Lose yourself in the Northwest Corner

There used to be a game we played as kids called — well, it didn’t really have a name. You took a broom from the closet, brought it outside and held it up to the sky and twirled in a circle. After a few moments the fun really began as your now-dizzy self tried to navigate the backyard.

That childhood game may come to mind as you find yourself spinning and twirling under the boughs of giant white pines at Cornwall’s Gold’s Pines and Ballyhack Preserve — Connecticut’s much smaller version of the redwood or giant sequoia forests of the West.

Gold’s Pines and Ballyhack Preserve, West Cornwall

The bottom line: This pair of Cornwall open spaces will take visitors under some of the tallest trees in the state. The Cornwall Conservation Trust’s 181acre Day Preserve will bring hikers through a deep hemlock forest up to the top of a cobble with views across a field into the mountains and hills of Massachusetts.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate due to changes in topography.

Length: The Gold’s Pines trail is about a mile out and back. Day Preserve has a two-mile loop trail. Ballyhack has a mile loop trail.

Directions: Follow Route 128 several miles west of its intersection with routes 4 and 43 for Gold’s Pines and Day Preserve. A small parking lot is located on the left between the Little Guild of St. Francis animal shelter and the West Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department. Go to cornwallconservationtrust.org for a map of the preserves. Follow Route 128 south to Route 125 or Grange Hall Road and look for Ballyhack on the right. Park at the small lot on the opposite side of the street.

Pet friendly?:Leashed dogs are allowed and must be cleaned up after with the waste removed if placed in a plastic bag.

Things to do nearby Bad Dog Brewing Co.:

The brewery is housed in a restored former firehouse (complete with a restored antique fire engine) where flagship and seasonal beers are brewed in small batches, including Blonde Ale, brewed with single malt and single hop, Sunny Deez, the flagship New England IPA, Black Lab ale and Boats & Oats, a classic oatmeal stout. 117 Water St., Torrington, 860-335-5321

Falls Village Café:

Breakfast is served all day on weekends and includes items like a burrito, croissant and breakfast plate with hash browns, scrambled eggs, sausage, grilled tomato, and mushroom with toast. Other menu items include Great Falls burger, cheddar BLT and spinach feta wrap. There are also special events including burger night Fridays and Tex-Mex Saturday nights. 107 Main St., Falls Village, 860-453-4183

Covered Bridge Electric Bike:

This bike shop rents electric bikes for two hours, a half-day, or a full day, and offers several sizes and models. Self-guided tours designed to the biker’s abilities include hills, dirt or paved roads, farms or quiet routes to villages. For larger groups, the shop offers a variety of trips, all leaving from the historic West Cornwall Covered Bridge. 421 Sharon-Goshen Tpke., Cornwall, 860-248-3010