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Hemlock Hills
4.6 ★★★★★ 101 Google reviews · Running trail in Ridgefield, Connecticut · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Hemlock Hills' own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Famous beauty spot popular with hikers & mountain bikers for its challenging trails & great views.
What runners say about Hemlock Hills
“Beautiful forest with very large, spread out trees and little understory growth makes this a very special forest!”
“The trails are generally very well marked, some "You are here" signs at trail junctions would be nice though.”
“Awesome hike on the Ives trail, easy trail access from up here 👍”
We followed the yellow-blazed "Ives" trail. The complete loop took about 2 hours. The bottom was a little steep, but not a scramble. Really nice for what I'd call a "suburban" trail. We'll definitely go back.
Large hiking area just past the Danbury Fair Mall on the Danbury/Ridgefield CT line. The area consists of Pine and Wooster Mountain as well as several lakes. The hiking is very mountainous and steep in several locations.
Hemlock Hills is full of big rock rolls and technical rock gardens that were a lot of fun to play on with your mountain bike. But they make you earn that with several punchy climbs throughout. It’s also a little bit of a spaghetti maze of trails, especially at the start, so have your Trailforks ready.
The largest contiguous undeveloped open space tract in Connecticut. Great mountain bike trails, many possible hiking loops, can easily get 700 or more feet of vertical in a couple hours hike. See ROSA.org for a trail map. Nice view from Pine Mountain, several impressive gorges and ridges.
Trail conditions & character
“One thing I loved was the amazing view from the Ives cabin lookout site, which is near the top of one of the mountains with a clearing overlooking much of the area.”
“Hemlock Hills is full of big rock rolls and technical rock gardens that were a lot of fun to play on with your mountain bike.”
“This is an easily accessed trail network with a very wide variety of trail types from simple dirt roads to exceedingly difficult singletrack.”
“Nice place to hike with the dog, our snoot likes to climb rocks so she had a blast.”
“I've linked up loop hikes of just over 10miles even without doing the longest sections, so you can get some miles in if you want.”
“The trails are generally very well marked, some "You are here" signs at trail junctions would be nice though.”
Plan your run at Hemlock Hills
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–9 PM |
Running trails near Ridgefield
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Wooster Mountain State Park Scenic Reserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 80 reviews
Founded in 1920, this 444-acre park offers trails & hunting, plus a 50-yard outdoor shooting range.
Ives Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 33 reviews
Walking trail named after a local composer & stretching 20 mi. through a heavily wooded area.
Bennetts Pond State Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 71 reviews
State park with trails for hiking and mountain biking, plus lakes and abundant wildlife.
Seth Low Pierrepont State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
Lush state park with hiking access from multiple parking lots, plus lake boating/fishing launches.