The color is good.
The air is cooling off.
It's a great time of the year to hike, especially on a mountain. The vistas are tremendous.
But where to go for a day trip? Here are a few great mountain hikes around the region.
• Stratton Mountain, VT: It's a short trip of about two hours from north central Connecticut and the views are some of the best around this time of year. Because of the convergence of the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail on the Stratton Summit, you can get a mix of hard-core and recreational hikers on any give day. Want a unique dining experience. Head to Rick's Tavern on nearby Newfane on the way home.
• Ragged Mountain, Berlin: It's a rock climbers haven, but several trails that offer good hikes for all levels of ability flow throughout the mountain. The views of the Quinnipiac are some of the nest river views in the Northeast.
• Wachusett Mountain, MA: Wachusett is a very short drive, located just north of Worcester. The trailheads are at the state park just up the road from the snow sports area and offer hikes for all talents. There is plenty to do at the mountain after the descent. The whole thing can be repeated in the winter if you want to bring the crampons or snowshoes and the skis. There is also plenty of history surrounding Wachusett. During King Philip's War in the 1600s, Mary Rowlandson was taken captive by the Native Americans and held there for ransom.
