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Fall in Mystic, CT: Hikes, Hot Chocolate, Cider Mill, & More

ByKristen Valenti Updated on

If you think Mystic, Connecticut is just for summer – think again! It’s an incredibly scenic town to visit in the fall in Connecticut all along the water with several fun fall activities to do.

Plus, fall in Mystic means less crowds and to me, that’s a much better way to enjoy this charming Connecticut town!

  • white steeple church high on hill on a downtown street surrounded by orange. red, and brown colored trees in fall with a soft blue sky above and white wispy clouds.
  • white woman's left hand holding an apple cider donut with white styrofoam cup on black table in background at a cider mill in mystic connecticut.
  • wooden boardwalk through autumn colored woods with brown and orange leaves on the ground and bright sun shining in top right corner.

Living in Connecticut almost all my life I finally started visiting the shoreline towns, like Mystic, in the fall. The beach crowds have gone and now you’re left with lots of fall scenery along the water.

In this post you’ll find 5 different fall activities plus 3 different scenic preserves to walk. I also provide two different itineraries depending on how active you want to be during your day in Mystic.

So grab your favorite fall flannel, a cup of tea – and let’s dive into all there is to do in Mystic this fall! 🍁🍁

🗓️ First, When is Mystic’s Peak Foliage?

Because of its southeastern location along the coast – the foliage arrives later than it does in northern Connecticut. We’ve visited Mystic several times in the fall and include dates so you can see how far along the foliage is.

wide landscape photo of white steeple church high on hill on a downtown street surrounded by orange. red, and brown colored trees in fall with a soft blue sky above and white wispy clouds.

Though, remember, the timing of peak foliage in Connecticut varies each year. Living here for several decades I can tell you that the second week of October (October 14th on) the colors are vibrant and most towns seem to be “peak” foliage. I try to pack in as many day trips as I can the 2nd to 3rd week of October. 😆

Best time to visit: Mid-to-late October
Best hike for foliage: Avery Farm Nature Preserve
Best fall treat: Apple cider donuts at B.F. Clyde’s
Don’t miss: Downtown Mystic and/or the Mystic Seaport Museum
Trip length: One full day or a weekend

5 Fun Things to Do in Mystic This Fall

1. Visit B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill

No fall trip to Mystic is complete without stopping at B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill! The historic mill opens seasonally and is one of the most popular places in southeastern Connecticut for fresh cider, apple cider donuts, and other fall treats.

  • white woman's left hand holding an apple cider donut with white styrofoam cup on black table in background at a cider mill in mystic connecticut.
  • cider mill in mystic connecticut with small wooden clapboard gray building and stone wall in front.
  • red sign in front of a cider mill with "B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill" written on it in gold and a soft blue sky above and orange colored leaves and trees in background.

Visitors can browse the market, pick up traditional sweet cider, and shop for locally made products. Adults can also explore the mill’s selection of handcrafted hard ciders and apple wines. If possible, time your visit to see the historic cider press in action—the mill typically schedules pressing demonstrations on select mornings during its fall season.

B.F. Clyde’s usually opens the first day of September. Be sure to check the website for exact opening days this year to plan your visit! B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill

Local tip: Visit earlier in the day or on a weekday if possible. Fall weekends can get very busy!

2. Take a Fall Hike (3 Choices)

back of blonde man hiking along a wide dirt path with stone wall along the left and fall colored trees lining the path.
Haley Farm Preserve with wide open paths

One of the best ways to experience fall in Mystic is by exploring the trails in and around town. You won’t find mountain overlooks here. But at the farm preserves and land trusts you’ll walk along old stone walls through tunnels of vibrant foliage with small waterfalls and streams, too!

Hike option 1: Avery Farm Nature Preserve

  • wide path through faded green grass on right side on a red barn at dusk with a soft glow in the clear blue sky and bare tree in fron of the barn in November.
  • big black dog in red and white sweater walking on rocky hiking trail through vibrant orange and red bushes and trees with clear blue sky above.
  • wide dirt trail through a tunnel of almost bare trees with brown and orange leaves hanging on here and there.

Avery Farm Nature Preserve is one of my top choices for a fall walk near Mystic. Here, you’ll walk through an old farm with barns, horses, meadows, and wide paths through the woods. It has a little bit of everything!

The 305-acre property stretches across the neighboring towns of Groton and Ledyard. The preserve has a network of approximately 5 miles of trails and you can choose a 1.7-mile loop or a 4.6-mile loop.

Both options are pretty flat so you can get around and see a lot pretty quickly here!

Hike Option 2: Sheep Farm

  • wooden boardwalk extending over a pond with the sun shining in top right corner and reflecting in water below on an autumn day with golden leaves lining the trees.
  • small waterfall tumbling down rocks with orange colored trees in background above the waterfall.

This is such a cute little preserve near Mystic! It feels like a little secret, too. The main attractions here are the wooden bridges and tumbling waterfalls.

Despite its name, Sheep Farm is now a wooded nature preserve rather than a working farm. Its trails wind through forest, wetland habitat, rocky ledges, and stream corridors.

Enjoy a (mainly flat) 1.1-mile loop here before or after heading into downtown Mystic!

Hike Option 3: Haley Farm State Park

  • back of blonde man with long pants and black jacket and army green backpack hiking with an on leash brown dog along a wide dirt path lined with orange and brown leaves that have fallen and trees that are half bare with soft blue sky shining through the trees.
  • small calm lake with a reflection of the soft blue sky with white wispy clouds and a mix of bare trees and trees with orange leaves surrounding the water in November.
  • narrow dirt path winding through faded green lawn lined with vibrant orange trees on the right side and green bushes on the left.

Haley Farm State Park feels different from the other two options with wide grassy paths, old stone walls, open fields, and views near Palers Cove and a bit of the Long Island Sound in the distance.

I love feeling like I’m walking on an old farm and Haley Farm State Park is one of my favorite farm trail properties in Connecticut. The trails are generally wide and gentle, making it an especially nice option for a relaxed fall walk.

We enjoyed the 2.9-mile (again, mainly flat) loop here as it brought us by the water, through the woods, and along all the old stone walls which are so fun to see in fall!

landscape scene of stone wall across the bottom of the photo and a wide faded green path lined with autumn colored bushes beyond the stone wall.

The park also connects to neighboring Bluff Point by a pedestrian bridge if you want to extend the adventure!

3. Warm Up With Hot Chocolate at Mystic River Chocolate Café

After a cool fall hike, head downtown for a cup of European-style drinking chocolate from Mystic River Chocolate Café. Located on Water Street, this cozy café makes its own bean-to-bar chocolate in small batches and serves drinking chocolate, coffee, espresso, truffles, chocolate bars, and other treats.

  • two white paper cups on a coounter with "Mystic River Chocolate" writing in brown filled with hot chocolate and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
  • outside of a brick building with a brown "mystic river chocolate cafe" sign hanging from the building with cafe tables outside on the patio.

The drinking chocolate is richer and more decadent than a traditional cup of hot chocolate. Since I love dark choocolate this was perfect for me! They even had a dairy free option.

There is indoor and outdoor seating, but I like to take my hot chocolate with me while exploring downtown.

4. Walk and Shop Around Downtown Mystic

You must spend part of your afternoon strolling through historic downtown Mystic.! The compact downtown is easy to explore on foot, with more than 80 independently owned shops and galleries tucked along Main Street, Water Street, and the Mystic River.

  • back of blonde man in black fall jacket and long pants walking along a downtown street in fall with mums, corn stalks, and other fall decorations and an orange sign lining storefronts.
  • back of blonde man in black fall jacket and long pants walking along a downtown street in fall with mums lining storefronts and an orange sign hanging in top right corder and deep blue sky with wispy clouds above.
array of goods inside a store in Mystic Connecticut with sweatshirts lining the wooden wall and a shelf of cards and games to the right.

Walk across the Mystic River Bascule Bridge, watch the boats pass along the river, and browse the local boutiques, bookstores, galleries, and specialty food shops. The crisp weather and fall decorations make downtown feel especially cozy this time of year.

Don’t miss: Stop along the river near the drawbridge for one of the prettiest downtown views along with amazing ice cream at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream! 🍦

downtown mystic in fall with "Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream" sign hanging from a store on the right.

5. Explore Mystic Seaport Museum

Complete your fall visit with a few hours at Mystic Seaport Museum. The waterfront museum combines historic ships, maritime exhibits, a working preservation shipyard, and a recreated 19th-century seaport village.

two tug boats (one white and one forest green) in dark blue water with autumn colored trees lining the background on the land and soft blue sky above.
downtown mystic seaport with charming little buildings connected with people walking around.
Mystic Seaport ⛵️

In fall, the historic buildings, waterfront paths, gardens, and colorful trees create an especially beautiful setting to explore. Climb aboard historic vessels, step inside old maritime buildings, and learn about life in a New England seaport community.

The museum is large enough you could spend two or three hours here. There are so many kid-friendly activities here, too!

Mystic Fall Day Trip Itineraries; Plan Your Visit!

Treats from Sift Bakery!
Must get the chocolate chip cookie from Sift Bakeshop!

Even though Mystic is considered a small town with a population under 5,000 – the attractions here are plenty and also spread out.

So while there are just 5 fall activities listed above – it’s almost impossible (but you can prove me wrong!) to do them all in one day. Especially if you want to relax and not rush around..

That’s why I created two different itineraries below. One is for people who want to incorporate a hike since a hike can take a couple hours.

Tip: Even if you don’t choose a hike, I’d suggest wearing comfortable shoes on this day. There’s a lot to see just walking around downtown Mystic and the Seaport too. You’ll be getting your steps in for sure for sure!

Itinerary 1 – For the Active Adventurer

  • 🥾 Morning Hike at Haley Farm Preserve
  • ☕️🥐 Coffee or Lunch at Sift Bakeshop
  • 🛍️ Walk & shop Historic Downtown Mystic
  • End the day with Mystic River Hot Chocolate or cider & donut from B.F. Clyde’s

Itinerary 2 – For the Seaport Stroller

  • ☕️🥐 Coffee & pastries at Sift Bakeshop in downtown Mystic
  • 🛍️ Walk & shop Historic Downtown Mystic
  • ⛵️ Visit Mystic Seaport and/or Mystic Aquarium
  • 🍩 End the day with Mystic River Hot Chocolate or cider & donut from B.F. Clyde’s

💡Tips for Visiting Mystic in the Fall!

  • Visit on a weekday if possible to avoid the largest downtown and cider-mill crowds.
  • Arrive at B.F. Clyde’s early, especially on a fall weekend.
  • Wear comfortable shoes since there’s a lot of walking downtown or at the Seaport
  • Allow extra time for parking and traffic in downtown Mystic.
  • Check individual attraction hours before arriving.
  • Remember that the shoreline’s foliage often peaks later than northern Connecticut.
  • Bring a leash if hiking with your dog.

Conclusion

Fall is one of the most beautiful—and coziest—times to visit Mystic, Connecticut. You can start your day beneath the colorful trees at a nearby nature preserve, pick up cider and donuts from a historic mill, and spend the afternoon exploring downtown or stepping back in time at Mystic Seaport Museum.

Whether you come for a day trip or stay for a full weekend, Mystic offers the perfect combination of coastal scenery, local shops, easy outdoor adventures, and classic New England fall treats. 🥾🍁

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