A cloudless sky in late summer calls for a day hike. But most of the popular hiking trails with great views need a lot of planning and packing. Since we didn't have time for either, my husband and I decided to drive down to a lesser known town in Connecticut to avail of the "shortest hike with the greatest view" - the hike up to Lion's Head in Salisbury.
We arrived at the town of Salisbury, which is located in the north-west corner of Connecticut. This town is home to low mountains, open fields, six lakes, several ponds and the Housatonic River. Our trail head was at the end of Bunker Hill Road so we parked our car there, at a parking lot reserved for hikers. The details of the route can be accessed at http://www.mntnlife.com/trail-Lion-s-Head-near-Salisbury-CT-4716
Few seconds into the hike, we saw a small power station with a wheelbarrow parked nearby and soon after, we entered a forest. The Mountain Laurels and the bright yellow Black-Eyed Susans lining our path added color to the trail, which by the way, was very steep. The hike was one of the shortest I have ever taken, but it rose upwards incessantly till we reached the summit. So we had to stop for water on the way, but the breaks were welcome as there was nobody in sight and nothing could be heard except a few chirps here and there. It is not everyday that we get to feel so much in the midst of Nature in so little time.
We plodded on, following our blue trail, careful not to get misled into the white blazed Appalachian Trail when we came to a point where we had to make a decision. We had two options and a summit to conquer. We could either scramble straight up to the Lion's Head overlook following the white hashes of the Appalachian Trail or we could take a longer but easier way along the blue trail. We opted for the former and clambered over heaps of rocks, right up to the top, and were rewarded with a scenic overlook which literally took our breath away. At 1,738 feet, the state of Connecticut lay at our feet. The Twin Lakes glistened at a distance surrounded by lush greenery and quaint towns.
We relaxed under a pine tree taking in the view. An interesting fact to note here is that the Pine Tree, which is the symbol of New England, probably predates the European colonial settlements. Every bit of the grueling hike uphill was made worthwhile by the serenity in the surroundings and the picture-perfect view from the top. Few pictures and fewer snack bars later, we decided to head back to our car.
The hike downhill was tricky, but we did good as the trail was dry and we got ample help from the branches extended by the trees dotting the trail. On our way back, we met a couple of hikers with a dog, they turned out to be locals enjoying the summer afternoon. With so much beauty close at hand, who wouldn't?
Article and photos by Esha Samajpati
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