Find the top rated trails in Colchester, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway is an important non-motorized transportation corridor and local recreation trail, linking Waterplace Park and the Providence Place Mall in Providence...
The Putnam River Trail extends between Arch Street in the Putnam District and Providence Street to the south. The trail follows the east bank of the Quinebaug River between the river and Kennedy...
The Naugatuck River Greenway will one day span 44 miles from Torrington to Derby in western Connecticut, but is currently open in a few short disconnected segments totaling just over 5 miles. The...
The Washington Secondary Bike Path actually comprises four trails along an old Hartford, Providence, & Fishkill Railroad corridor. Together, the Cranston Bike Path, Warwick Bike Path, West Warwick...
The Chicopee Center Canal Walk offers a short pleasant route in Chicopee, a small city on the outskirts of Springfield in southern Massachusetts. The pathway closely follows the slow-moving canal and...
The Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway, which will one day run 21 miles along the river, currently has two open segments. The longest stretches 3.7 miles from the Chicopee town line to the South End...
When complete, Connecticut's Shoreline Greenway Trail will be a scenic 25-mile route through four quaint New England towns off Long Island Sound. From Lighthouse Point to Hammonasset Beach State Park,...
A part of Connecticut's first bus rapid transit line, the CTfastrak Trail serves as recreational and multi-use path for walking and bicycling between Downtown New Britain and Newington Junction. The...
Air Line State Park Trail winds for just over 55 miles from the northeast corner of Connecticut, where the state borders Massachusetts, down to East Hampton in the heart of the state. Over the state...
The Southwick Rail Trail is now complete from the Massachusetts–Connecticut state line, where it continues south as the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. On the north end, the trail extends to the...
Named for the late state senator who spearheaded development of the trail, the William C. O'Neill Bike Path (a.k.a. South County Bike Path) follows the route of the former Narragansett Pier Railroad,...
The Savin Rock Trail offers just over a mile of paved pathway along West Haven’s coastline. Along the way, you’ll enjoy picturesque views of Long Island Sound and access to its sandy beaches. The west...
The Cheney Rail Trail follows part of the corridor of the South Manchester Railroad, built by the Cheney brothers in 1869. The line was a 2.5-mile spur from the main Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill...
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The Trolley Trail runs through Plainfield and is a key link the East Coast Greenway. Plans are to use this trail as a link between the Moosup Valley State Park Trail and the Airline State Park...
The Farmington River Trail is built upon the former Central New England Railroad corridor and runs between the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail near Tunxis Meade Park and the Simsbury town line. A...
The Hop River State Park Trail is one of Connecticut's longest rail-trails. Narrow cuts and a lush tree canopy make for enjoyable visits year-round. Near its western end is the Charter Oak...
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Thanks to skilled engineers with the former Hartford, Providence, & Fishkill Railroad, the pretty Vernon Rails-to-Trails overlooks ravines and streams and passes between rock walls verdant with ferns...
Quonset Point Bike Path is a fantastic two and a half mile trail. The Quonset Point Bike Path is a part of the beautiful town of North Kingstown.The Quonset Point Bike Path is paved and off road and...
Running north from the Yale University campus in New Haven through the heart of Connecticut, the multi-use Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, when completed will stretch uninterrupted more than 80 miles...
The West Warwick Riverwalk is located in a park just behind West Warwick High School and John F. Deering Middle School. The paved trail goes for about a mile north following the Pawtuxet River. A...
This 5.8-mile trail is part of the planned East Coast Greenway, an off-road path that will eventually run from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida. The Moosup Valley State Park Trail will connect with...
Air Line State Park Trail winds for just over 55 miles from the northeast corner of Connecticut, where the state borders Massachusetts, down to East Hampton in the heart of the state. Over the state...
The delightful asphalt Middlebury Greenway winds 4.4 miles through the residential community of Middlebury, connecting businesses, parks and neighborhoods. The popular trail offers residents an...
The Chicopee Center Canal Walk offers a short pleasant route in Chicopee, a small city on the outskirts of Springfield in southern Massachusetts. The pathway closely follows the slow-moving canal and...
Columbia Greenway Rail Trail offers 2 miles of paved, tree-lined pathway through Westfield in southwestern Massachusetts, from Main st, across the Great River Bridge over the Little River to the...
As of January 2012 the Quinebaug River Trail has two segments. The southern segment follows the course of the Quinebaug River in Danielson, beginning at the intersection of Palmer Street and Prospect...
The Branford Trolley Trail is essentially a long footbridge occupying an old bridge along the route of an abandoned trolley track. The bridge links nature trails on both sides of the water through a...
The Naugatuck River Greenway will one day span 44 miles from Torrington to Derby in western Connecticut, but is currently open in a few short disconnected segments totaling just over 5 miles. The...
The Cheney Rail Trail follows part of the corridor of the South Manchester Railroad, built by the Cheney brothers in 1869. The line was a 2.5-mile spur from the main Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill...
Quonset Point Bike Path is a fantastic two and a half mile trail. The Quonset Point Bike Path is a part of the beautiful town of North Kingstown.The Quonset Point Bike Path is paved and off road and...
The Southwick Rail Trail is now complete from the Massachusetts–Connecticut state line, where it continues south as the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. On the north end, the trail extends to the...
The Derby Greenway runs between Division Street and Main Street, paralleling the Naugatuck and Housatonic rivers. The trail runs on top of a flood control dyke for the rivers; a portion of it goes...
The South Spencer Rail Trail runs for less than 2 miles from downtown Spencer to an area south of town near Spencer State Forest. The path, which is also known as the Depot Trail, occupies a former...
Canopied with deciduous trees for most of its 10.4 miles, the Larkin State Park Trail (a.k.a. Larkin Bridle Path) is primarily a wilderness trail, with wooded vistas, wetland views and sparse...
The Farmington River Trail is built upon the former Central New England Railroad corridor and runs between the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail near Tunxis Meade Park and the Simsbury town line. A...
The Southern New England Trunk Line Trail (aka the "SNETT") was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1994. It is built upon a segment of the former right-of-way of the New Haven Railroad's...
Burrillville Bike Path runs for just over a mile through its namesake rural community in northwest Rhode Island. It connects the villages of Pascoag and Harrisville through a corridor that once...
Grand Trunk Trail is part of a larger trail network, the Titanic Rail Trail, which will stretch more than 60 miles through south-central Massachusetts and the northeastern corner of Connecticut along...
The Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway is an important non-motorized transportation corridor and local recreation trail, linking Waterplace Park and the Providence Place Mall in Providence...
The Savin Rock Trail offers just over a mile of paved pathway along West Haven’s coastline. Along the way, you’ll enjoy picturesque views of Long Island Sound and access to its sandy beaches. The west...
Air Line State Park Trail winds for just over 55 miles from the northeast corner of Connecticut, where the state borders Massachusetts, down to East Hampton in the heart of the state. Over the state...
The Redstone Rail Trail is built on the former New York, New Haven & Hartford Armory Branch, which in turn is a former branch line of the New York & New England RR. Its name comes from the numerous...
The Savin Rock Trail offers just over a mile of paved pathway along West Haven’s coastline. Along the way, you’ll enjoy picturesque views of Long Island Sound and access to its sandy beaches. The west...
As of January 2012 the Quinebaug River Trail has two segments. The southern segment follows the course of the Quinebaug River in Danielson, beginning at the intersection of Palmer Street and Prospect...
The Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway is an important non-motorized transportation corridor and local recreation trail, linking Waterplace Park and the Providence Place Mall in Providence...
The Charter Oak Greenway is a paved, multi-use trail connecting parks with residential and commercial areas. The trail runs for 11 miles between Bolton and downtown Hartford, though there is currently...
Grand Trunk Trail is part of a larger trail network, the Titanic Rail Trail, which will stretch more than 60 miles through south-central Massachusetts and the northeastern corner of Connecticut along...
The Southwick Rail Trail is now complete from the Massachusetts–Connecticut state line, where it continues south as the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. On the north end, the trail extends to the...
The Pequonnock River Trail—portions of which are also known as the Housatonic Railway Rails to Trails, Monroe Housatonic Railbed Trail and Pequonnock Valley Greenway—is a developing system stretching...
The Southern New England Trunk Line Trail (aka the "SNETT") was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1994. It is built upon a segment of the former right-of-way of the New Haven Railroad's...
Burrillville Bike Path runs for just over a mile through its namesake rural community in northwest Rhode Island. It connects the villages of Pascoag and Harrisville through a corridor that once...
The Trolley Trail runs through Plainfield and is a key link the East Coast Greenway. Plans are to use this trail as a link between the Moosup Valley State Park Trail and the Airline State Park...
A part of Connecticut's first bus rapid transit line, the CTfastrak Trail serves as recreational and multi-use path for walking and bicycling between Downtown New Britain and Newington Junction. The...
The West Warwick Riverwalk is located in a park just behind West Warwick High School and John F. Deering Middle School. The paved trail goes for about a mile north following the Pawtuxet River. A...
The Stillwater Scenic Walkway is a short trail that follows an old railroad bed between Capron Road and State Route 104 (Farnum Pike) south of Smithfield. The trail passes through a wooded area along...
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Note: Per the State of Connecticut's website, the trail is open from dawn to dusk March 1–November 30." The 4.5-mile Windsor Locks Canal Trail follows the Connecticut River and the Windsor Locks...
The Farmington River Trail is built upon the former Central New England Railroad corridor and runs between the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail near Tunxis Meade Park and the Simsbury town line. A...
The South Spencer Rail Trail runs for less than 2 miles from downtown Spencer to an area south of town near Spencer State Forest. The path, which is also known as the Depot Trail, occupies a former...
The Arkwright Riverwalk, founded on a former rail bed purchased from Penn Central Railroad, is located in Coventry, a rural central Rhode Island town that was built around textile mills. The one-mile...
The Hop River State Park Trail is one of Connecticut's longest rail-trails. Narrow cuts and a lush tree canopy make for enjoyable visits year-round. Near its western end is the Charter Oak...
We tackled the Washington Secondary trail on inline skates. Starting from the Eastern end, parking was easy, the trail was pleasant, and in decent shape. The section in Warwick has significant root bumps that take attention. Road crossings are generally good, although one entering West Warwick had a big lip down to the road. In West Warwick, there was one 20 yd area that we had to walk around, the pavement was so poor. But, the high bridge over the old soap factory also gave one of the best views on the trail. Then, the last 9 miles is smooth and excellent except the 3 wood bridges which are older and very bumpy). At the end is the Summit General Store with great sandwiches, drinks and bales of hay if you want to take one home.
So, what's the take away? We wouldn't repeat the Eastern half of the trail - too many hazards. We'll certainly do the Western end again, when it's not too hot!
This was a nice trail for the most part, with beautiful scenery and all. It just has one major flaw- it dead-ends behind an old, delapitated, half collapsed mill. You actually have to pass through the property filled with rubble, broken glass, briars, and barbed wire to reach the road on the Harris end. Until this is rectified, it is my belief that this trail is FAR to dangerous for average hikers. Stick with the Coventry/West Warwick Greenway.
Many thanks to the person who found my daughter Sarah's lost drivers license on your trail, and took the time to mail it to her!!! She was over-the-moon excited and frankly it has helped her to realize that there are kind people in this world. As her mom I thank you also for teaching her this lesson which I'm sure, should a similar occasion arise, that she will do the same in the future for someone else (paying it forward) remembering how great she feels now.
We recently rode from Beaver Hill Road to Old Griffin Road, a section North of Willimantic. Frankly this section was fairly rough, with a lot of loose gravel making for slow going...very different from the lower sections south of Willimantic that are largely cinder. Very rural, tree-lined, would be nice in the Fall. I'm not sure what the other North sections are like, I know there are some upgrades in progress in the various towns.
I HAVE HIKED THIS SEVERAL TIMES. IN THE OPENING INFO THEY SAY ITS ONE MILE BUT THIS IS NOT CORRECT. ITS OVER TWICE THAT. PASSES THROUGH PEOPLES BACK YARDS AND I TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE THAT OVER LOOKS CENTER SPRINGS PARK. A VERY NICE VIEW. I ACCESS IT ON HILLARD STREET MANCHESTER. NICE IN TOWN TRAIL. VERY FLAT. TRAIL GET QUITE ROUGH ROCK WISE ONCE YOU GO PAST THE BRIDGE AREA BY CENTER SPRINGS PARK. I RECOMMEND JUST GOING TO THE BRIDGE AND TURNING AROUND SO AS TO AVOID TWISTING ONES ANKLE ETC. EVEN THEN YOU GET A 4-5 MILE HIKE OUT OF IT ROUND TRIP. JOE :)
DO NOT take this trail when the weather has been wet. Large swampy areas on the Franklin end there is a short section of paved & gravel trail very nice. Where it wasn't paved lots of moguls where the railroad ties were All that being said? I will come back this summer and try again. The trail is tree covered and should be nice and cool
Took my brand new bicycle on its maiden voyage on this trail. It was great fun. Rode for about 3 hours and loved every minute of it. The historic information posted along the trail is nicely done. The fact that there are restrooms at the trail head is fantastic! They really did a nice job with this trail. Highly recommend it for all. Very kid friendly.
This trail starts off with a nice railroad bridge then after crossing the road, continues paved for a short ride, then turns to mush. I followed a side trail (mean for a mountain bike) up the hill to the west side and followed the trail which seems to be muddy in some spots, not paved and in poor shape.
Like everyone else stated, skip that part for now.
Trail Report - The section of the Airline Trail from the dirt parking lot on Route 149 to the Blackledge River is currently under construction, about 1and 1/2 miles. You can ride east but not to the west due the resurfacing work.
New Extension Route 196 in East Hampton to Alden's Crossing (1.6 miles), is about 1/2 done. It has the gravel bedding in place but not the stone dust riding surface. The drainage design is poor and there are 4 large wet areas and erosion spots. It is ride-able but not too scenic or any fun.
This trail is easy and perfect for young children or a person who needs a fairly flat, smooth ride. This was my daughter (age 9) first time on a bike trail so it was perfect for teaching her the "rules of the road" and common courtesies when meeting other riders and walkers. As for the ride itself it short. Straight down and back with a short detour to a "duck pond". We plan on returning and walking the path around the pond to see how that is.
Work has begun to connect the Bridgeport section of the trail which ends at the north end of Quarry Road, over the Merrit Parkway to Rocky Hill Road in Trumbull. Progress can be seen from the ramps connecting RT-15 to RT25.
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