Our state is such a unique and wonderful place to live. There is no doubt that Connecticut has many beautiful spots to visit and everyone has their favorite. Yet it is always a great suprise when you find something new to discover. Here are seven spots that might be out of the way, but you should take the time to explore.

  1. Mianus River

U.S. Geological Survey/Flickr Flowing south through Fairfield county, the Mianus River has some very spectacular spots. Three great places to visit the river are Mianus State Park, Mianus Glen and Newman Mills Park.

  1. Squantz Pond

Joe S./Flickr Squantz Pond is simply peaceful and serene especially during the autumn months. The mountainous setting around it makes you feel isolated in a very cozy way.

  1. West River

Flickr/slack12 Winding through southern Connecticut, the West River spans 13.5 miles. It travels through Bethany, Woodbridge and New Haven. There are many breathtaking views to be had along the West River.

  1. Charles Island

J J/Flickr Accesible only by a sandbar that comes and goes with the tide, Charles Island is truly a hidden gem. Some locals believe that Captain Kidd buried some of his treasure on this island off of the coast of Milford. Maybe there is a treasure to be found on the island.

  1. Ragged Mountain

Brian Manning/Flickr Even at only 761 feet tall, Ragged Mountain, which is located in the towns of Belin and Southington, offers some gorgeous scenery. To access the views, there is a 5.5 hiking trail that makes a loop. Along the way is a small lake which makes a perfect resting spot.

  1. Kent Falls State Park

Jaine/Flickr The water cascading down 250 feet creates an absolutely stunning view. There are several viewing platforms along the way to the top of the falls. You can stop often and take photos or just take a moment to enjoy the sounds of the rolling water.

  1. Tory’s Cave

alltrails.com/lee seeman Tory’s cave is small in size, but it truly is a natural wonder in that it is the only “real” cave in Connecticut. It can hold up to 24 people, but what this cave really houses well is that local bat population. To keep the bats safe, Tory’s cave is closed usually from November until April.

We may not be the biggest state in the country, but Connecticut delivers some pretty fascinating hidden gems when you know where to look. Have visited any of these spots yet?

U.S. Geological Survey/Flickr

Flowing south through Fairfield county, the Mianus River has some very spectacular spots. Three great places to visit the river are Mianus State Park, Mianus Glen and Newman Mills Park.

Joe S./Flickr

Squantz Pond is simply peaceful and serene especially during the autumn months. The mountainous setting around it makes you feel isolated in a very cozy way.

Flickr/slack12

Winding through southern Connecticut, the West River spans 13.5 miles. It travels through Bethany, Woodbridge and New Haven. There are many breathtaking views to be had along the West River.

J J/Flickr

Accesible only by a sandbar that comes and goes with the tide, Charles Island is truly a hidden gem. Some locals believe that Captain Kidd buried some of his treasure on this island off of the coast of Milford. Maybe there is a treasure to be found on the island.

Brian Manning/Flickr

Even at only 761 feet tall, Ragged Mountain, which is located in the towns of Belin and Southington, offers some gorgeous scenery. To access the views, there is a 5.5 hiking trail that makes a loop. Along the way is a small lake which makes a perfect resting spot.

Jaine/Flickr

The water cascading down 250 feet creates an absolutely stunning view. There are several viewing platforms along the way to the top of the falls. You can stop often and take photos or just take a moment to enjoy the sounds of the rolling water.

alltrails.com/lee seeman

Tory’s cave is small in size, but it truly is a natural wonder in that it is the only “real” cave in Connecticut. It can hold up to 24 people, but what this cave really houses well is that local bat population. To keep the bats safe, Tory’s cave is closed usually from November until April.

For more places to explore in Connecticut, check out these 11 free outdoor activities.

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