Have you ever just wanted to get away from it all – but you only have a few precious moments available? Or want to take the kids on a “wilderness adventure” in search of exotic wildlife? Or power through a monster mountain bike workout?
Well you can do all the above right here in Greenwich at the Mianus River Park!
Leave the suburban sprawl of Greenwich behind and melt into the densely forested Mianus River Park and immerse yourself in the peaceful splendor of this local escape. Situated on 389 pristine acres straddling the Greenwich/Stamford border – the Mianus River Park is home to more than 14 miles of hiking, biking and walking trails full of flora and fauna – all waiting to be explored.
Walking, Hiking and Biking
There are miles of beautiful walking, hiking and biking trails in the Mianus River Park. With the highest point in the park at about 220 feet there are plenty of “ups and downs” but none of the trails are exceedingly challenging – perfect for both “short leggers” looking to burn off some extra energy and more experienced enthusiasts out for an easy stroll, hike or mountain bike ride. Plan your first adventure using the handy trail map provided by the Friend of Mianus Park.
Geocaching
Geocaching – a treasure hunting game utilizing gps technology to locate caches (or “treasures”) – is active in the park. There are currently several active caches in the park. So grab your gps (or smartphone) and start hunting!
If you are not familiar with Geocaching but want to learn more you can sign up for a free geocaching account at https://www.geocaching.com/play or watch the video below.
Wildlife
Interested in wildlife? The park is home to at least twenty-two varieties of birds—including owls, hawks, and herons — not to mention scores of our four-legged friends: red fox, white-tailed deer chipmunks, squirrels, and the occasional coyote. So grab you binoculars or your camera and lets go see what creatures are sharing the neighborhood with us!
Fishing
Love to fish? You can do that too! The Mianus River offers excellent fishing in the spring, fall and winter, and can be decent in the summer, depending on rainfall and water levels. The Mianus River Park section of the river is designated as a Trout Management Area* and is home to brown, brook and rainbow trout – so grab your fly rod and come toss a few flies. (The Trout Management Area is a limited harvest section of the stream, where from September 1 through the third Saturday in April fishing is restricted to catch and release using artificial lures and single hooks. From the third Saturday in April through August, anglers may also use bait, and are allowed to keep two trout a day, with none smaller than 9 inches.)
History and More
Want to learn more about the Mianus River Park? Visit Friends of Mianus River Park using the link below to get more information about one of our communities best kept secrets and a favorite of local nature lovers, joggers, dog walkers, hikers, bikers and anglers.
Click here to visit the Friends of Mianus River Park website!
Click here to visit the Friends of Mianus River Park Facebook Page!
Feature photo courtesy of the Connecticut Office of Tourism.
