How to Plan a Fishing & Hiking Trip with a 4-Year-Old in New England
Hiking and Fishing at Old Furnace State Park, CT
There are a lot of great places to hike and fish in Connecticut. I have enjoyed making memories with my 4-year-old, and I have had so much fun with him on our trips. Our favorite spot lately is Old Furnace State Park. We can spend 30 minutes fishing the Upper Pond and then hike to Ross's Cliffs and back within an hour as a quick little adventure where my son does not get too tired or lose interest. The view at the top is worth the short trek. Here are a few things that I learned after taking him a few times worth sharing.
Start with a short fishing adventure.
The upper pond has some short paths to water edges. We walked our fishing gear over and I set him up with a simple rig: a bobber, worms, and white bread on a little hook. The goal was just to catch something within 30 minutes. His attention span is short, but catching sunfish (kiver) is a lot of fun, and it is easy to catch at least one if your setup is right. You can even go out and find worms in your backyard in the morning and make a game out of that, which is what we did. I didn't do nightcrawlers, but it was easy to get some large worms from our yard by digging up some loose dirt in a wet area in just a few minutes.
Pack lots of snacks and water.
This might be obvious to most people, but as a first-time dad, I thought we could make the short hike without a backpack full of snacks. It's not like we were going very long or far... I was wrong. The boy needed his snacks, and his little legs got tired quick. Stopping to refuel was a must to keep him happy if he needed a break.
Make a game out of navigation.
The first time I took him it was a little rough because I admittedly was distracted by him and took a wrong turn. Backtracking with a 4-year-old getting tired was not particularly fun. The next time we went, I took chalk and we made a game of marking our way on rocks and trees. Not only did he have fun marking the way, but it turned into a game to find the clues on the way back down. He loved it.
Pack toilet paper and a trash bag.
Inevitably my 4-year-old tells me he has to poop when we are near the middle of the hike. Save yourself the experience of wiping with leaves. Pack the TP and a garbage bag just in case. If nothing else, you can use the trash bag to dispose of any litter you find along the way and teach your kids not to litter and leave the woods better than you found it.
Hold hands near the ledges and keep them close.
I never let go of him as we reached the top unless he was sitting down. If you are familiar with Ross's Cliffs, the ledges are extremely dangerous for a young child. Or anyone for that matter... be careful. But for me, it was easy to hold his hand, explain the danger, and keep him safe. If you think your child is too hard to handle and you are unable to control them, then you should go on a hike that stays clear of cliffs like the one at Old Furnace or just hike the trails around the lower pond and not go to the cliffs. But hey, I am just telling you my experience. My son loved sitting and looking at the view, and I had complete control of his safety when we were near any edges.
Consider these 5 things when you hike with your child to have a safe and fun time. I hope this helps you plan your adventure. If you want to go where I went, here is the address:
Old Furnace State Park
South Frontage Road and Ross Road
Killingly, CT 06239
Jordan Kempain
Owner Kempain Family Outfitters
Safety Disclaimer: The trails leading to Ross's Cliffs feature steep, unprotected drop-offs. Please exercise extreme caution, keep young children strictly within arm's reach, and evaluate your own comfort level before approaching the edge. All outdoor recreation is done at your own risk.