Walking, Biking and Hiking Trails in Wilton

Written by Stephanie Wagle and updated by Liz Young.

We’ve all been schooled in the numerous benefits of regular exercise. Reduced stress, weight control, a toned physique and enhanced cardiovascular health, to name a few.

But now it’s time to take your exercise regimen outside and let the treadmill gather some dust.

Fresh air isn’t the only reason to migrate activity to the great outdoors. The benefits of replicating your regiment outside the gym may even offer extra advantages than the local health club.

Not to mention the view.

Exercising among parks, fields, forests and appealing architecture almost always trumps that of steamy rooms crowded with sweaty athletes.  So what to do?

Walk. Turn a walk into a wander.  With varying visuals every step of the way, your outdoor sojourn will likely last longer than your typically timed-workout – now that you’ve transformed your ho-hum workout into an interesting ramble.

Walking outdoors generally offers a more inconsistent terrain than found on equipment at the gym, thereby requiring walkers to use distinct muscle groups to handle the ups and downs of changeable paths.  Even the occasional start and stop motions incurred as you cross roads or change direction varies muscle movements as well.  It’s not quite hiking but it sure beats the straightforward repetitive motion of the treadmill. 

In Wilton, there are about 23 parks, preserves and fields with trails. Some of the more popular spots include Quarry Head State Park, which has 33.7 acres and is located off of Ridgefield Road; Weir Farm National Historic Site, which has approximately 60 acres and is located off of Nod Hill Road; Woodcock Nature Center, comprised of 146 acres and located off of Deer Run Road; and Raymond-Ambler Farm, a 22-acre spot at 257 Hurlbutt Street.

You can download trail maps for all 23 locations at the Wilton Conversation Commission website.

Bike. If the daily grind combined with multitasking and endless errands, is getting in the way of visiting the gym or playing outdoors, complete more mundane missions on a bicycle. Not only will you feel a sense of accomplishment from combining to-dos with exercise, but open-air biking is less, er, boring than a stationary bike.

Consider adding accessories such as a basket or a pouch to your gear to finish numerous tasks via a two-wheeled, versus a four-wheeled vehicle.  Your bike might even save you time and money - by reducing gas expenditures and long waits in traffic. Vary your journeys by attaching a bike rack to the car, allowing you to geographically expand your explorations.

Many of the walking trails in Wilton also allow bikes, but to be sure, call the park you're considering going to before showing up. If it's been raining, the trails may not be suitable for bike riding. 

If you don't have a bike and want to invest, head to Outdoor Sports Center, located at 80 Danbury Road. Along with lots of other adventure-suited gear, the store offers a variety of bikes and car racks.

If cruising on flat bike paths or easy neighborhood hills falls short of excursion excitement then consider the more adventurous – and potentially arduous – mountain biking.

Although official trails might be optimal, they’re not absolutely essential in delivering an off-road adventure. Fields, forests and even your own backyard can serve as an inaugural training ground before attempting more precipitously steep trails.

Wilton Woods is a biking trail in Wilton that is geared toward intermediate and advanced riders. The area has approximately 188 acres and various trails make up about seven to nine miles worth of riding space. It's located off of Branch Brook Road.

Hike. If the stairmaster or elliptical is your exercise device of choice, why not attempt an aggressive hill instead?  While a stairmaster forces the user to go only uphill, an uphill hike ensures the hiker must come down hill too—using a very different set of muscles. And fortunately, trekking comes in all sorts of “shapes and sizes”—short, long, steep, gently inclined, flat, rough terrain or cleared path. People of all ages can participate.

Hiking can provide the overwhelmed and weary with the solitude and serenity of a solo hike or allow family and friends to commune with nature as a group. 

Hikers are frequently rewarded with unique views of rivers, streams, or skylines normally not available to those traveling by car, train or plane.  Similar to the benefits of walking and cycling, fresh air intake furnishes the body with a constant supply of oxygen - essential to all cells of the body. (Unlike indoor air which is frequently staler and maintains higher levels of carbon dioxide).

A few good places to take longer hikes in Wilton are the Belknap Preserve, which has a 1.5 mile loop trail and is located off of Wampum Hill Road, the Sackett Preserve, which has six different trails on about 33 acres and is accessible from Ridgefield Road, and the Harrison Smith Preserve, located on Keeler's Ridge Road with four different trails on approximately 23 acres.

Many of the places that have walking trails, though, also offer more difficult and longer hiking trails. Check out the Conservation Commission website for details.

So, once you’ve identified your own personal walking, cycling or hiking style and preferences, the initial investment in the appropriate equipment may lead to years of fun, adventure and good health.

And re-up at the gym come winter.