I did the trail with my husband and my kids. My 11 year old daughter and my 16 year old son. Easy path and nice views. You can find restrooms and ice cream around. We began in Bristol and finished at the conservatory area at Warren, because it was block for maintenance. We rode 10 miles round trip.

Rode this trail on 7/25/20 from the Vernon stop to Parker Bridge Road and back. Ideal for a hot day – shade virtually the entire length, especially beautiful stretches along a raised ridge. The section about 3 miles in is cut out of the side of an incline, and there are a few spots with a bit rougher surface…easily negotiated with trail or mountain bikes, and I think you could do it even with a road bike (excluding the skinniest tires) if you took your time. Mostly well packed dirt/gravel/stone dust. Slight grade uphill until Bolton, then slight downhill to the turnaround point at Parker Bridge. This was our second ride in a month on this beautiful trail, so appreciate the well maintained starting point/parking lot in Vernon complete with picnic table and a tool stand. A real gem- those local to this are lucky!

There are better options in Central Connecticut if you’re looking for a leisurely ride. The trail is hilly in spots, mostly runs near a highway, there’s little protection from the sun or wind, and there are some busy streets to cross. It certainly beats riding on busy roads, but it’s subpar compared to other bike trails. With all this said, you can certainly have an enjoyable ride, it’s just that there are better options.

Overall, a great trail. But it is over 50 miles long so there are some better areas than others. The East Hampton to Rt. 2 is scenic but it is steeper than other areas and the gravel is looser in spots. The 12 mile stretch from Rt. 2 to Willimantic is perhaps the best section - scenic, well maintained, not too steep, and hard packed. I’ve only been on the Willimantic section once and it’s nothing special. North of Willimantic is good though there are a few stretches that are rougher than other areas - barely passable on a hybrid bike. The trail is narrow in many areas so you’ll have to ask walkers to move over. Most of the trail is under a tree canopy which helps keep you cooler on hot days.

Simply one of my favorite trails. The first two or three miles in Manchester and Vernon are nothing too special but the rest of the trail is great - scenic, hard pack dirt, not too crowded (especially the closer you get to Willimantic) and there’s a tree canopy almost the whole way so you can stay cooler on hot days. They’re still working on completing the last mile or so in Columbia/Willimantic - I think it’s supposed to be done in 2021 or 2022. But there’s an easy bike-around on roads where you can connect up with the Airline Trail, which is also a great trail.

This is a 4 mile rail trail that is in ok condition for road bikes with a few cracks in it. The eastern end is under construction. A pretty path going through woodland, farms and overlooking marshes. Very quiet on a hot July weekend

We parked at Lowe’s in Cranston. That end of the path isn’t very well maintained, but a mile or so in it gets better. Cute ice cream place (Udder Delights) on the path. Very shady, which was nice on a 95 degree day. I think this path would be very beautiful in the fall.

good starting point. Trail quality is excellent. smooth macadam. Easy riding. No hills. well kept along trail. Went about 10 miles and returned. scenic and historical. Trail has multiple names

July 20/2020
I'm a Moosup local.

Start of the trail from Moosup Village center is great. A wonderful bridge, and paved road, to Barber hill rd. about .8miles.
From Barber Hill rd to Brunswick ave the condition is ok. unmaintained, but not moguls or riddled with standing water.

A Brunswick Ave, there is a lovely footbridge to the left, great for viewing the dam.
While to continue on, its a bit confusing as you go past the building and through its parking lot.
From here the trail condition is quite poor. The immediate area is currently torn to shreds from the local owner, and vandals digging up the banks, and every bit of ground to mine for Quartz.
Several large areas of constant pools of water riddle this area before and after the Rt 14 bridge. There are paths made into the hills off the path around the area.
ATVS make heavy use of this area, and have destroyed it for most others.
Around the bend and peninsula towards Rogers lake, there are well maintained trails into the woods to the river, made by locals and ATVS, for camping.
as you get past this area, and the trail straitens, the pools of water clear up, but there is a great deal of Moguls the entire way to Sterling. there are a few more lovely camp sites, and wading areas in the Moosup river along the way.

Coming out onto main street, the trail continues to the left of the Senior center, and across Industrial park Road, it continues up in the tree line. this section doesnt seem to be maintained all the time, so going through the field, or following the sidewalk/road is fine.
if you crossed the field, or followed the sidewalk, you will be a bit too far southeast, when coming to Sterling Road/rt 14, and will need to follow the road a bit, till you see the brown house, with stone markers, and the Trail entrance along their driveway/house.

From here to Rt 14A, I have not done recently, so won't make notes.

Picking up at Rt14a. NEW work has been done. Also, note there is a picnic/parking spot at the RT14/rt14a intersection. A solid place to start/stop. First, however The Rt14A entrace, is kindof blocked. the workers put stones back in front of the entrance to stop ATVs... but, put them too close, stopping everyone. I had to climb over them on FOOT. not room for walking, bikes, strollers, or anything.. ATVS just drove through the woods to the north, over a hill... kind of boneheaded..

From Rt14A to the CT/RT state border is now resurfaced with hard packed stonedust. about .5miles. And from the RI state border to Lewis Farm Rd is bulldozed. This surface is better then before.. but not quite complete. hard sandy dirt. fine for hybrids, mtn bikes, foot ,horses, strollers, etc. 95% fine for roadbikes imho. Carbuncle pond brook, has a new tunnel built for it, with major new construction there, and plantings. open and likely a wonderful spot for bird watching, and picnics. With several paths to Carbuncle pond, and the North/south trail intersecting here. The Bridge over the Moosup River, next to Lewis Farm Rd has also be rebuilt. A major work. Currently the construction office, and fencing along Lewis Farm rd is still up. theres an opening just to the north, and the fencing from the East is not there at all.

From here its another 2.5m to Summit General store, and the paved beginning of the Washington Secondary Trail.
Its also been a few years since I've done that section, so won't make notes.


Some gorgeous woodland areas, and views of the Moosup River, if this ever gets fixed.