Community Corner

Walking, Biking, and Hiking Trails in Fairfield

It's time to ditch the gym in favor of the great outdoors.

By Stephanie Wagle 
We’ve all been schooled in the numerous benefits of regular exercise. Reduced stress, weight control, a toned physique and enhanced cardiovascular health, to name a few.

But now it’s time to take your exercise regimen outside and let the treadmill gather some dust.

Fresh air isn’t the only reason to migrate activity to the great outdoors. The benefits of replicating your regiment outside the gym may even offer extra advantages than the local health club.

Not to mention the view.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Exercising among parks, fields, forests and appealing architecture almost always trumps that of steamy rooms crowded with sweaty athletes.  So what to do?

Walk. Turn a walk into a wander.  With varying visuals every step of the way, your outdoor sojourn will likely last longer than your typically timed-workout – now that you’ve transformed your ho-hum workout into an interesting ramble.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Walking outdoors generally offers a more inconsistent terrain than found on equipment at the gym, thereby requiring walkers to use distinct muscle groups to handle the ups and downs of changeable paths.  Even the occasional start and stop motions incurred as you cross roads or change direction varies muscle movements as well.  It’s not quite hiking but it sure beats the straightforward repetitive motion of the treadmill. 

Explore the 170 acres of open space -- including walking and hiking trails -- at Lake Mohegan in Fairfield. Work up a sweat and then take a dip in the Cascades to cool off. 

There's also the revitalized Southport Park's walking trails. 

Bike. If the daily grind combined with multitasking and endless errands, is getting in the way of visiting the gym or playing outdoors, complete more mundane missions on a bicycle. Not only will you feel a sense of accomplishment from combining to-dos with exercise, but open-air biking is less, er, boring than a stationary bike.

Consider adding accessories such as a basket or a pouch to your gear to finish numerous tasks via a two-wheeled, versus a four-wheeled vehicle.  Your bike might even save you time and money - by reducing gas expenditures and long waits in traffic. Vary your journeys by attaching a bike rack to the car, allowing you to geographically expand your explorations.

Fairfield's very first bike route -- along Mill Plain Road -- was striped and signed recently and is ready for use. Head to Zane's Cycles (formerly Trek of Fairfield) for your biking supplies.

If cruising on flat bike paths or easy neighborhood hills falls short of excursion excitement then consider the more adventurous -- and potentially arduous -- mountain biking.

Although official trails might be optimal, they’re not absolutely essential in delivering an off-road adventure. Fields, forests and even your own backyard can serve as an inaugural training ground before attempting more precipitously steep trails.

Zane's offers tips for the beginner off-road cyclist. 

Hike. If the stairmaster or elliptical is your exercise device of choice, why not attempt an aggressive hill instead?  While a stairmaster forces the user to go only uphill, an uphill hike ensures the hiker must come down hill too -- using a very different set of muscles. And fortunately, trekking comes in all sorts of “shapes and sizes” -- short, long, steep, gently inclined, flat, rough terrain or cleared path. People of all ages can participate.

Hiking can provide the overwhelmed and weary with the solitude and serenity of a solo hike or allow family and friends to commune with nature as a group. 

Hikers are frequently rewarded with unique views of rivers, streams, or skylines normally not available to those traveling by car, train or plane.  Similar to the benefits of walking and cycling, fresh air intake furnishes the body with a constant supply of oxygen - essential to all cells of the body. (Unlike indoor air which is frequently staler and maintains higher levels of carbon dioxide).

Hike right in town at Lake Mohegan, Southport Park, the Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) and the CAS Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary. Or head out of town to Weston's Devil's Den Preserve, and Trumbull's Housatonic Rail Trail.  

So, once you’ve identified your own personal walking, cycling or hiking style and preferences, the initial investment in the appropriate equipment may lead to years of fun, adventure and good health.

And re-up at the gym come winter.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here