Find the top rated hiking trails in Connecticut, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The first couple of miles are paved, which makes up for the lack of scenery. But once the pavement ends, for all intents and purposes, so does the path. Between the mud, the rocks and the fallen trees, I spent more time walking my bike than riding it! And that's not even taking the horseflies into account. Not to mention the frighteningly steep drop-offs. How dare they call this catastrophe a bike path!
For reasons I won't get into, I've long despised Connecticut's Route 14 corridor (Moosup, Danielson, Dayville, Plainfield, et al). This malevolent excuse for a trail gives me one more reason to do so.
My wife and I rode our recumbent trikes on the entirety of this trail on a Saturday evening. For the most part, we encountered only walkers. And based on the surface condition of the trail, I understand why. The pavement has deteriorated and is full of root-bumps and small dips. It was a very rough ride.
I would recommend this trail for walkers, joggers, or cyclists if you've got a bike/trike with a suspension. The bulk of the trail is on the old towpath between the river and the canal, so other than the north and south ends, you are separated by water from the rest of the world. This makes for a quiet, relaxing, and scenic trek. The northern terminus near the parking lot, which also forms a "T" with the CT 190 bridge, and the southern terminus by the renovated mill building are new and in great shape. All we need now is for Connecticut to resurface the original portion... even stone dust would be better than the broken pavement.
I started This trail in downtown Derby in May 2022. They are doing some construction in the area where they say you can park. Go on a Sunday and park in the City Hall parking lot. Beside the parking and the tons of walker on the path is not bad.
Trail is nice for the size, well paved but hills. You can park on the back side of Maggie's and there are other places to park along the way.
On e Bikes; trail to north from Windham generally passable but long wet areas (eventually turned around) and trail a bit rougher than going south from Willimantic. The south trail is in much better shape and had inviting scenery with streams, farms and wetlands/lakes + virtually no wet areas on trail. Went to RT 87 (about 8 miles) from Willimantic. Plan to do this again and go further.
Uninteresting trail under power lines that actually does not welcome bikes.
Great trail and very scenic. All paved and pavement in very good shape. Parked at lot on New Britain Ave. and went NW to Collinsville and then to Rte. 44 in Canton. Then rode trail back to start.
10 miles each way. Very enjoyable journey. 90%+ of ride is on nice wide trail. First half of trip is constant, gentle up gradient. Ride back about 60% faster since going mostly gently downhill along river.
Parked at lot on Railroad St off of 44. New parking lot and pavilion with new overpass for trail over main road. Took trail NE to Town Farm Rd. and then streets into Putnam. Trail in this section gets average rating of 2+. Trail base is coarse rock (1.5" +) with washed out ruts. Somewhat bumpy ride. Only good for bikes with wider tires. In Putnam went south on Putnam River Trail (excellent paved trail) south to bridge over Quinebaug River. Crossed river climbed up steep hill to get to old rail trail and took this back to starting point.
Next went SW from rail station on trail to Covell Road. This section of trail in very good shape. Hard packed gravel base. I'd rate this a 4. Easy going for most bikes.
I usually park at the lot at the corner of Red Oak Hill dr. and New Britian ave. and head north. You go thru Unionville then to Collinsville where you can stop for a drink and bite to eat. You can go back to your car from there (16 miles round trip) or continue on to Canton and even farther. Well, maintained, great scenic views of the Farmington River rapids. It can get crowded on weekends. During the week, is perfect.
I live close to the Pomfret Station so I decided to give the Airline Trail North another chance. I had ridden from the new bridge north toward Putnam last fall and found that much of it to be unride-able. Today I headed south, and after a short time, I realized it was just too rough for my seventy year old body. Horse’s hooves and dirt bikes had dug it up.
It’s really a shame that the powers that be don’t pony up and pave it. I think that it could be one of the best trails in the country.
Pleasant trail between Platt HS and Quuinnipiac gorge. A good walk in the woods and along the short of Hanover Pond. Be sure to read the signage about the former amusement park.
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