Newtown Hikers is an open group welcoming anyone interested in hiking. There is no membership fee.

Hikers participate at their own risk and are asked by the Newtown Park & Rec Department to sign a release ahead of their first hike.

Hikers should bring water and snack or lunch with them for any hike they join. Hikers are advised to dress in layers, being mindful of the predicted weather. Rain cancels hikes.

Sturdy sneakers or hiking boots are recommended for safety. Hiking poles can be useful on steep terrain.

Children are welcome with an adult but should be able to keep up the group pace. Dogs are welcome on leash, but some trails don’t allow dogs. Most hikes are considered moderate, three to five hours with driving time, but they can vary. Challenging ones are noted.

The group meets each Saturday morning at 9 in the lower rear parking lot of Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street. They depart promptly at 9:10 for each week’s destination, and carpool as much as much as possible, as some trail heads have limited parking. Some hikers meet the group at trail head.

Check with the listed hike leader for questions. E-mails will be sent to those who request them from Sally Cox, hike coordinator; she can be reached at 203-426-9903, 203-830-9032, or newtownhikers@gmail.com.

Autumn Hikes

September 7: Audubon/Bent of the River, Southbury (hike leader Sally Cox, 203-830-9032);

September 14: Hammonassett in Madison or Pleasure Beach in Stratford (Irene Jutnas, 203-556-2933);

September 21: Waldo State Park, Southbury (Linda Dunn, 203-207-1765);

September 28: Fiddlehead, Oxford, note: challenging hike this weekend (Christa Troiani, 203-751-0297);

October 5: Kettletown State Park, Southbury (Lorraine Branecky, 203-426-2372);

October 12: Lovers Leap Sate Park, New Milford (Mark Jones, 203-892-9534;

October 19: Sessions Woods, Burlington (Irene Jutnas, 203-556-2933);

October 26: Wonder Lake, Holmes, N.Y. (Jim Steck, 845-621-5559 or 914-806-4107);

November 2: Storm King Mountain, Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y., note this week’s will also be a challenging hike (Nancy Ziegler, 203-917-7567);

November 9: Macricostas Preserve, New Preston, hike to beautiful vista over looking Lake Waramaug (Sally Cox, 203-830-9032);

November 16: Silver Sands Beach & State Park, Milford (Molly Schleis, 203-616-5950);

November 23: Mianus River Gorge, Bedford, N.Y. (Linda Dunn, 203-207-1765);

November 30: Paugaussett Trail, Monroe (Sally Cox, 203-830-9032);

December 7: Hidden Valley, Washington (Christa Troiani, 203-751-0297); and

December 14: Bennett’s Pond Trail, Ridgefield, hike followed by potluck lunch at hike leader’s home, to include winter hike schedule planning (Mark Jones, 203-892-9534).