Fall is in the Air at Connecticut’s Devil’s Hopyard State Park
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Devil’s Hopyard State Park in Southeastern Connecticut is the best place in the region for fall sightseeing. Beautiful 60 foot Chapman Falls, scenic hiking trails, a historic covered bridge, and stunning fall foliage easily make this the state’s most photogenic park during the fall months. Mike and I took a daytrip out here from Fall River as we had heard on the news that East Haddam is one of the best leaf peeping destinations. We love the fall season in general, plus hiking, so this park sounded perfect. To date, this have been one of our favorite places in New England.
You may be wondering what is up with the strange name. The odd name comes from an old legend involving Satan. The legend goes that the Devil accidentally got his tail wet and got so mad that he burned holes in the stones with his hooves. These pothole stone formations near the falls are said to be the best example in the East. I’ve noticed many parks and historic sites in this region are named after some spooky legend, in keeping true to the area’s rich history and many paranormal sightings and odd happenings. It keeps things interesting for sure. Since moving to New England, I have been so fascinating learning about all the weird and unusual legends and histories of old sites.
Spooky legends aside, the highlight of planning a trip here is seeing the gorgeous waterfall. Chapman Falls is absolutely breathtaking and pictures do no justice. It’s not the biggest waterfall around but the surrounding scenery is gorgeous especially with the golden and red leaves of fall livening up the scene. I am not surprised that photographers were lining up their cameras for the perfect shot.
A fantastic leaf peeping destination!
There are several miles of hiking trails available within the park. We chose to hike the scenic Red Trail, a 4 mile heavily forested loop within the park. I really loved the rustic nature of this trail – it was the perfect fall day out in New England. It was the perfect fall setting with scattered leaves on the ground and colorful foliage on the trees. I would definitely recommend this trail to leaf peepers, photographers, and hikers.
This hike is relatively easy with a few small, yet manageable hills. We felt like we got in a great workout, without over pushing ourselves. The hike is well-marked with clear red markings on the trees to guide you along. I always appreciate trails with clear signs; it’s not fun to get lost in the woods and add on several miles when you are not prepared.
There are some nice creek views along the way and overall the trail is pretty quiet as most visitors congregate around the waterfall. I loved crunching on the fallen leaves as I walk along the trail. A sad reminder that winter is on the way, but really what I love most about fall hiking – the combo of fallen leaves and colorful leaves still hanging on.
The highlight for me was seeing all the beautiful colorful leaves. This is what I love the most about living in New England. Since moving here, autumn has definitely been my favorite season. The temps are so perfect this time of year: not too hot, nor too cold with just the right level of humidity. It’s the best time of the year for hiking in my opinion and the beautiful colorful leaves just add to the ambiance. Here are a few pics we took along the trek. We didn’t time our visit exactly at peak, but close enough to enjoy a nice hint of fall to come. This is one of those places where all the leaves don’t change at once, so you can come back a few times during October and still enjoy a hint of color.
The covered bridge
The real highlight comes at the end of the red trail. If you walk down the road about 1/2 a block, you will come across a beautiful old covered bridge. This idyllic setting with fall foliage and a stream in the background is breathtaking – it’s postcard perfect. We took plenty of pictures at the bridge and then continued on another quarter of a mile or so on the green trail back to the beginning of the hike (near the waterfall). Nothing says fall quite like a historic covered bridge surrounded by beautiful foliage. Whenever we travel, we try to check out (the few remaining) of these bridges before they are all gone.
Devil’s Hopyard is one of the most beautiful parks we have explored thus far in New England. Whether you are seeking a great leaf peeping hike, or just a relaxing day out in nature birdwatching, I recommend visiting this park. This is such a picture-perfect destination for photography, hiking, picnicking, and family photos. It’s an easy drive from many major cities including Boston, Providence, Fall River, and Hartford. I recommend planning a picnic. As you can see in this photo, there is no need to go out to lunch with views like these!
Directions
Location: This park is located at: 366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423. There is no admission or parking fee. If you are looking for more to do, there are a number of great state parks in this region. Visit the CT Parks page for more info on this park and others in the vicinity.
