Check out these winter walks all across New England
Despite occasional warm spells, as New Englanders, we know winter isn’t going anywhere for a while. But even when the weather outside is cold and dreary, it can still be really enjoyable to get out for an exhilarating walk. As luck would have it, there’s no shortage of beautiful winter walks in this region. Here are several.
Connecticut
Walkers can do the urban-rural thing in this state. The city of New Haven has ample historic architecture worth checking out at Yale University, with buildings by such legendary architects as Louis I. Kahn and Eero Saarinen. Because the university falls within the city, walkways are usually cleared in winter; stay warm on a self-guided campus tour that features 80 sites to see, starting with the Yale Visitor Center on Elm Street, across from historic New Haven Green.
About 40 miles away, there’s the 4,000-acre White Memorial Foundation in the Nutmeg State’s northwest hills. You’ll find 40 miles of trails covering various habitats, from woods to marshes to rivers and lakes, with more than 50 entrances. Long jaunts include the six-mile Mattatuck Trail that passes along ponds, marshes, and the Plunge Pool Overlook, and the shorter Boardwalk, an elevated 1.2-mile wooden walkway through the wintery wetlands around Little Pond, where numerous waterfowl may be seen.
Maine
Ogunquit, Maine, has long been a draw for artists, and 1.25-mile Marginal Way is where you can see why. It’s one of New England’s only paved, public shoreline footpaths, according to the Marginal Way Preservation Fund, which maintains the property. It stretches along the coast, with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and plenty of places to stop and stare—or paint—thanks to 39 memorial benches along the path. At the replica Marginal Way lighthouse, take a turn with the webcam, where you can catch views from around the world. Be careful and wear good shoes; it’s winter in Maine, after all, so the walk may be a bit icy.
Another great scenic coastal walk locals love even in winter is the Spring Point Shoreway in South Portland, running 1.6 miles from Fisherman’s Point to Bug Light Park, past Fort Preble, which saw action in the Civil War. From here, you can access the Greenbelt Walkway that winds through the neighborhoods of Ferry Village, Knightville, Pleasantdale, and Broadview Park.
A view of the rocks and beach along the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine.
Massachusetts
Part of Boston’s charm is its walkability, even in winter, as most sidewalks remain clear. That includes those on the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail that takes in places like the Granary Burying Ground, the final resting place of revolutionary notables like Paul Revere and John Hancock.
Far more rural walking can be found at World’s End in Hingham, a windy and wide open worthy winter walk for the solitude and stunning views of Boston’s skyline. The 251-acre park boasts 4.5 miles of carriage paths and footpaths, rocky shores, and broad hillsides, all reasonably doable with the relative dearth of snow this winter. World’s End’s history includes this nugget: In the ‘60s, it was listed as a possible site for a Boston Edison nuclear power plant, but public pressure quashed the plan, and it eventually become a holding of The Trustees of Reservations.
New Hampshire
You can burn off some calories just walking and shopping in the retail mecca that is North Conway, home to discount outlets, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and the town’s oldest store, the North Conway 5&10, which opened in 1939. Plus, popping into stores helps keep you warm.
Or you can go a little more rugged up at West Rattlesnake Mountain in the Holderness area. The well-worn two-mile trail is popular even in the cold—just make sure to wear good winter boots. Your reward will be gorgeous views of Squam Lake and its islands, as well as distant mountains and sprawling forests where you might see the occasional bald eagle.
The Breakers on the Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island.
Rhode Island
, a 3.5-mile seaside stroll past mansions and the ocean, is largely snow-free in winter due to the constant wind blowing from the sea. It’s also a relatively flat, easy walk.
One lesser-known gem is the 28-acre Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge that’s part of the Audubon Environmental Education Center, with a variety of walking trails that includes a quarter-mile boardwalk winding through fresh and saltwater marshes and ends with a sprawling (if not chilly) view of Narragansett Bay. The refuge also runs along the very popular East Bay Bike Path that starts in India Point Park in Providence and ends nearly 14 miles later at Independence Park in Bristol, an easy-to-stroll path that’s popular year round and decidedly less crowded in winter.
Vermont
Winter in northern New England does mean snow, but that doesn’t preclude walking. At Mount Snow at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, they’ll get you on your snowshoe-clad feet and traipsing through the forest on your own or via guided tours in no time; all-day snowshoe rentals are $20, and a snowshoe trail ticket is $10. A guided snowshoe tour over snow-covered trails is a good option ($45 per person), or better yet, go for a tour and a massage back at the Grand Summit ($165-$185).
For a less strenuous outing, consider the expanded Valley Trail in Dover, which has been lengthened over the years to roughly four miles and continues to grow. It’s a largely paved pedestrian and bicycle path connecting Dover and Wilmington, with nine trailheads and parking along the way. From this trail, which parallels Route 100, it’s an easy connect to the more rigorous but walkable Crosstown Trail System. There, sturdier footwear is recommended to check out the 11 displays outlining what flora and fauna you may see, including the ever-increasing numbers of bald eagles and peregrine falcons, two breeds of birds that broke state nesting records in 2016.
