10 Summer Hikes in CT Paired with Nearby Ice Cream!

Wondering what to do in Connecticut this summer? Tackle this list of 10 different CT hikes paired with local (some even on-site!) ice cream shops!

Could there be a sweeter combo?! Beautiful trails paired with THE best ice cream in Connecticut – I only went to highly-rated favorites! 🌟🍦

Even if you love hiking we all need a little incentive to get out there sometimes, right?! So when you have some of the very best ice cream nearby – it makes the drive to the hike and the hike itself 100% worth it!

And it makes for the perfect CT summer day. (I’m not much of a beach person ;))

Living in Connecticut almost all my life I love how each season brings new perks to hiking. There’s something so refreshing about a small cup of creamy, cool ice cream after a hot hike.

In this post, I share 10 CT hikes and walks paired with an ice cream shop that in some cases, the hikes and ice cream are on the same property!

I also let you know if the ice cream shop is dog-friendly and what they have in store for them! 😉 So let’s get to it! ⤵️

Summer hikes in Connecticut paired with nearby ice cream!

1. Tulmeadow Farm Trail and Tulmeadow Farm Ice Cream 🍦

The Tulmeadow Farm Trail is one of my favorite summer walks in CT! Tulmeadow Farm Ice Cream & Farm Trail is a one-stop shop combining beautiful trails on the farm property along with their amazing ice cream!

Tulmeadow Farm is a historic working farm permanently protected by a Simsbury Land Trust conservation easement. Since 1768, it’s Simsbury’s oldest continuously operated small business and has been owned and farmed by generations of the Tuller family. 

Pulling into the parking lot you’d never know that there are gorgeous, serene trails back here. There are tons of little trails, all part of the Simsbury Land Trust, but the main one I often do is the 2.5-mile Tulmeadow Farm Trail.

The trail starts from the back of the parking lot and goes down to the Simsbury town forest road and back, through 60 uninterrupted acres of fields where you can see Talcott Mountain & Heublein Tower in the distance. If you’d like you can also cross this road to enter trails in Stratton Brook State Park.

Taking you all along the rolling green pastures lined with fencing I always feel like I’m strolling along my own private farm property here. It’s fun to imagine!

This trail is perfect for sunset which coincides nicely with prime ice cream time..

🍦Ice Cream Review: After all that walking, let’s get to the good part!

I tried the Oreo and Jared had the salted caramel, both creamy and delicious and perfect after a couple miles.

They make over 50 different flavors of very rich 16% butterfat gourmet ice cream.  Their top-selling flavor is Red Raspberry with Chocolate Chips but I’ve yet to try it!

🐾 Pup Approved: For a couple of dollars each you can get a pup cup (which is just soft serve ice cream).

Don’t forget to pop into their farm store to pick up pints of ice cream or fresh produce.

2. Sessions Woods in Burlington and Rich Farm Ice Cream 🍦

Wow, you’ll love all the peaceful trails within Sessions Woods in Burlington, CT!

You’ll find 5 different trails listed for Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area which is a 771-acre nature preserve owned by the state of Connecticut.

Along with being a beautiful place to hike, the preserve also focuses on conservation education and features the Sessions Woods Conservation Education Center with displays and signs about area wildlife all throughout the preserve.

The trail we took was the 2.5-mile Beaver Pond Trail loop which gives you a nice sampling of what Sessions Woods offers. There is also this 4.1 mile loop which I’d love to try one day with more time.

A bonus about the trails here is that they’re on a wide gravel path so this is a trail you can bring the kids or where I would bring my mom! 🙂 There is nothing technical about the Beaver Pond Trail and it is great for beginners.

Time to head over to Rich Farm Ice Cream which is just 7 minutes down the road in Bristol!

Now I know Bristol kind of gets a bad rap, but there are nice areas to every town, and right over the line from Burlington, you’ll find Rich Farm Ice Cream perched high on a hill in a country setting.

Rich Farms outdoor tables are the perfect place to sit with your ice cream and watch the sunset!

🍦Ice Cream Review: I got Oreo in a cone and I found it super creamy, RICH, and delicious! It was hard not to eat the whole thing!

🐾 Pup Approved: For a little more than $2 each you can get the kids (dogs) a pup cup which is whipped cream topped with waffle cone pieces! The boys loved it. 🙂

3. Hilltop Farm Trails in Suffield at Hilltop Farm Creamery🍦

This is a must for a summer walk in Connecticut!

Here you can hike and get your ice cream all in one spot. As if the view from Hilltop Creamery isn’t enough to get you there, there’s a one-mile + trail that you can take from the Creamery.

The mainly gravel path trail runs behind the farm and down to the Connecticut River. This was such a peaceful walk and it was made even better by the sunset that night. It felt like a true summer night even though we visited in late spring.

The gently sloping gravel path takes you down by an old tobacco shed (looks like a big barn) and to a dirt path along the Connecticut River. After you pass the tobacco shed at the bottom of the hill, enter the woods on the right and you’ll find a little trail that leads to a little beachy area on the Connecticut River.

If you’d like more of a hike with a view you can try the 2.3 mile Brian Spears Trail on the eastern edge of Suffield in East Granby. This would make for about a 15-minute drive to Hilltop Creamery.

On to the ice cream! The creamery is open everyday 12-8 except Mondays.

Located in a big white barn built in 1913, The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop, a nonprofit, owns 11 acres where the “Big White Barn” or creamery is.

There are tons of flavors to choose from which change often so be sure to check their Facebook page for new flavors and updates.

🍦Ice Cream Review: I got the deer tracks flavor which was espresso ice cream with toffee, chocolate cookie pieces, and chocolate fudge. I wasn’t that crazy about mine. The espresso gave it a sharp taste that I wasn’t expecting nor wanting at 7:30 pm! Next time I’ll try a go-to like Oreo. 🙂

🐾 Pup Approved: For a little more than $2 each you can get the kids (dogs) a pup cup which is soft serve vanilla in a small cup with a milk bone on top! 🙂 Classic. 🐶

4. Sweetheart Mountain (or Farmington Canal) & Lasalle’s But Sweeter

You can either hike to a beautiful view atop Sweetheart Mountain in Collinsville or simply walk from Lasalle’s to the Farmington Canal for a scenic, flat, paved walk.

The Sweetheart Mountain Yellow and Red Trails Loop is just one mile but there is a pretty steep section that will help you make some room for the ice cream after!

If you take the loop clockwise you will at some point notice a fence and signs posted by the MDC Water Utility Services but as a recent reviewer of this trail on AllTrails put it:

“Town blocks off cliff edge but just walk around the fence. I’ll be damned if I’m kept from my towns best views.”

So, I always follow the loop linked above on AllTrails and get to the view. I’ve hiked here dozens of times.

But if you prefer a more straightforward and flatter walk, check out the all-paved Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. The trail is located in downtown Collinsville and is RIGHT ACROSS FROM the ice cream spot! 😍

🍦Ice Cream Review: LaSalle Only Sweeter is located downstairs from the popular breakfast and lunch spot, LaSalle Market.

At 104 Main St in downtown Collinsville you’ll find both a candy and ice cream shop at LaSalle Only Sweeter.

While other spots on our list make their own ice cream, LaSalle’s gets most of their ice cream from the well-known Gifford’s Ice Cream in Maine.

I got the Oreo with rainbow sprinkles and it was REALLY really good! Definitely impressed and will be back!

🐾 Pup Approved: Not only do they have pup cups here but they also have a jar of (free!) treats at checkout.

This is a must-do CT summer hike, walk, and ice cream combo!

5. Talcott Mountain and Dom’s Creamery, Avon 🍦

Could there be a more perfect summer day in CT than a hike at Talcott Mountain State Park up to Heublein Tower followed by some of the best ice cream in CT?!

There are 4 different trails to choose from at Talcott Mountain State Park ranging from just 2.6 miles to over 6 miles. All routes lead to the popular Heublein Tower which is a sight to see in itself!

If you’re a beginner or hiking with someone who is – take the wide gravel 2.8 yellow loop (#3 on this list I wrote about Talcott) which is the most popular.

Or for a short but steep challenge try the 2.6-mile trail that takes you up the less-traveled western side of the mountain through Hazen Park, the Avon Land Trust.

No matter which hike you pick you now have a special treat in store…

🍦Ice Cream Review: You may have heard of Dom’s Coffee or Dom’s Cheese Shop and if you haven’t you can stop in when you visit Dom’s Creamery, the newest Dom’s addition!

The owners wanted Dom’s ice cream and the visit experience to be more like European ice cream shops.

The owners said they wanted to keep the ice cream (made in small batches in-house!) as healthy as possible using only real ingredients. You can tell when you’re eating it – it is high-quality ice cream!

I LOVE their honey latte ice cream which has real honey in it, giving the perfect amount of sweetness. I also tried and loved their cookie dough! Wow, I’d love to buy the cookies they use for that ice cream.

There’s also a fig and parmesan cheese flavor which uses the cheese right from their cheese shop next door!

🐾 Pup Approved: They’ve got pup-friendly frozen treats in the freezer!

6. Penwood State Park & Grassroots Ice Cream (Simsbury)

Great hikes and views await in Penwood State Park!

There are 7 different trails to choose from within Penwood but I like the first and fifth on that list the best!

The first is a more direct way up to the top with the view and the fifth is a longer, scenic route that takes you first through the Simsbury Land Trust.

The views face west making it perfect for a sunset or golden hour hikes before you get ice cream! (Check out my post about sunset hikes in northwestern CT for more sunset locations!)

🍦Ice Cream Review:

Just minutes away you’ll find Grassroots Ice Cream in Simsbury with amazing ice cream and food. Grassroots has been a family-owned, family-run business since its opening in the former Granby General Store in 2013

Voted one of the “Top 100 Places to Eat” by Yelp in 2021, Grassroots Ice Cream & Street Food offers over 100 artisanal ice cream flavors and an eclectic menu of salads, wraps, and tacos! Yum.

They make all their ice cream and even mix-ins like brownies and cookies and are known for their unique flavors like Goat Cheese Blackberry, Honey Lavender, and Blood Orange Chocolate Chip.

I got their dark chocolate chocolate chip ice cream and WOW. If you like dark chocolate you will seriously appreciate this flavor.

I loved how the chocolate chips weren’t the tiny mini chips that you usually get in chocolate chip ice cream but big rectangular chunks of dark chocolate that will keep you digging for more!

🐾 Pup Approved: I will find out and report back! 🙂

7. Hemlock Hills-Pine Mountain and Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe, Ridgefield

Enjoy this 2.2 mile loop taking you up to Pine Mountain with a view facing west!

This was the first time I’ve ever hiked in this area but I was pleasantly surprised to find this view at Pine Mountain.

If you want another hike in this area we also enjoyed this short 1.7-mile loop to Saugatuck Falls to see a beautiful waterfall and walk along Saugatuck River.

Make a day of it like we did and head to the waterfall first, followed by ice cream, walking around the town of Ridgefield, and ending with Pine Mountain!

🍦Ice Cream Review:

What a fun place to stop after a summer hike! And it’s right along Main Street in downtown Ridgefield which is worthy of a stop even if you don’t want ice cream. 🙂

Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe features famous homemade chocolates, ice cream, and gift shop.

“We make our ice cream using fresh dairy from Upstate Farms, a co-operative of family farms in upstate New York that pledge not to treat their cows with rBST growth hormones.“

I had a hard time choosing from one of their over 30 flavors but ended up going with their Carnival flavor which is vanilla ice cream, Oreos, rainbow sprinkles, and M&M’s. 😍 It was perfect and creamy!

I loved the crunch of the sprinkles and M&M’s and of course, Oreo is my favorite!

🐾 Pup Approved: This place is dog-friendly with dogs sitting outside on their front patio with their owners. There are several benches and tables along Main Street if you prefer to sit away from the crowd. 🙂

So that’s it, friends!!

8. Sleeping Giant Tower Trail and Wentworth’s Homemade Ice Cream, Hamden

The 3.1-mile (out & back) trail up to Sleeping Giant Castle is one of Connecticut’s best family-friendly summer hikes!

Rated ‘easy’ on AllTrails it does have a little elevation but it feels more like walking uphill than hiking since it’s a nice wide gravel path that winds the whole way up.

There are multiple levels to explore in the 4-story stone observation tower built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservations Corps.

🍦Ice Cream Review:

I grew up going to Wentworth’s Ice Cream and it’s only a one or two-minute drive from Sleeping Giant State Park.

My favorite flavor is the cookie monster which is blue ice cream and cookie dough chunks. Grab a cone or cup and take a seat at one of their gazebos in the large yard that sits at the base of Sleeping Giant Mountain where you just worked so hard! 🙂

9. Auerfarm State Park and Frisbee’s Dairy Barn, Bloomfield

I recently discovered the scenic Auerfarm property in Bloomfield and it’s a place I will keep coming back to, especially for sunset.

Take the easy 2.7-mile loop around Auerfarm – up to the western-facing view, down by the chickens and goats, and around the farm barns.

Or, if you want to get your ice cream first then walk with it for sunset – park your car in the lot where the trail is, cross the driveway, and walk a short distance up the grass lawn or the gravel path to get to the lookout.

🍦Ice Cream Review:

I tried their creamy Oreo ice cream in a cone with chocolate sprinkles. It lasted the whole way over to Auerfarm but started melting as we walked uphill on a humid summer night – always grab a cub with a lid! 🙂

I liked it but still, as I write this list, no other ice cream has compared to Dom’s in Avon with Grassroots in Simsbury (or Granby) coming in second and Rich Farm’s in Bristol tying them.

🐶Pup Approved: The dogs shared one pup cup which is vanilla ice cream with peanut butter on top! They were thirsty when we got home. 😍

10. Pachaug State Forest and Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm, Voluntown

Head out to the eastern edge of CT for its largest state forest encompassing almost 27,000 acres covering 6 different towns!

There are more than 10 different trails to explore in Pachaug State Forest but the one I did was the 1.9 mile Mount Misery Trail which was perfectly short for a hot summer day.

Even though this is a short trail there is a little uphill section so it is rated ‘moderate’ on AllTrails.

🍦Ice Cream Review:

I loved everything about Ekonk Hill Farm (6 minutes away from the hike) from the ice cream, the country store with locally made products and gifts, and the outdoor area where you sit near the farm animals.

Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm’s Brown Cow Café opened in April 2006, named after our brown Jersey cow Blossom. She even has a signature flavor, Blossom’s Delight, which is just as sweet as she was! Ekonk Hill

🐶Pup Approved: Captain enjoyed helping me with my vanilla cone as we sat at a picnic table in the shade! Perfect summer day.

I hope you enjoyed this post about summer hikes in Connecticut paired with CT’s very best ice cream places!

Looking for more to do in CT this summer?

🌟 Check out my post: 33 Fun Things to Do in Connecticut This Summer 🌟

It was a ton of fun putting this post together. I started by researching the best ice cream places in Connecticut along with my own experience and started finding hikes nearby.

I got to eat a lot of ice cream I wouldn’t normally seek out 😉 but made up for it with the extra hikes nearby! And the dogs had a ton of fun sampling as well.

Thinking back, the most memorable ice cream that I still think about is the cookie dough and honey latte ice cream at Dom’s Creamery in Avon. 🙂 The second runner-up is a tie between the dark chocolate chocolate chip at Grassroots in Simsbury and Oreo at Rich Farms in Bristol!

I hope you enjoy these hikes and make memories with your family or pups during some summer days and night.

I’d love to hear which one you visit or if you have a favorite CT ice cream shop that isn’t on my list! Comment below!

Happy trails 🐶💗🥾