What’s not to like about this park. Short or long hikes, beautiful overlooks, kayaking, biking, wildlife and an awesome bridge with love locks and folklore. Not to mention it’s name, Lover’s Leap.
I have launched from the end of Lover’s Leap Road. It is not an easy launch site however so should not be done alone. The parking is a dirt road and then you need to either drive the kayak down to the river and return to park your car or carry the kayak down. But once that is all over the paddle is worth the effort.
If you turn left from the launch you are in a small cove with a little tunnel which is fun as a start to the overall mystique of this paddle.
From there you would return to where you started and my recommendation would be to make the first right into the beautiful tall gorge.
I find the gorge so majestic around you and so much fun to paddle to then end to see the beautiful red bridge. You can continue straight beyond the bridge which I see most do (I believe that is towards Addis Park) but my preference is to turn left under a series of bridges and into the Still River (which I believe is towards Harry Brooke Park). I will definitely seek to return and walk Harry Brooke Park given what I’ve seen from the kayak but I have not yet been there.
My first paddle was at the end of summer and I was fortunate to see frogs, swans and blue Herons.
The best surprise however was just under a bridge into a small cove with a waterfall. I went back in the fall specifically to see the waterfall and all the birds that seem to live around it. The October visit was very brief but so memorable from the beauty.
While the launch is on the Housatonic River the waterfall is under the railroad trestle and to the right when looking at the map. This appears to be Still River. The fall foliage colors were stunning.
The return offers beautiful views as well of the bridge and then Indian Farm house right beyond the gorge.
I would couple this park visit with a walk into the adorable town of New Milford in which there are several restaurants and cute stores. Due to the pandemic I didn’t return this year but in prior years that was a definite stop.
One my favorite inspirational shots was taken here as the sun went down on my visit. An easy moment to miss if you rush to leave. savor every opportunity and shoot for the moon!
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Pivot and Pause in New England 
Absolutely Beautiful!!!!!
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Magical experience!
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