Ledyard Glacial Park - Parking Lot - Gales Ferry, CT
Ledyard Glacial Park – Dog-Friendly Trails in Gales Ferry, Connecticut
Discover the breathtaking natural beauty of Ledyard Glacial Park in Gales Ferry, Connecticut—a prime local destination for those seeking pet-friendly hiking and unique glacial landscapes. Known for its dramatic boulder formations and awe-inspiring views, this park offers two main trail options: the more strenuous blue trail, which challenges adventurous hikers and energetic pups with steep climbs and impressive rock hopping, and the gentler yellow trail, perfect for families with kids and dog owners looking for a milder, scenic walk.
While there isn’t a traditional fenced dog park area, dogs are welcome on the trails and have plenty of space to explore nature alongside their humans. The park is heavily shaded by trees, providing a cool retreat during warmer months, and the trailheads are easily accessible from a convenient parking lot. Ledyard Glacial Park is ideal for visitors seeking dog-friendly outdoor activities, beautiful views, and memorable adventures with their pets in southeast Connecticut.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park?
Yes, there are both challenging and family-friendly trails, including the blue and yellow trails, that offer hiking experiences through glacial terrain. - Is there shade or shelter available?
Yes, the park features heavily shaded trails with dense tree cover to keep visitors cool. - Where is the best place to park?
There is an easy-to-find parking lot at 86 Whalehead Rd that provides convenient access to the trails. - Is the park muddy after it rains?
Certain sections, especially swampy or near boulder areas, can become muddy or slippery after rain, so extra caution is advised. - Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park?
Yes, the blue and yellow trails both offer hiking adventures for various skill levels.
Reviews
Great little hike with amazing views! Our dog loved it but we found it a bit easier to hike without her.
Parking lot is easy to find and access. The blue loop is a really fun and challenging trail. So many boulders! Our kids had a blast climbing over all of the natural obstacles.
This is a great hike! The yellow hike is great to do with younger kids and dogs. The blue trail is a little more strenuous with climbing on and over large rocks. Both are easy to follow and spot. Heavily shaded.
Meant for moderate to fully skilled hikers. The trees were the only thing marked. The trails were difficult to distinguish as they were like animal paths. No further maps than the entrance. Thank God I back tracked because I nearly got lost.
Driving into the park it almost looks like a great start to a horror movie about nature exploring. That didn’t stop us from wanting to see the trail. At the start, the trail map details out the blue trail and labels it as treacherous and the yellow trail as the bypass. We are thinking to ourselves it is just a hike, what are they talking about? We made it to the top of the first hill on the blue pass after going around some swampy parts. Looking out over the land it looks like a river of rocks coming down the mountain. You can feel how the glacier flowed to this spot depositing all the rocks as it slowly died. We were about to embark on the trail through the corpse of the glacier. As we started down the hill into the rock we quickly understood the warning on the sign. As we started to climb over and around the boulders the trail led us to a spot to jump across from one rock top to another, neither of which was flat. It was not something we were comfortable with so we set out trying to find a way through the maze of rock. Unfortunately I picked a path with a sinkhole that the ice broke and soaked the leg, sock, and boot! We walked back to the car and changed socks and shoes but didn’t let the trail get the best of us. We headed back out, this time taking the yellow trail. While this trail is easier it is not simple. There are some good uphill climbs as well as climbing on and around the rocks. Looking at the monumental size of these boulders you can start to understand the power of a glacier and be awed by the fact that this was a pebble to it. We finished the hike at the rock overhang which is both amazing and scary to stand under. From the top of it you can see into the forest and get another grand view of the landscape. We then headed back to our car. It was a short walk for us but we will be back to brave the length of the blue trail!