passes a beaver pond, where Luie Boone is convinced the beavers are very busy, very important, and absolutely responsible for all the chewed-up trees you’ll spot along the path.
West Cornwall Covered Bridge
West Cornwall is home to its famous covered bridge, a landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a symbol of the area’s rural heritage for nearly 160 years. Measuring 172 feet long and 15 feet wide, the bridge is an impressive sight... although Luie Boone would argue it’s essentially a very large, very important tunnel that echoes nicely and deserves a slow walk, several sniffs, and at least one thoughtful pause to admire the river below.
The Quartz Mine
The Quartz Mine once supported a small, but busy mining operation in the 19th century. It stayed active from the 1800s until it was abandoned in 1915. Back then, quartz was used as a paint filler and abrasive and was hauled to the Hudson River by wagon—and later by train—which sounds exhausting to Luie Boone. While quartz usually forms beautiful hexagonal crystals, the mineral at Hidden Valley Preserve shows up instead as a massive white vein, which Luie Boone believes looks exactly like a place where important smells would collect. You and your pup can visit the site by following the river along the Van Sinderen Trail, continuing on until you hear the unmistakable crunch of quartz pebbles underfoot. That's an exciting sound that Luie Boone would definitely take as a sign you’re getting close to something worth investigating!
Five Ponds
At the White Memorial Conservation Center, Five Ponds offer you and your canine companion an intricate network of peaceful woodland trails winding around shallow ponds—Heron Pond, Teal Pond, Fawn Pond, Beaver Pond, and Plunge Pool—while showcasing classic glacial formations along the way. Many of the trails connect into easy, walkable loops, which Luie Boone considers excellent planning because it means more exploring and fewer “are we done yet?” moments. Every section is scenic, making it tempting to design your own route through the area, though Luie Boone would strongly advise bringing a detailed map... mostly so no one accidentally skips a pond or misses a very important sniffing opportunity.
Ice House Ruins
A flat, easy trail leads you and your pooch to the massive stone foundations of what was once a very large and very serious icehouse. Long before refrigerators existed (a fact that Luie Boone finds deeply concerning), the Berkshire Ice Company harvested ice from Bantam Lake and shipped it all the way to New York City! The building burned down in 1929, but the impressive ruins still stand today, offering a glimpse into a forgotten industry. Luie Boone will sniff the history and wonder why humans went to all that effort just to keep things cold.
Mount Tom Tower
Located on Mount Tom in Mount Tom State Park, this 34-foot stone tower sits at the end of the Mount Tom Tower Trail. It has sweeping 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape and distant landmarks. The black gneiss tower was originally built of wood in 1888 by Columbia professor and Litchfield resident H.S. Monroe, but was rebuilt in stone in 1921. Luie Boone agrees that was a solid upgrade.
The Steep Rock Railroad Tunnel
The Clamshell Loop is an easy 2.3-mile hike shaped like a clamshell, winding through the scenic Shepaug River area. Luie Boone says it’s an ideal distance: long enough for exploring, short enough to avoid dramatic lying-down protests. The real highlight comes at the end, where you pass through the Steep Rock Railroad Tunnel. This is a cave-like tunnel carved along a rocky cliffside. Built in 1871–1872 for the Shepaug Valley Railroad and used until 1948, the tunnel is equal parts history lesson and adventure!
Peaches n Cream CT
Peaches n Cream CT is a pet-friendly stop. Dogs can relax at one of the six outdoor tables, while their humans enjoy ice cream and sherbet in a variety of flavors. There's even sugar-free and dairy-free options. And, even better, there's a partial dog menu with pup cups. Luie Boone would argue pup cups are the only logical reason to sit politely at a table. According to him, any place that serves dessert and acknowledges dogs is doing things exactly right.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Litchfield Hills, Connecticut
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
I had the opportunity to discuss Litchfield Hills with another dog I met on a walk. He woofed, very seriously, “Lots of trees, but the sky leaks without warning.” I do not know what a Litchfield is, but I know what a hill is, and I do not trust it. I also already suspected the sky leaks there, because my hoomans kept saying, “It rains suddenly in the hills,” and then packed rain jackets and extra socks. That's hoomans for you! They showed me photos of forests and trails and used words like “peaceful” and “beautiful,” which usually means I will be on a leash while squirrels live freely and without consequences. I was getting excited anyway... until I remembered the sky. One moment you are dry and powerful, and the next you are wet, muddy, and being looked at with concern. After rain, the trails turn into soup. Bugs arrive. The sky also yells sometimes, which I strongly dislike. When that happens, we go inside, and I am towel-dried like a damp loaf of bread and handed a toy so I can “relax.” I will still go. I love my hoomans. I love sticks. But if the sky falls on me, I will take it personally.
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