News
Field Magazine recently profiled the top outdoor brands in all 50 states. Eastern Mountain Sports was recognized as the top brand in CT with Rhone and Kane Footwear as strong contenders for this honor. Read more below.
The Most Influential Outdoor Brands from Every State | Field Mag
https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/american-outdoor-brands-from-every-state?mc_cid=60b25c55f5&mc_eid=2dda7598ef
The biggest outdoor event of the year has a new name and venue! Outside has rebranded the festival to Outside Days and will now be located at the Auraria Campus in 2026.
This change reflects the evolution of an event that has quickly become more than just a festival but a movement of getting more people outside. Music is just a part of this event that celebrates all things related to recreating outside and the community and interests we all share.
As a proud partner of Outside Days, we will continue to support Outside with ensuring this event is representative of our state’s diverse outdoor communities.
We can't wait for all Outside Days has to offer next year, starting with the release of this exciting music line up! Check it out!
Great news all around as open spaces are conserved across Connecticut. Thanks to Matt at ExploreCT for compiling this awesome list of accomplishments,
The Norwalk Land Trust has merged into the Aspetuck Land Trust
The Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust has merged into the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy.
The Manchester Land Trust has added 33.1 acres near their Bush Hill Preserve.
Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy has added 117.26 acres with their Glen Brook property.
The Salisbury Association acquired the 275-acre Tom’s Hill project.
The Norfolk Land Trust added 10 donated acres to their Ells Crane Erder Preserve.
The Avalonia Land Conservancy acquired two parcels from the Town of Ledyard, together forming the new 93-acre Founders Preserve. They also acquired the 25 acre Erwin & Naomi Goldstein Preserve in Griswold.
The Cornwall Conservation Trust received a long-planned legacy donation of 65 acres, expanding its Greyledge Preserve to 265 acres.
The Stamford Land Conservation Trust opened their new 64-acre Harry Day Preserve in North Stamford.
The Roxbury Land Trust acquired the 225-acre Bronson Mountain Preserve and look to create a trail system there in 2026. They're also opening a brand new trail at the Town Line Farm Preserve on 11/1!
The Outside Festival counted 35,000 attendees in Civic Center Park, including 900 at the two-day Outside Summit at the Denver Public Library and Denver Art Museum
A two-day Outside Summit preceded the two-day festival. The summit featured speakers and panels for 950 outdoor industry business leaders, policymakers and athletes. In the days around the event, the Adventure Travel Trade Association held its annual meeting, the seventh annual Elevate Conservation gala gathered 20 outdoor advocacy groups, national and local politicians held meetings, Trout Unlimited held its annual Troutfest at Coors Field and there was a speed climbing competition on 16th Street.
Mohawk Mountain, the largest (by vertical drop and skiable acres) and oldest ski area in Connecticut, will open on Friday, December 6th, 2024.
“We can’t wait to see you this weekend!!” the ski area wrote in a social media post.
Last winter, Mohawk Mountain first opened on December 2nd with two trails and two lifts.
Click here to read the entire article.
With the dissolution of Windsor Land Trust (WLT) this month, Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy (TRLC) will be continuing conservation efforts in Windsor. TRLC was formed in April 2023 by the merger of West Hartford, East Granby and Wintonbury (Bloomfield) Land Trusts. All were nonprofits led by volunteers, sharing a common goal of conserving the natural environment.
Windsor Land Trust becoming a part of TRLC expands Windsor’s resources and scope as part of a larger organization capable of regional land conservation and protection for future generations. Windsor Land Trust Trustee, Jim Kandik, has joined the TRLC Board of Directors to carry WLT’s voice into the expanded organization.
Click here to read the entire article.
Railroads and canals both played huge roles in Connecticut’s early economic development. Today those corridors serve as trails for bicyclists, walkers, equestrians and others seeking quality time outdoors. Many are heavily wooded, creating shade on hot summer days and colorful displays in the fall.
They also provide alternative transportation opportunities for commuters in the Constitution State’s largest cities. Long-distance travelers will find 98 trail miles of the 3,000-mile-long East Coast Greenway within the state’s borders, as well as segments of the New England Rail-Trail Network.
Historic Keney Park has been undergoing improvements large and small over the last decade, and though its latest upgrade may not be major, those involved with the effort to reclaim the nature trail hope it has a big impact on visitors.
The newly reopened nature trail — a 1.9-mile paved path that begins and ends at the 693-acre park's pond house — has been cleared out, with 40 educational posts pointing out the park's flora and fauna.
In addition, 10 mental health stations have been placed along the trail, each with work from local artists, mindful messages, and QR codes to further enhance the experience.
Last week, the State Bond Commission approved $30 million in funding to go toward improving our state parks and forests. The funding will support much-needed infrastructure repairs and renovations across Connecticut’s 110 state parks and 32 state forests, ensuring a better experience for everyone who wants to spend time outside.
$3 million of that investment will fund urgent repairs at state parks that were damaged in historic floods in August. The storm caused significant damage to:
Larkin Trail State Park (Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Southbury)
Kettletown State Park (Southbury)
Southford Falls State Park (Southbury)
This funding supports the Restore CT State Parks initiative, which is an historic effort by the Lamont administration and the state legislature to address the backlog of needed repairs. Since 2022, the state has committed more than $70 million of American Rescue Plan Act and state bond funds to support investment in outdoor recreation.
Improving our parks and forests will benefit everyone.. Access to parks promotes physical fitness by providing opportunities for hiking, biking, jogging, and so much more. The outdoors also helps to improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. Additionally, parks provide recreational spaces where families can come together. Ultimately, this investment will increase the quality of life while preserving Connecticut’s natural beauty.
Click here to read more about the Restore CT State Parks Initiative.
