Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space
Managed by National Park Service
2,736 acres14.2 mi of trail
Appalachian TrailSchaghticoke Mountain Campsite Trail
Dogs usually limited
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Kent
46% of Kent’s land is conserved: 14,308 acres
2,914 acres are parks and preserves, 954 per 1,000 residents. 66 miles of mapped trail cross Kent, 1.4 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space (14.2 mi), Macedonia Brook State Park (11.9 mi), Pond Mountain Natural Area (5.9 mi).
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns · #8 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
46%
14,308 acres · of 48.6 sq mi of land
Trails
66 mi
1.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,914 ac
954 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
67%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
1,447 ft
North Preston Hill
Lakes & rivers
18
1 beach · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Kent?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Land that stays wild46% of the land is conserved; a typical Connecticut town, 15%.Room to roam954 acres of park per 1,000 residents; the typical U.S. town has 13.A trail town1.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 87% of U.S. towns.History along the way4 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Kent have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Kent is ahead of 96% of U.S. towns, #8 of 155 in Connecticut. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Kent’s overall grade.
Conserved land46% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%A+Trails1.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (66 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4APark land954 acres of park per 1,000 residents (2,914 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13A+Parks close to home67% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 96%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 95%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Kent’s 46% is ahead of 99% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 47% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space, with 14.2 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Macedonia Brook State Park
Nature preserve
1,748 acres11.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Pond Mountain Natural Area
Managed by Pond Mountain Trust
706 acres5.9 mi of trail
Entry Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Skiff Mountain South Preserve
Nature preserve
267 acres3.9 mi of trail
Queen of Diamonds LoopCerulean Warbler LoopWoodcock TrailInterpretive Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
East Kent Hamlet Nature Reserve
Managed by Kent Land Trust
181 acres2.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Cobble Brook Vista Preserve
Managed by Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
209 acres2.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Kent Falls State Park
Nature preserve
719 acres2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Iron Mountain Preserve
Managed by Kent Land Trust
293 acres1.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 18 parks & preserves
Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space2,736 acres · 14.2 mi of trail · National Park Service
DirectionsMacedonia Brook State Park1,748 acres · 11.9 mi of trail
DirectionsPond Mountain Natural Area706 acres · 5.9 mi of trail · Pond Mountain Trust
DirectionsSkiff Mountain South Preserve267 acres · 3.9 mi of trail
DirectionsEast Kent Hamlet Nature Reserve181 acres · 2.7 mi of trail · Kent Land Trust
DirectionsCobble Brook Vista Preserve209 acres · 2.6 mi of trail · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
DirectionsKent Falls State Park719 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsIron Mountain Preserve293 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Kent Land Trust
DirectionsAudrey and Robert Tobin Preserve186 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Kent Land Trust
Currie Sanctuary63 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Kent Land Trust
Skiff Mountain Preserve114 acres · 1 mi of trail · Sharon Land Trust
DirectionsEmery Park230 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Town of Kent
DirectionsAlice McCallister Memorial Sanctuary63 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
DirectionsKent Mountain Preserve28 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Kent Land Trust
Lake Waramaug State Park76 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsKent Commons Park6 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Kent
DirectionsWyantenock State Forest665 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Cobble Mountain83 acres · Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
Who protects it
14,308 conserved acres
46% of Kent’s land. Who manages Kent’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
National Park Service2,919 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits2,809 ac
Private owners2,353 ac
Other state land952 ac
State conservation389 ac
Other or Unknown Federal Land27 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)15 ac
Unknown Easement · 5,192 acPrivate Conservation · 5,127 acState Park · 2,524 acNational Scenic or Historic Trail · 2,363 acConservation Easement · 1,333 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 3,498 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 287 of 406 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Unknown | Not recorded | 3,556 | Unknown |
| Appalachian National Scenic Trail National Scenic or Historic Trail | National Park Service | 2,363 | Open |
| Macedonia Brook State Park State Park | Not recorded | 1,736 | Unknown |
| Pond Mountain Private Conservation | Not recorded | 725 | Unknown |
| Kent Falls State Park State Park | Not recorded | 692 | Unknown |
| Wyantenock State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 656 | Unknown |
| Iron Mountain Reservation Site Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 308 | Closed |
| Emery Park Local Park | Not recorded | 231 | Unknown |
| Tobin Preserve Private Conservation | Not recorded | 186 | Unknown |
| Camp Francis Private Conservation | Not recorded | 164 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
71 places to go in Kent
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Kent
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Kent
4 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Kent
Hatch Pond Boat Launch
DirectionsWaterfalls in Kent
Cascades
DirectionsKent FallsIn Kent Falls State Park
DirectionsPlus 2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Kent
View WestIn Cobble Brook Vista Preserve
DirectionsPlus 20 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Kent
North Preston Hill1,447 ft elevation
DirectionsBromica Mountain1,404 ft elevation · In Wyantenock State Forest
DirectionsChapel Pond Hill1,398 ft elevation · In Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space
DirectionsCobble Mountain1,398 ft elevation · In Macedonia Brook State Park
DirectionsMauwee Peak1,398 ft elevation
DirectionsFlanders Mountain1,385 ft elevation · In Wyantenock State Forest
DirectionsSaint Johns Peak1,335 ft elevation
DirectionsPond Mountain1,332 ft elevation · In Pond Mountain Natural Area
Directions21 more peaks
Bald Hill1,312 ft elevation
DirectionsKent Mountain1,276 ft elevation
DirectionsCurrie Hill1,240 ft elevation · In Macedonia Brook State Park
DirectionsSegar Mountain1,201 ft elevation · In Emery Park
DirectionsLeonard Mountain1,171 ft elevation · In Emery Park
DirectionsThayer Brook Hill1,171 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Algo1,165 ft elevation
DirectionsFlat Rock1,142 ft elevation
DirectionsCalebs Peak1,132 ft elevation · In Pond Mountain Natural Area
DirectionsGeer Mountain1,109 ft elevation
DirectionsBull Mountain1,086 ft elevation
DirectionsSugar Loaf Hill1,014 ft elevation
DirectionsOre Hill991 ft elevation · In Iron Mountain Preserve
DirectionsFuller Mountain971 ft elevation · In Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space
DirectionsThe Cobble955 ft elevation
DirectionsTreasure Hill906 ft elevation
DirectionsGolf Course Hill876 ft elevation
DirectionsSpooner Hill784 ft elevation
DirectionsLower Segar Mountain771 ft elevation
DirectionsGlacier Rock761 ft elevation
DirectionsNumeral Rock689 ft elevation
Directions31 peaks are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Picnic areas in Kent
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Kent
1In Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space
Directions2In Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space
Directions3In Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space
Directions4In Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space
DirectionsPlus 4 campgrounds without a name on the map.
Trails & water
10 named trails and 18 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 46.3 mi
Appalachian Trail13.6 mi
Queen of Diamonds Loop1.6 mi
Cerulean Warbler Loop1.4 mi
Skiff Mtn North Loop Trail0.8 mi
Woodcock Trail0.5 mi
Interpretive Trail0.3 mi
Entry Trail0.3 mi
Skiff Green Trail0.2 mi
Skiff Mtn North Parking Spur Trail0.2 mi
Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite Trail0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Beaman PondBlatz PondreservoirBulls Bridge PondreservoirCase PondChapel PondFuller PondpondGeer Mountain PondHatch PondIrvings PondreservoirJordan PondreservoirLeonard PondMill PondreservoirNorth Spectacle PondRichards PondreservoirSouth Spectacle PondSpooner PondreservoirWolzles PondHousatonic River
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
40Tennis
9Basketball
8Soccer
8Baseball
2Football
1Beach volleyball
1Lacrosse
1Pickleball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →4 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 3 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
May is the best month for walking in Kent
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 33 | 37 | 45 | 58 | 68 | 76 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 61 | 49 | 38 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
February is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 81 °F). 4.7 inches fall in July, the wettest month. The climate in Kent →
Next door
Kent and its neighbors
Kent has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Kent66 miWashington65 miCornwall56 miNew Milford45 miSherman30 miWarren15 miNew Preston9.8 miCornwall Bridge0.2 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | 46% | 1.4 | 954 | 67% | A+ |
| Warren | 21% | 0.6 | 582 | 68% | A |
| New Milford | 18% | 0.7 | 26 | 48% | A− |
| Sherman | 18% | 1.4 | 54 | 34% | A− |
| Cornwall Bridge | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| New Preston | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Washington | 30% | 1.7 | 638 | 44% | A |
| Cornwall | 44% | 1.2 | 225 | 42% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Kent
Where can I hike in Kent?
The longest trail networks: Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space, 14.2 miles; Macedonia Brook State Park, 11.9 miles; Pond Mountain Natural Area, 5.9 miles; Skiff Mountain South Preserve, 3.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Kent is conserved land?
46% of its land, against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Kent’s trails?
Appalachian Trail Scenic Open Space and Macedonia Brook State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Kent?
18,905 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Kent or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 5,001 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Kent have?
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #8 of 155 in Connecticut. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Kent neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →