10 Sunset Hikes in Connecticut

Let’s check out 10 different (and short!) sunset hikes in Connecticut! 🥾🌄 Since the sun sets in the west, these hikes were chosen because they lead to a western facing view atop a cliff or hill in CT.

I’m excited to share this list with you since there’s nothing quite like ending the day with a sunset hike.

silhouette of black dog on cliff edge with green and autumn colored trees below and orange and yellow glow in sky.

sunset view from top of hike in connecticut with golden sun setting and man standing on cliff ledge.

No matter how the day went, when I put in a little work to walk to a quiet spot and watch it fade away – it’s an amazing way to slow down and put things in perspective!

We’re lucky to have tons of beautiful hikes in our small state, but for this list, I focused on shorter options (about 1–3 miles round trip) with western-facing views—so you can watch the sun go down and still make it back to your car before it gets pitch black.

That said, there’s something important to keep in mind. After the sun sets, you’ve got about 40 minutes of lingering light, known as blue hour. It’s a beautiful, soft glow but it doesn’t last long, and once it fades, it gets dark quickly!

Because of that, I 100% recommend bringing a headlamp 🔦 to light your way on the walk out. I always end up staying at the lookout longer than I planned and it’s nice to know you don’t have to race the light and can depend on your headlamp to light the way instead.

woman kneeling on mountain ledge with black dog looking out at golden sun setting at top of hike in connecticut.

golden sun setting from snowy hike in Connecticut.

Along with sunrise hikes, sunset is one of the most beautiful times to be outside. Golden hour—the hour before sunset—offers the best light for photography, and as the sun dips lower, the sky can transform into shades of pink, purple, and orange if you’re lucky! Every sunset is different…

Living and working in Connecticut, I’m always on the hunt for short hikes where I can catch the sunset especially in spring and summer in CT where it sets much later!

So if you’re looking for sunset hikes in Connecticut, you’re in the right place and I know you’ll find a new favorite lookout here! ⬇️

Table of Contents

🌅 10 Sunset Hikes in CT 🌅

1. Sunset Cliffs, Falls Village, 2 miles

golden sun setting at top of hike in connecticut.

To get to Sunset Cliffs you’ll have to hike a steep trail (670 ft elevation in under a mile!) that leads to a stunning overlook above the Housatonic River.

This view is just off of Connecticut’s Appalachian Trail and it gives you views toward the western hills and Sharon Mountain—you won’t find this one on AllTrails! It’s a quieter, lesser-known spot that’s perfect for sunset.

2. Beseck Mountain, Middletown, 2.4 miles

view from top of hike down at large lake surrounded by green hills and soft pastel sunset sky.

Centrally located in Middletown (middle of our state!) this is often my meet up hike with friends. To get to the top of Beseck Mountain, you’ll hike about 1.2 miles along the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail.

This is a rocky trail (wear your hiking boots!) with roughly 250 feet of elevation to reach a scenic overlook above Beseck Pond. Turn around here for a perfect sunset spot across the pond without completing the full trail linked above.

3. Mount Sanford, Cheshire, 3.5-mile loop

sunset view from top of hike in connecticut with golden sun setting and black dog on cliff ledge.

Mount Sanford is a beautiful hike in New Haven County located in Naugatuck State Forest. Here is my detailed trail guide all about ➡️ hiking Mount Sanford!

This 3.4-mile loop follows forested trails and the Quinnipiac Trail to a wide, west-facing overlook. A steady uphill leads to the ledge, where you’ll find sweeping views that make it a perfect spot for sunset.

4. Penwood State Park, Simsbury, 3 miles

sunset view from hike in connecticut with sea of green trees below and golden sun setting in distance.

There are several ways to get to this view but the Tanager Trail to Penwood Lookout is one of my favorites!

From the large parking area off East Weatogue Street, access this viewpoint via the Tanager Hill Property trails. Starting the second loop counterclockwise brings you to the lookout in about 1.3 miles—perfect for a shorter out-and-back to catch sunset.

5. Horse Guard State Park, Avon, 1.1 miles

sunset view from top of hike in connecticut with golden sun setting and man in snow hat standing on cliff ledge in snow taking a photo.

woman sitting on ledge looking out at sunset time in fall surrounded by fall leaves in connecticut

The white-blazed trail at Horse Guard State Park is one of my favorite local and short hikes – making it especially great for sunset!

From the parking lot off West Avon Road, hike about 0.6 miles with a short steep, rocky section near the top. The summit features both an east-facing clearing and a large west-facing rocky ledge. A favorite for a short sunset hike!

6. Rands View, Salisbury, 2.21 miles

woman and black dog in green grass with rolling mountains in distance and soft pink pastel sunset sky.

black dog in green grass with rolling mountains in distance and soft pink pastel sunset sky.

Rands View is one of the most spectacular views in Connecticut and it’s located right along CT’s scenic Appalachian Trail!

Check out my post featuring 3 ways to hike Rands View (aka Racoon Hill) but this trail is the shortest and best for a quick sunset route!

From the small parking area at the end of Sugar Hill Road, walk about 0.1 miles, then bear right to start the trail. Continue 0.8 miles to the white blazed Appalachian Trail where you’ll turn left and shortly reach a wide-open meadow with some of the best views in the state!

7. Jessie Gerard Lookout, Riverton, 2 miles

cliff view of farmington river below with rollng hills and glow of orange sunset sky in riverton Connecticut.

The Jessie Gerard Lookout in Peoples State Forest is one of the best views in CT.

From the parking area on E River Road, hike the loop clockwise for about 0.8 miles with roughly 600 feet of elevation to reach the second lookout. This overlook offers sweeping views above Riverton and the Farmington River – remember to bring your headlamp, it can be a bit rocky here!

8. Pinnacle Rock, Farmington, 3.5 miles

black dog on cliff edge with green and autumn colored trees below and orange and yellow glow in sky.

Pinnacle Rock on the Farmington/New Britain line is a gorgeous wide open view with sweeping views to the west.

Access this hike from the west side of Route 372, carefully crossing to the blue-blazed Metacomet Trail. Along the way you’ll pass a few smaller viewpoints, with the largest west-facing overlook at the end—perfect for sunset.

9. Hatchett Hill, Tariffville, 1.5 miles

cliff view of farmington river below and glow of orange sunset sky.

Hatchett Hill is a lesser known hike in CT and I love the western facing view over the Farmington River.

From a small pull-off on the east side of Route 189, hike about 0.7 miles to reach a west-facing overlook above the Farmington River. There are multiple mountain biking trails here, so it’s helpful to download a map off AllTrails ahead of time to follow!

10. Talcott Mountain, Simsbury, 2 miles

view from talcott Mountain at sunset time with swirly bright pink clouds in sky and sea of autumn colored leaves below.

silhouette of groups of hikers at sunset with sun setting behind them.

There are many ways to hike Talcott Mountain but a short 0.5-mile walk up the main trail (wide gravel path) brings you to the start of Talcott Mountain’s long, west-facing cliffline.

Stop at the first overlook or continue along the ridge for another half mile to find your perfect sunset viewpoint! There will be plenty of lookouts all along the ridge to choose from with one big wide open view at the end.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this post featuring sunset hikes across CT. I hope you have a plan of which one to hike next!

Feel free to leave any questions below – comments, too! Do you have a favorite sunset spot in CT? I love hearing from you!

🐾Happy Sunset Trails 🌄🥾🐶