Explore the best rated trails in Fairfield, CT, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Fairfield Hills Campus Walking Trails and Norwalk River Valley Trail . With more than 82 trails covering 625 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I rode 20.5 miles of the southern section of the Air Line Trail from East Hampton to Willimantic on a very hot day in June. This section of the Air Line Trail offers gorgeous scenery, peaceful seclusion and a tightly packed gravel surface that is in very good condition throughout. Despite the heat the trail is very shaded which provided much needed relief from the sun. There are a fair amount of road crossings, most are very small, quiet roads and all of the busier roads have warning lights that can be activated to let motorists know you are crossing.
The only two small complaints I have is there is a lack of signage along the trail. There is one very short on road section that I almost missed getting back on the trail due to there being no signage, I just rightly assumed the small unmarked path on the road was the way to get back on the trail. The gates at the road crossings are on the narrow side which can make navigating through the road crossings difficult. I feel these two issues do not at all detract from what this section of the Air Line Trail has to offer.
I just rode the trail from Cheshire to New Haven Harbor. It gets confusing because of the lack of signage once you go under the Temple St Garage in New Haven. You get dumped out into a street and don't know where to go. The trail is on the road or sidewalk depending on what you prefer. Take a left onto Grove St. continue to the end and take a right onto Olive ST. Follow Olive St. to the end and pick up the trail again on Water St. Cross Brewery ST and take a right to continue on Brewery. Brewery changes to Sargent Drive. Take a left to go under I95 and the water will be in front of you. If you take a right and continue down for a little, along the water's edge, you will find dozens of food trucks to buy lunch before a return trip. It was well worth the trip.
Really doesn’t qualify as a trail, just a pocket park, it’s way too small but it is a very pretty surprise off the Okd Croton Aquaduct Trail
The section on the Upper West Side starting from 125th St going south is still closed for construction but will hopefully open soon albeit late. Also the section from 181st Street running to Dyckman St is also closed with zero announcements re what’s going on; could be a serious problem with sinkholes and the retaining wall. The good news is that we finally have a full size bike lane across the Henry Hudson Bridge. The bad news is that you still have to portage your bike up a 2 story railroad bridge into the Dyckman Park section of Inwood Hill Park. And in Riverdale it is on street from the bridge to Van Cortlandt park. Park
Entered @ Elmsford and found a parking lot where we unloaded . Well maintained nice scenery along the way as well as a few eateries and gas stations where you can get a drink or snack .
Artie Pescov and I were the initiators of this bike path when I was 17 years old ( I am 70 yo now) and he was 16 yo. I lived on Pine street backing Cedar Creek Park ( old timers would know our property because we had a chicken farm and the hens would cross Merrick Rd. The diner is now there where my grandparents house stood). It was his idea and I had a license. So we travelled around getting signatures to have this bikeway built. We then visited congressman Mr. Murphy ( I think that was his name) of Seaford and he loved the idea. Well, it went through and Artie and I never heard another word about it. Other people (adults not teens like us) took credit for it. However, I am glad that this bikeway still exists! I have long left Long Island but still good memories.
Mary Jo (Masone) Frohlich
I rode the entire northern section of the Farmington Canal Trail from Plainville into MA on a windy Easter Sunday. The trail itself is fully paved, in very good overall condition (there are a few bumps and cracks but nothing major). Simsbury offers a great stopping off point to get refreshments just a quick turn off from the trail. The scenery changes from light industrial parks, residential, marshes, a little farmland and some nice wooded areas.
I have one complaint that prevents this from being a five star trail. The signage could be better. There are times in the more urban areas that I lost the trail, a quick look at Google Maps got me back on and I never was too lost. There are a few signs that were helpful so just a few more would make this a five star trail.
Hadn’t ridden in at least 10 years; took it out from Van Cortlandt Park to Orchard Beach, City Island and the Country Club/Pell mansion areas . It is now in horrid shape. Patches bumps ruts. And more hills than I remembered LOL but that’s on me. But the bumps and holes do make hills harder. And also road crossings. No more FOMO
Great trail a must do . FYI bridge #1,2,3,4 were under construction but are now complete and the trail is open complete . When in Monroe just before overpass there is a good burger and place called Wayback burger . You have to pedal through a gas station lot but it’s next door .
I rode the entire 24.7 mile southern portion of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail on a beautiful fall day. The HVRT offers everything you could want from a trail experience: a fully paved surface, mostly flat, beautiful scenery (especially in the Fall) and a perfect mid-point trailhead to grab a bite to eat.
I don't recall seeing any water fountains along the trail although the trailhead in Millerton offers many options for places to eat or resupply. The HVRT offers a myriad of scenery changes from farmland, quiet streams, distant hills to quaint towns. I have ridden many paved rail trails in the past and the HVRT is one of the best with almost no surface imperfections for the entire distance. There are many trailheads along the entire trail giving many distance options. All this adds up to a perfect trail in my opinion!
Map is 6 months out of date
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
