Last weekend, you wouldn’t have wanted to be out hiking; remember those insanely frigid temps?

Well, the weather has moderated back to above-normal, so even the cold-averse among us doesn’t need to wait for spring to enjoy the great outdoors.

A few ideas:

This is an excellent time of year to head to Rocky Neck State Park off Route 156 in Niantic. No summer crowds! Oh, and there is a lovely 2.5-mile loop where you can end your hike at the Pavilion overlooking the water — just gorgeous. It’s a fairly easy walk, with a well-trod trail and relatively gentle elevation changes.

Nearby is an easy-to-overlook but lovely trail, just off I-95 at 106 Four Mile River Road in Old Lyme. The Upper Three Mile River Preserve offers up a 2.5 loop deemed moderate to challenging. The Old Lyme Land Trust says this site “protects some of the wildest and most remote woodlands in town.” Use the commuter lot, which is located across the street.

Groton has a prime site in the form of Bluff Point State Park, at 55 Depot Road. It’s similar to Rocky Neck in that it offers wooded hiking as well as sweeping views of the Long Island Sound.