DEEP offers Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Parks Division is celebrating the start of Spring with the 2021 Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge.

The challenge began in 2015 to promote hiking in Connecticut’s state parks and forests. This year’s challenge is an opportunity to hike “Bridges, Footbridges and Boardwalks” that are part of 20 trails within various Connecticut State Parks and Forests. Those who complete the challenge will receive a “Sky’s the Limit” hiking staff medallion and certificate to commemorate their accomplishment!

“Sky’s the Limit is a great way to explore Connecticut’s state parks and forests while joining others in a friendly challenge to visit all 20 locations handpicked by those who know the parks best – the staff of our state parks system,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Our state parks and forests, which are free to enter for those driving Connecticut registered vehicles thanks to the Passport to the Parks program, are such tremendous resources for us in this state, and their importance was underscored in 2020 by the significant increase in usage we saw due to the pandemic. We anticipate that will continue this spring and summer, and the Sky’s the Limit Challenge is a great way to get acquainted, or re-acquainted with many of our wonderful state parks.”

Participants have the opportunity to receive a medallion and certificate for hiking to 15 designated locations. For hiking all 20 locations, 50 people will receive a hand-carved hiking staff. Names will be drawn from all who complete the 20 designated hikes.

Locations: Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill, Lovers Leap State Park, New Milford, Silver Sands State Park, Milford, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, Black Rock State Park, Torrington, Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth, Collis P. Huntington State Park, Bethel, Newtown & Redding, Southford Falls State Park, Oxford, Wharton Brook State Park, Wallingford, Wadsworth Falls State Park, Middletown, Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted, Ferry Landing State Park (DEEP Marine Headquarters), Old Lyme, Kent Falls State Park, Kent, Cockaponset State Forest, Chester & Haddam, Sherwood Island State Park, Westport, Devil's Hopyard State Park, East Haddam, Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury, Salmon River State Forest, Colchester, Osbornedale State Park, Derby, and Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme.

DEEP encourages every visitor to State Parks and Forests to “Love Your Public Lands” and be environmental stewards: carry out what you carry in, even if a trash receptacle isn’t in your immediate vicinity. Visitors are encouraged to learn about and practice the philosophies of environmental stewardship programs such as Leave No Trace to ensure that our public lands remain clean and healthy for the organisms who inhabit them, and the next person visiting them. Participants are asked to practice safe social distancing when in state parks or forests.

For more information on Connecticut State Parks visit the State Parks page of the DEEP website, and follow the State Parks accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and on Facebook.