Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail, Pachaug State Forest, Connecticut

I came across the Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail when I was looking for hikes in the state forest and thought it would be perfect for Alex since it was full of flowers and more of a walk than a hike. The trail is a little over a mile long and crosses conifer stands before the rhododendrons dominate. We were there right before the flowers went out of bloom so they weren’t as prevalent nor as colorful as they might have been in their peak. They were still quite pretty however and I found a few that hadn’t yet passed their prime. Even without all the flowers budding it was still quite an experience walking beneath the canopy of rhododendron and in the midst of all the lush green ferns and mosses. The trail terminates at a swampy pond that hosts many frogs as well which a nice surprise.