HomeConnecticutRidgefield › Lake Windwing

Lake Windwing

4.6 ★★★★★ 43 Google reviews · Running trail in Ridgefield, Connecticut · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of Lake Windwing yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. 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.

ScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parkingMile markers

What runners say about Lake Windwing

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (43 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Always lovely and I'm also reminded how hard people work to keep this place beautiful.”

🪧 well-marked 3 mentions

“Nice trails and most are relatively well marked.”

We were on a hike of the Hemlock Lake area and came across Lake Windwing. There were a few properties on the lake so you can't walk around the lake. The lake itself was calm and clear. The surrounding area was adequately maintained.

★★★★★ — Chris , Feb 2023

Always lovely and I'm also reminded how hard people work to keep this place beautiful. It's spotless, but if you see something, pick it up anyway. I'm particularly impressed with what the Ridgefield Coservancy has done to insure that this space be kept natural and beautiful.

★★★★★ — Stephen , May 2025

Great hiking and varied terrain. Good mountain biking and dog walking with miles of trails. Connects to Bennett's Pond and Ives trail network. Some nice views and moderate climbs up Pine Mountain and over the Hemlock Hills.

★★★★☆ — Doug , Jan 2018

I love this place and all the trails that go with it. it has been a refuge for me during the pandemic. it is teeming with wildlife and the waterfall never gets old.

★★★★★ — Sam , Jun 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 43 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 11 mentions

“Always lovely and I'm also reminded how hard people work to keep this place beautiful.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 9 mentions

“Some parts of the incline are a little steep to get down to the lake, depending on which path you are on.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Clear parking at Hemlock Hills.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Good mountain biking and dog walking with miles of trails.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“Nice trails and most are relatively well marked.”

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Plan your run at Lake Windwing

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • 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.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteridgefieldct.org

Where to find Lake Windwing

Ridgefield, Connecticut

Get directions

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.

Hemlock Hills

4.6 ★★★★★ 101 reviews

Ridgefield, CT

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Famous beauty spot popular with hikers & mountain bikers for its challenging trails & great views.

under a mile away

Pine Mountain Trail Head

4.8 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

Ridgefield, CT

Scenic

under a mile away

Seth Low Pierrepont State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 54 reviews

Ridgefield, CT

Scenic

Lush state park with hiking access from multiple parking lots, plus lake boating/fishing launches.

1.5 miles away

Bennetts Pond State Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 71 reviews

Ridgefield, CT

3 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

State park with trails for hiking and mountain biking, plus lakes and abundant wildlife.

1.8 miles away

Wooster Mountain State Park Scenic Reserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 80 reviews

Danbury, CT

Natural surface

Founded in 1920, this 444-acre park offers trails & hunting, plus a 50-yard outdoor shooting range.

2.2 miles away

Ives Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 33 reviews

Danbury, CT

17 miNatural surface

Walking trail named after a local composer & stretching 20 mi. through a heavily wooded area.

2.3 miles away

All running trails in Ridgefield, CT →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.