Find the top rated birding trails in Bristol, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I rode the trail last week starting at the Wassaic Metro-North station (free parking only on weekends and holidays) and ending at Orphan Farm Road. I did continue to Hillsdale but as there was no signage to indicate how to find the newest section from Hillsdale to Black Grocery road, I did it on road.
All-in-all, both of the main completed sections are in very good shape, fine for road bikes. For the on road gap I took Route 22 going north (flatter but fairly busy with high-speed traffic) and the Under Mountain Road- Rudd Pond Road Route (hillier but much less traffic with swimming available at Taconic State Park- Rudd Pond) on my return. The roads were in good shape either way.
Bash Bish Falls State Park off the northern section is well worth the minor detour. Stay on the road to the falls parking lot and in a 1/4 mile (up hill) you're in Massachusetts!
Went to the south access point in Warehouse Point and found no parking lot, no sign, and no trail! Drove through the building construction only to find a fence blocking the trail. So I went to the north end in Enfield and that too was blocked with a locked fence. No sign or other way to know it was closed. Hope someone will keep the status updated in the future!
Would like to take this time to thank all that help keep this trail in the wonderful condition that it is in. This week was riding and notice two women picking up trash. Took time and thanked both for what they where doing. More of us should take the time when seeing these people doing work to keep this trail. Thanks !
August 2017
It was a great ride, next to a river, shady, smooth, and there is a parallel Farmington Canal trail that meets this one at the southern end. The north end is near a conjesting roadway and was supposed to continue on a non-paved section, but I could not find it. Go check it out.
Dateline June 21, 2018, 4:00 pm, sunny 81F.
I wish there were more time that day to continue longer, onto the connecting trails. After driving 2.5 hours to another trail only to find the parking lot closed I had little time to enjoy this one, but it is nice.
ADVICE: If you are driving farther than 30 minutes (like I often do for Trailink trails), (1) always review the trail listing on this site for updated information, (2) bring more than one parking lot address, (3) and a second choice trail with 2 parking lot addresses. And/or get the mobile app.
Always take the directions, address or GPS coordinates to at least 2 parking places from this site. Also, review the trail's site here before driving for any updates.
After waiting a year to go to the Windor Locks trail and driving 2.5 hours, I could not access from the southern parking lot. I asked at 2 stores and a town library about parking and no one could help me. So now I will have to go back another time. That's a long drive for just 11 miles roundtrip bike ride.
The Portland section does not connect up to the East Hampton section and the rest of the Air Line Trail. I found out today when I thought I was going to ride from Portland to the Air Line Trail North. I only rode 2 miles and the trail abruptly ended.
The Air LIne Trail South is now open through part of Portland. Parking is off of Middle Haddam Rd. in Portland.
We have ridden this trail before, and really enjoyed it, especially the part near the ponds below Oxford Airport. We expected it to be somewhat rough, and we are always willing to walk through particularly wet/mucky areas and to put up with rough stretches. However, the trail has really gotten much worse. After about 2-2.5 miles in, it became extremely sandy/silty, and we could only ride on the narrow edges. Then at about 4 miles in, there was a stream flowing through the whole trail, with nothing but mud and muck; no way to ride through, as it continued as far as we could see, so we had to turn around. End of ride for the day...
I love walking this trail. I have yet to make it to the end with the kids as they get tired we have gone most of the way. I walk there a few times a week with them. They love seeing the turtles in the water. Only thing I dislike is those who dont clean up after their dogs. I have stepped in dog doo on the trail, and alot of those who do clean up throw the colored baggies in the bushes so you always see colored bags oi n the ground and un the tree.if your not going to take the bag with you then leave the pool it will eventually go away your bag on the other hand will go nowhere :(
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