Explore the best rated trails in Thompson, CT. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Fresh Pond Bikeway and Upper Charles Trail. With more than 82 trails covering 560 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.
If you ride longboard or inline skate. Get ready for terrible ground. if you start from Bolton State Park.. After 6.5 miles of riding... The ground is so mess up. There is so many cracks on the ground. Just be careful. Beside that, this trails has best downhill and cool turns.
Rode (7/22) from Winchendon to Baldwinville, and then (skipping the part bisected by Rt. 2) from from Rt. 101 in Templeton to Route 122 in Smithville on the Barre/Oakham line. Lots of wet and rutty sections north of Balwinville but still fun (some walking with 1.5" tires). Some sandy section in the southern piece but still fun. It's slow going of course. Didn't pass a single extra person. Good roadside fried food at Lee's in Baldwinville (it's been there for at least 70 years!)
I rode the Northern section of the trail, (the section north of rt 5 and on the east side of the river) so this review is about that, and how I got there. The trail appears to be nice and well maintained, it is in a larger city so it does have some city issues, but I always felt safe. Views are mostly of the Connecticut river and the rail line, Basketball hall of fame doesn't really look great from the trail, and the park along the trail is less interesting than the river itself. If you like looking at railway infrastructure that is still in use this trail will not disappoint either.
I used the Springfield train station to get food, drinks, and use the restroom, there was enough room to easily get my bike into the bathroom.
I took the Hartford line train from Wallingford CT to get to Springfield and I was really happy about how easy it was to do that, YMMV as CT line staff are being lazy and not opening the bike rack doors on some trains. I did this trail mostly to see how easy it is to take the train to the trail and I was happy with that part of the trip.
Bring a hat for windy days . Beautiful walk . Access to McCook park is up the hill if you want a longer walk.
My friend and I, both experienced riders, had a nice time on this trails today until we didn't With leaves on the ground, the shoulders on both sides of the trail are obscured. The paved trail is likely 3-4 inches higher than the shoulder. A few times heading north, we rode behind each other and to the right to create space of people coming towards us. We were several yards shy of parking lot at Gilson St when my friend moved right to make space. Obscured by piled up leaves, she could not appreciate where the the pavement ended and the shoulder dropped off. She corrected back onto the path, but not before her tires slipped on the leaves, and she suddenly lost control of the bike. She fell to the ground. I was behind her. Given the way she fell across the path, I couldn't avoid her, Two of us were now on the ground, bikes, too. I am grateful to the folks who stopped to help and show concern for our well-being. I am so very grateful to the gentleman, Tom, who took me back to my car in Ayer so I could come back and pick up my friend and our bikes, delaying his own cycling.. Thanks to the man who helped my put my friend's bike in my car. My friend is undergoing a medical evaluation to determine the extent of her injuries to her back, flank, and hip. Thankfully she was wearing a helmet when she struck the back of her head on the pavement.
We biked from Simsbury to Farmington on the Canal trail. It was nice with the fall color, but there is not much else to see. On the way back we took the River trail. It goes parallel to the river and it is very pretty. It goes thru Canton, which is a charming little town. From there the bike trail is quite good for a while, but then you have to bike on the road. The bike trail sign is painted on the road, but you have to look for it. Traffic was not bad at all. The last part goes thru a simsbury park, there are a lot of roots, gotta be careful. All in all the river trail is very nice, even with a couple of miles of in road biking. there there
Beautiful for a bike ride in the fall. The trail is well kept, the views are beautiful and is moderately trafficked. I started at the Manchester trailhead and just kept going straight, passing parking lots in Vernon and Bolton. Didn’t notice much options for restrooms or pit stops for food so plan accordingly.
Beautiful historic bike trail…well maintained…perfect fall day activity! Will do again!
Great local trail. Well done and maintained. Only negative is the number of road crossings. If you are looking for a quick close to home trail this is a good trail.
Rode Plainville CT to CT/MA border. Northern section. I like that you go through many towns on the lower half then out in the country from Simsbury north. Beautiful scenery. Paved the whole way, some sections with roots coming through.
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