Scantic River State Park East is a hiking destination with well-maintained trails winding through wooded landscapes alongside the Scantic River. The park is characterized by serene wooded landscapes and the gentle flow of the Scantic River. There are about a mile of trails here that descend from either corner of the parking area down to the river. The park features a Braille Trail, an 880-foot path with 11 signs in Braille and English describing the area. The park also features remnants of the Hazard Powder Company, offering a glimpse into Connecticut’s industrial past. Long before becoming a state park, this valley was used as a source of energy to power the gunpowder manufacturing mills of Colonel Augustus Hazard, with a catastrophic explosion in January of 1913 bringing the gunpowder business to an end.