White Rocks National Recreation Area is a 22,624-acre area featuring a range of winter and summer recreational opportunities including hiking, snowshoeing, and picnicking. The area offers multiple trail options at varying difficulty levels: The main trail via the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail isa 4.0-mile out-and-back route that is generally considered challenging and takes an average of 2 hours 36 minutes to complete. The area features dense stands of pine trees and quartzite boulders throughout the forest floor, with overlook views of the town of Wallingford below. For a shorter alternative, the Ice Beds Trail is a 3.0-mile out-and-back route considered moderately challenging that takes about 1 hour 19 minutes to complete. This trail leads to a ravine where ice melts very slowly and often lasts until the end of summer. The area’s distinctive Cheshire quartzite was exposed by glaciers during the last Ice Age and was historically quarried by Native Americans for tools. Amenities include the White Rocks Picnic Area where the Ice Beds and Keewaydin trails are accessed.
White Rocks National Recreation Area
