Attention all hikers: March forth

The fall colors are fading fast and in order to take advantage of the beautiful Connecticut scenery, students can hit up local hiking trails for some quality outdoors time.

Hikes don't have to take place deep in the wilderness; there are many refreshing trails that lead right off of campus. The UConn Outing Club has an informative database of experienced hikers and a library full of guidebooks that can help students pick out the perfect location, distance and skill level for their perfect afternoon with nature. Here are some of the most prominent and popular routes in the neighboring area.

The Nipmuck Trail extends all the way from Mansfield to the Massachusetts border. It touches various parks, including Mansfield Hollow State Park, and is named after the Algonquin Indian tribe that used to live in the surrounding woods. Although it is a very long route, the Nipmuck is broken up by multiple trail systems that connect to it. The west branch of the trail is the section that is closest to UConn. It begins on Puddin' Lane, which is across from the Willimantic Reservoir and on the intersection of Rt. 195 and Rt. 6.

Puddin' Lane leads to a steep trailhead that climbs up to Wolf Rock. Wolf Rock is a rock climber's paradise and subsequently provides spectacular views of the surrounding area. At the bottom of the cliff are former wolf dens, which are now inhabited by various other creatures. If the uphill stroll is too difficult, there is a yellow-dot Boy Scout trail that bypasses the climb. But his trail is a more roundabout way of getting to Schoolhouse Brook Park, which in turn leads to the Mansfield Historical Society and back onto Rt. 195. Up to this point the trail is five miles, but it continues on for four more miles through Mansfield Hollow State Park, which has a giant lake for kayaking and other water-related activities. Finally, the west branch trail merges with the east branch and meanders through fields and ridges until it reaches the Massachusetts state line.

For a short, mile-long hike, there is the Fenton River Trail, which runs off of the Nipmuck Trail at the Mansfield Hollow Dam. It is marked by white-blazed indicators and is actually a very important flood-control area for the community. The trail covers gravel and grassy roads and leads over two iron truss bridges. It is also not far off from the Gurleyville Grist Mill, an eighteenth-century possession of the Wilbur Cross family.

Finally, the Shenipsit Trail can be found off of Rt. 44 near Mansfield Depot and Willington. Some of its closer sections start in Rockville and can be a difficult hike due to a rocky terrain. The Carriage Trail is a three-and-a-half mile road that ventures up to the summit of Lookout Mountain. After offering panoramic views of the Hartford Skyline, this white-blazed path winds around Case Pond and merges with the Highland Trail. It continues upon the property of Case Mills so there may be heaps of charcoal that contrast with the diverse wildlife of the area. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, mountain laurel and various songbirds frequent this trail, making the climb definitely worth the while.