Snowshoe (or people-watch) in East Rock Park
New England snowstorms turn New Haven into a veritable winter wonderland. After particularly big storms, New Haven can see as much as one to two feet of snow, which can make it pretty difficult to get around on foot.
This is when some East Rock residents choose to break out their snowshoes, which can make for pretty fun people-watching. If you want to join in on the fun, New Haven does not have a dedicated ski shop, but you can still order snowshoes online from many sporting goods stores. For a hiking path, we suggest starting at the corner of East Rock Road and Livingston Street, using the pedestrian path all the way up Farnum Drive to the parking lot. (Fun fact: Farnum Drive used to be open to vehicles prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but city residents and politicians worked together to shift it into a temporary pedestrian space. The road may re-open to vehicles again in the future, so it’s best to take advantage of it while you still can!)