Pride Month Hike in Riverside Park, Hartford, on June 22, 2024

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David Ostafin

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May 28, 2024, 10:34:05 AM5/28/24

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Join us for a 4.6 mile hike to celebrate June Pride. The hike will be at Hartford's Riverside Park (20 Leibert Road, Hartford, CT) on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Meet at the parking lot adjacent to the Boathouse at 10:30 a.m., for a prompt departure at 11:00 a.m. sharp. The hike will be led by Roberto Tollis. The rain date is the following day: Sunday, June 23, 2024.

ABOUT THE HIKE: The hike is a loop, with a major section along the Connecticut River. The trailhead is accessible from the Boathouse parking area. The hike features scenic river views, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is an unpaved wooded trail with a total length of 4.6 miles. Some parts of the trail may be muddy (due to its proximity to the river), and thus proper footwear is important. We will follow the blue-blazed trail, and complete the entire loop (starting and ending at the Boathouse parking area). It is expected that the total duration will be around two hours of total walking time. This is generally considered an easy hiking trail. As always, dress appropriately for the season, bring sunscreen & bug spray, and read our DISCLAIMER. Dogs on leash are welcome. It is expected that bathroom facilities will be available on and aft the Memorial Day holiday.

ABOUT THE PARK: Just North of Hartford's downtown area, the Victorian-era Riverside Park is a bustling Connecticut River park with a boathouse, a banquet hall, a boat launch, picnic facilities, hiking trails, and a playground. Originally designed by the Frederick Law Olmstead firm in 1899, the park has undergone significant changes since then, as a result of the filling of wetlands and the construction of the interstate highway system. The park features unpaved hiking trails along the Connecticut River, as well as the newer paved Lincoln Sculpture Walk (which began with a $500,000 grant from Lincoln Financial in 2005) that features sixteen sculpturesi depicting aspects of Abraham Lincoln's life (the sixteen sculptures were selected by Riverfront Recapture Inc. from submissions by artists from around the country; the last sculpture was installed in 2011).

DIRECTIONS: Use the following GPS address: 20 Leibert Road, Hartford, CT. Once you turn left into Riverside Park, look for the parking area next to the Boathouse. We will meet in that parking lot, next to the trailhead.

From points North: Take I-91 South. Take the Jennings Road Exit (Exit 33). Turn left on to Jennings Road, then take the next right onto Leibert Road. Turn left into Riverside Park.

From points South: Take I-91 North. Take the Jennings Road Exit (Exit 33). Turn right onto Jennings Road, then take the next right onto Leibert Road. Turn left into Riverside Park.

From points West and East: Take I-84 to Exit 51, merging into I-91 North. Follow directions above for I-91 North.

AFTER-HIKE SOCIAL: The optional after-hike social will be at Salute Restaurant, located at 100 Trumbell Street, Hartford, CT. This restaurant is a local favorite. Parking is available in the LAZ garage attached to the building. To view the menu, visit the restaurant's website at: https://salutehardford.com

SPECIAL NOTE: For those interested, the Hartbeat Music Festival will be happening on the same day in the nearby Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is a free celebration of music and community that features local and regional bands on three stages. Food and beer are available. For the lineup of performers, visit the Riverfront website: https://riverfront.org/hartbeat2024.