Explore the best rated trails in Torrington, CT. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Walkway Over The Hudson and Windsor River Trail . With more than 60 trails covering 542 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.
The Hanover Pond Trail is a mile-long rail-trail in Meriden, Connecticut offering scenic natural escape combined with historical exploration. The smooth asphalt trail is open to a diverse range of...
The Kingston Point Rail Trail will be a paved pathway stretching from Kingston’s midtown to the Rondout Creek waterfront, connecting important points in the community such as Kingston High School,...
The Massachusetts Central Railroad was destroyed by a hurricane in 1938, but the 104-mile corridor is being reborn as a cross-state rail-trail. Currently, nearly 50 miles from Boston to Northampton...
Running alongside both the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers, the Derby Greenway demonstrates a seamless integration of Connecticut’s natural river systems and parks with man-made interventions of the...
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...
Note: As of December 2021, the trail is fully complete except for a bridge on its southern end in Brewster; stairways on either side of the bridge are available for the detour. Construction on the...
While the Wallkill Valley Railroad no longer carries fruits and vegetables from Ulster County to New York City, trail users can still discover small, family-owned farms and farmers markets serving up...
The Middlebury Greenway provides a paved, off-road option for a self-propelled journey across suburban Middlebury. The trail touches on several business districts and parks, ending at an amusement...
It’s hard to pick a favorite season to experience the Hop River State Park Trail, set amid the dense forests of Eastern Connecticut. Sections of the 20-mile rail-trail dive through steep rock cuts...
The Kennedy Trail begins at Brick Hill Road and ends at the northwest corner of the 68-acre campus of John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers. The cinder trail, built on a former rail bed,...
First a canal, then a railroad, and now a trail define the history of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. Completed segments span Connecticut south to north, from New Haven to the Massachusetts...
The Windsor River Trail is a paved trail along the Connecticut River in Windsor Meadows State Park. The trail begins at the state park’s parking lot on E Barber St. The Captain John Bissell Trail,...
A dozen miles west of Connecticut’s capital of Hartford, the Farmington River Trail forms a 16.5-mile arc that connects to the larger Farmington Canal Heritage Trail on both ends. The rail-trail was...
The Southwick Rail Trail extends from the Massachusetts–Connecticut state line north to the Westfield town line and connects to the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Along the way, it travels through...
The O&W Rail Trail provides a glimpse into the area’s history from the perspectives of both a historical canal and a railroad. The Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal carried coal from Honesdale,...
The Pequonnock River Trail is not a name you will see on the ground along this developing trail in southwestern Connecticut. Formalized in 2001 by the state, the regional trail pieced together...
The Manhan Rail Trail, well integrated into the local communities it serves, offers a pleasant ride or stroll. It conveniently weaves together parks, community points of interest, neighborhoods, and...
Open in several disconnected segments, the Billings Trail is a dirt path that traverses a lovely scenic and wooded landscape outside Norfolk in northern Connecticut. Built on the abandoned railbed of...
When completed, the Norwalk River Valley Trail will run from Danbury to Long Island Sound in southwestern Connecticut, for a total of about 27 miles. Currently, several disconnected sections totaling...
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 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 Albany-Hudson Electric Trail (AHET) follows a 36-mile course through the former Albany-Hudson Electric Trolley corridor from Hudson to Rensselaer in New York State. The electric trolley ran for 30...
The first phase of the New Milford River Trail runs southeast from Gaylordsville via the scenic but lightly traveled River Road, through Sega Meadows to Boardman Bridge, a distance of about 5 miles....
The Massachusetts Central Railroad was destroyed by a hurricane in 1938, but the 104-mile corridor is being reborn as a cross-state rail-trail. Currently, nearly 50 miles from Boston to Northampton...
The Hanover Pond Trail is a mile-long rail-trail in Meriden, Connecticut offering scenic natural escape combined with historical exploration. The smooth asphalt trail is open to a diverse range of...
Visitors to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail will find the full splendor of the scenic Berkshires along this nearly 12-mile-long paved trail. The Ashuwillticook (ash-oo-will-ti-cook) follows MA 8 through...
The Kingston Point Rail Trail will be a paved pathway stretching from Kingston’s midtown to the Rondout Creek waterfront, connecting important points in the community such as Kingston High School,...
It’s hard to pick a favorite season to experience the Hop River State Park Trail, set amid the dense forests of Eastern Connecticut. Sections of the 20-mile rail-trail dive through steep rock cuts...
Connecting the Walkill River and Shawangunk Ridge, the aptly named River-to-Ridge Trail, which opened in September 2018, runs from New Paltz to the Mohonk Preserve. Begin at the Carmine Liberta Bridge...
When completed, the Norwalk River Valley Trail will run from Danbury to Long Island Sound in southwestern Connecticut, for a total of about 27 miles. Currently, several disconnected sections totaling...
The Manhan Rail Trail, well integrated into the local communities it serves, offers a pleasant ride or stroll. It conveniently weaves together parks, community points of interest, neighborhoods, and...
The Air Line State Park Trail winds nearly 55 miles from the northeast corner of Connecticut, where the state borders Massachusetts, down to East Hampton in the heart of the state. The pathway is...
Running alongside both the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers, the Derby Greenway demonstrates a seamless integration of Connecticut’s natural river systems and parks with man-made interventions of the...
The old New York Central rail line that ran from the Bronx to northern bedroom communities in Westchester and Putnam Counties carried commuters during the workweek, but on the weekends tourists...
Note: As of December 2021, the trail is fully complete except for a bridge on its southern end in Brewster; stairways on either side of the bridge are available for the detour. Construction on the...
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The Rockville Spur, a section of Vernon Rails-to-Trails, is a stone-dust rail-trail stretching 4.2 miles into the heart of historical Rockville. The trail begins on Warren Avenue in Vernon, but you’ll...
The Ridgefield Rail-Trail meanders for nearly 2.5 miles through the forested exburbs of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The trail passes among suburban acreages, along a creek at one point, and past a couple...
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 former “Old Put” commuter rail corridor that ran from the Bronx to northern bedroom communities in Westchester and Putnam Counties is popular once again, only this time it’s for people riding...
The Bissell name looms large in this part of New England, and has been immortalized in multiple ways, including the Bissell Ferry, the Bissell Memorial Bridge and now, the Captain John Bissell trail,...
The Charter Oak Greenway offers more than 16 miles of paved pathway through Hartford and its eastern suburbs. At first glance, the trail looks as if it is simply a highway side path, but the journey...
The Ridgefield Rail-Trail meanders for nearly 2.5 miles through the forested exburbs of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The trail passes among suburban acreages, along a creek at one point, and past a couple...
The Hartford Riverwalk is a charming network of paved pathways for cyclists and pedestrians that runs along the banks of the Connecticut River through the state capital. The trail provides an off-road...
The Kingston Point Rail Trail will be a paved pathway stretching from Kingston’s midtown to the Rondout Creek waterfront, connecting important points in the community such as Kingston High School,...
The first phase of the New Milford River Trail runs southeast from Gaylordsville via the scenic but lightly traveled River Road, through Sega Meadows to Boardman Bridge, a distance of about 5 miles....
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,...
Running alongside both the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers, the Derby Greenway demonstrates a seamless integration of Connecticut’s natural river systems and parks with man-made interventions of the...
Note: As of December 2021, the trail is fully complete except for a bridge on its southern end in Brewster; stairways on either side of the bridge are available for the detour. Construction on the...
The Columbia Greenway Rail Trail offers just over 2 miles of paved, tree-lined pathway through Westfield in southwestern Massachusetts. The trail runs from Main Street, across the Great River Bridge...
Bloomfield Greenway Multi-Use Trail is 1.8 miles between Bloomfield and Simsbury. The trail is envisioned to someday act as a connector between the City of Hartford and the Farmington Canal Heritage...
First a canal, then a railroad, and now a trail define the history of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. Completed segments span Connecticut south to north, from New Haven to the Massachusetts...
Connecting the Walkill River and Shawangunk Ridge, the aptly named River-to-Ridge Trail, which opened in September 2018, runs from New Paltz to the Mohonk Preserve. Begin at the Carmine Liberta Bridge...
The old New York Central rail line that ran from the Bronx to northern bedroom communities in Westchester and Putnam Counties carried commuters during the workweek, but on the weekends tourists...
Offering a picturesque and family-friendly adventure, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail stretches 7.1 miles through hardwood forests, over Black Creek, and under two spectacular stone-arch bridges....
The Stratton Brook State Park Trail presents a great way to work up an appetite for a picnic at Stratton Brook State Park, the first state park in Connecticut to be entirely wheelchair accessible. The...
The Pequonnock River Trail is not a name you will see on the ground along this developing trail in southwestern Connecticut. Formalized in 2001 by the state, the regional trail pieced together...
Note: Per the State of Connecticut's website, the trail is open from dawn to dusk April 1–November 14. Eagle nesting activities can delay the opening of the southern trail head in Windsor...
The first section of the Corkscrew Rail Trail opened in June 2015. It begins at Knapp Road in Stephentown and heads south under a shady tree canopy towards New Lebanon, near the New York/Massachusetts...
The Southwick Rail Trail extends from the Massachusetts–Connecticut state line north to the Westfield town line and connects to the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Along the way, it travels through...
The Manhan Rail Trail, well integrated into the local communities it serves, offers a pleasant ride or stroll. It conveniently weaves together parks, community points of interest, neighborhoods, and...
I rode south then east from rt. 8 in Poughquag. There is a small missing section above the Croton River east branch in Brewster . You can walk your bike along RR, via open fence for this 50 yards or so or cycle downhill on Peaceable Hill rd and up the hill on East Main to get back on. The TrailLink map (as of 8/3/22) shows the trail ending here. But it continues a few miles east into Connecticut. About a half mile over the line to an overpass at Mill Plain Rd in Ridgefield CT. Smooth all the way with terrific scenery. Many lakes.
Rode 4 miles from Millers Rd parking in Southwick south over state line Into CT, turned around, went 4 miles north (1 mile short of Westfield). Southwick Trail is smooth as glass! All road crossings are well marked. Most enjoyable! Parking is ample, also.
Technically not for bicycles. But you still can ride if you want. On a weekend day I saw only 3 people went on a walk. Keep in mind that your bike might be dusty after the ride since there is no regular asphalt.
I rode the trail out of Manchester towards the Hop River rail trail. It was only about 5 miles to the Hop River connection. About 900 feet of climbing in less than 5 miles. Cool thing is the ride back almost all downhill was fast and a rush! It’s paved and in better condition than many roads I’ve been on.
Hands down one of the better rail trails. Smooth packed white limestone trail. Trail was in great shape. I’d say 95% of the trail is shaded-great on a hot summer day. I only found one place to get water and snacks. It was near Andover as the trail crossed a road you could see the highway very close by and a gas station and Dunkin’ Donuts right there only 200 yards off the trail. Overall a great, smooth and very pretty ride!
we’ve only done less than 16 miles total at north end, but really enjoyed it, yes, it’s dirt/crushed gravel, but mostly smoother than some asphalt sections elsewhere. We currently have hybrid road bikes. Pomfret pavilion park is cute and Towns of Pomfret & Woodstock are extra beautiful. Trail is woodsy and shaded, saw turtles and hawks. Ate at Vanilla Bean Cafe in Pomfret which was very busy, lots of outdoor parking and sports or hot rod cars and motorcycles to ogle at, great cake. Nice parking lot at south end of Thompson section. Bring lots of bug spray in July, though.
Started at parking lot near Simsbury Airport and went north to the end (including the Southwick Rail Trail & Columbia Greenway Rail Trail) in Westfield - 30 miles r/t. Trail surface is in great shape with road crossings all well marked and navigated. Lots of country & wetland views, well shaded and moderately traveled (a nice summer Saturday) w/ plenty of portapotty & bench stops along the way. We were on our E Bikes. Wife rates this as a "we will be back" trail even with the hour car trip.
7/9/22 - 85F, partly cloudy, windy
I wanted to go check out the Airline, Northern section - I’d heard things were happening over the past few years, but I hadn’t been out there in a few years.
Well, yes! A few things have changed greatly for the better. I parked at the Pomfret Train Station and instantly noticed that there is a beautiful new bridge over Rte 169. Nice Job CT Dept of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP)! Very pretty (I didn’t take a photo, but there is a photo on Google Maps). I had high hopes for the trail surface northeast bound, but as a couple of reviewers have mentioned, it is still pretty rough. I was riding a gravel bike with 42mm tires, softly inflated, and didn’t have much trouble, but this section would be much more joyous on a fat bike or suspended MTB with 2.5“ - 4” tires. There are long stretches of nice dirt double track, but it periodically degrades into 1.5” “crusher run” gravel for some stretches where CT DEEP has put down some fill to stop erosion. Well done, this was definitely needed. The road crossings have been greatly upgraded. Eastbound riding toward Putnam, there is now a beautiful new overpass at Day Road (I think that’s the name), Wright’s Crossing is a grade crossing with a marked crosswalk, and then there are beautiful new culverts at Holmes, Modock and River Rd., and another marked grade crossing at Town Farm Rd. After Town Farm Road the trail continues, but then just short of the Quinebaug river…it just ends with a pretty big drop off to the access road for the Town of Putnam Waste Water Treatment Plant next to the Quinebaug River. I know from previous rides (and other reviewers have mentioned) that there is a nice bridge across the Quinebaug which can take riders into Putnam (ice cream, coffee shops, hot dogs) but there is giant “disconnect” in getting to this bridge from the trail.
The trail surface between the Pomfret Train Station and Putnam, however, is evolving. As I mentioned, in more than a few spots it is very rough. The grade has all been cleared and drainage provided so it stays relatively dry though. This is a huge improvement from the last few years when, by any assessment, long sections of the trail were completely impassable and those that weren’t were overgrown, rough, wet, bug infested muck holes. I’m sure that CT DEEP is working on improvements as budget and staffing permit, so I’m not going to whine, however, if you go, take a fat bike or mountain bike. Don’t need to mention - there are no services after leaving Pomfret, so bring everything you might need or want, including a charged phone, and insect repellent to ward off the mosquitos later in the afternoon.
CT DEEP and Ashford, Pomfret and Putnam Depts of Public Works have obviously been spending some cash on this trail, and I for one, am happy about it. Just need to improve the surface a little, and make that connection to the Quinebaug Bridge in Putnam. These improvements will continue the evolution of the Airline Trail to be one of CT’s and the nation’s best
July 2021, midweek afternoon
After a 2 hour drive from my home in New Paltz, NY, there is a cheapish pay parking lot with a beach right on the Long Island Sound. Maximum time allowed was 4 hours, plenty to ride eastward on part trail, mostly city streets, over to the light house park, making it a much longer ride, 26 roundtrip miles I think. When I got back, hot and sweaty, I changed my bike clothes in the parking lot outhouse and soaked in the nice ocean water. I went back a second time 6 weeks later just to ride westward along urban streets for an hour. Again, in late August I really enjoyed soaking in warmish ocean water with only 2 other people visible.
(This is our secret biking place...don't share!)
Twice I had to drive an hour one-way to ride this trail in two separate excursions. There are two good places to park. The best is a huge lot at 1007 Kinderhook St, Kinderhook, NY 12184, across the street from a bagel place and a bicycle shop right on the trail. The other good place to park is near Nassau Lake, a place I had never heard of previously: 221 County Road 7, Nassau, NY 12123.
The previous comments were all correct in their reviews. The southern section of the trail has stunning scenery. (Although my first day ride had heavy winds from the west. When I rode past the cow barns I was overwhelmed by the concentrated odor that was collected at one barn end and forced out the other.) Be careful when going north through the intersection in North Chatham. There is a small parking area across the road and I thought the trail went up Bunker Hill Rd; it does not. The trail veers right, but there are good signs for riders paying attention.
From Nassau Lake, my second excursion I rode south to N. Chatham and then back all the way to the end of the off road section of the trail. It is less well used apparently. All in all a very good addition to the wonderful NY state trail system.
Happy Trail!
My wife and I rode 46 miles, out and back, from East Greenbush to Stuyvesant Falls. There is much that stands out about this trail. The surface alternates between asphalt and crushed stone. The latter is so well packed that there is no noticeable difference. There are a few short portions on light traffic public roads. All turns are very well marked. There are very few public facilities. forthem.
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