Find the top rated birding trails in Cheshire, 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.
Beginning perhaps 2 miles north of the Simsbury Airport and continuing north for at least a few miles the trail will be closed for construction (looks like repaving + ?). I was on this trail yesterday and the "Will Be Closed" signs are abundant.
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.
I recently rode this on a cool day in May from Manchester to Willimantic and back, so right at 40 miles. The trail is well-maintained and foot/bike traffic was light, even though it was a holiday weekend. Very scenic for long stretches and low elevation gain. I rode a gravel bike with 45 mm tires. On a road bike with reasonable tires, this should be do-able (I saw a couple of them), but there is one rough section of about 100ft (30m) where you would need to walk. There is also one underpass that is dark enough to use a headlight...but it's passable if you slow down. There are a number of places to read about the history of the rail line, as well as a few locations with fix-it stations with bike tools and air pumps.
One final tip: Google maps takes you to an intersection on Colonial Road for the Manchester trailhead...the parking lot has a tiny sign that is easy to miss.
This morning May 25, 25 we saw a doe and larger buck between east of Old Town Road.
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 .
I rode the entirety of the Southwick Rail Trail coming from the Farmington Canal in CT. The Farmington is in very good condition, the Southwick is in even better condition! There are mile markers every mile, the scenery is very peaceful and the trail is very flat making it an easy ride. I stopped as soon as I hit the Columbia Greenway but it is also a seamless transition to that trail as well.
I didn't notice any places to pull off for food but its a short trail so I don't consider that a negative. The trails that join this one really give you so many options for ride length or to visit the trail towns along the way.
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.
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
Hubby and I discovered this trail last fall. We absolutely love it. It's a beautiful hike with all the leaves changing. Great for pets too as it's a pretty flat walk. It's def longer than 1.7 miles though. I love that the leaves are changing we will be frequented this trail alot during this fall season!
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