Mountain Laurel Sanctuary — Attraction in Union

It had been a decade or so since I’d been out to the laurel sanctuary, but since we moved about 20 minutes closer to the area, it was on my mind again.

I was looking for a quiet place to go walking with my husband, and I had specific conditions in mind. Being mobility-challenged, I needed a wide, flat, level surface with minimal elevation changes, preferably in a wooded park, and a place to rest would be a bonus. The sanctuary checked every box.

Coming up route 190 east, the entrance (right side of the road) is well-marked with a large brown sign (might be 2-sided, I didn’t check). The road you turn onto is a tree-lined packed dirt & gravel road with areas to pull off to the side, I assume to either park or to let an oncoming car by in tighter spots.

The Mountain Laurels (CT state flower) line the road as well, though they weren’t in bloom currently (late July 2022). In this part of CT, they peak in late spring/early summer, generally.

Further down the drive (on the left side) there were 4 pull-in picnic spots with a full-sized wood picnic table at each. Two spots had some type of grill pit near it.

The road (which Google tells me is Snow Hill Road) leads to a turnaround/small parking area, which we used to head back to one of the picnic spots. You could go further down the road but it becomes very unimproved and possibly just leads you out of the sanctuary another way.

We parked at a picnic spot, put on some bug spray and set out on a lovely walk—a little over a mile to reach the entrance and back to our spot. I have bad knees and ankles, but this was an easy walk with some long, gentle slopes up and down. The road is packed in a way that I think it would work well for an automated wheelchair or even a standard one with good tires.

Back at the picnic table, we enjoyed some fruit we’d brought. Sitting in the dappled sunlight with a gentle breeze was afternoon perfection. It was a gorgeous midsummer Saturday and during our two hours there we’d seen only 4 people either walking alone or with their pups. Now that’s peaceful!

We came back the next afternoon before dinner and there were just a few skittish rabbits to keep us company. The sanctuary is now in our top 5 local walking spots list.

The open hours are currently 6 AM - 8 PM, 7 days a week. I’m not sure if these are seasonal or all-year hours.

Important to note: There are no toilets of any kind here There are no garbage bins, so it’s carry-in/carry-out The driveway/road is shared by cars, humans, and animals, so drive accordingly

This is a lovely little hidden gem nestled in the hilly forests of...

Amazing place all year round and especially when the Mountain Laurels are in bloom. Great walk down Snow Hill Rd, with a couple of picnic tables to stop, eat lunch, and take in the beautiful Mountain Laurels. You can also drive the road and come out further down 190. Really great place went on June 16th and the Mountain Laurels were in peak bloom, I was only passed by a couple of cars and only saw one other group picnicking. This place is amazing! I love the quiet but more people should visit...

Went to see if it would make for a nice nature walk with friends. Unfortunately the sounds from the nearby highway took away from the "nature" ambiance & the laurels are sad looking. Maybe when they bloom it will liven the whole...