Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Hartford, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Was visiting the area and am so happy I got my gravel bike out to do this trail. As others have mentioned, it is very, very well maintained and quite smooth, enabling fast riding (I rode the entire trail as listed). As a former rail, this trail has nice and gradual elevation changes and has cool features like the tunnels and bridges. I'd highly recommend and hope to be back for another spin soon.
Had a great evening bike ride out at the Windsor Locks Canal trail earlier this month (Aug, '25). The trail is paved, and as others have mentioned, it is not super smooth in some areas where the tree roots are pushing the asphalt up but can be navigated pretty easily. I was riding my gravel bike setup with 42mm tires and was able to go quite fast - averaging 15mph on the ride so it really was not that beat up / bad.
The scenery on the river is very nice, and the canal on the other side was also fun - lots of wildlife to see. Would recommend if in the area!
Short for bike, nice views, benches and even a real train.
June 6th 2025
The Mrs and I rode this beautiful trail from North Hampton to just short of Belchertown, and back.
The weather was great and the trail is mostly shaded, so the ride was superb.
I'd have no objection to doing it again.
The claim of this being a 61 mile trail is very deceptive. Almost 40 miles of this trail is nearly unrideable except for mountain bikes (and even that would be unpleasant). We are experience riders and were on hybrid bikes with wide tires and front suspension. And while our plan was to cycle 40 miles from Willimantic to E. Hampton, we only did the first 10 mile section from Willimantic to James L. Goodwin State Forest.
The trail started out as just OK, but deteriorated in less than 2 miles. After crossing S. Brook Rd, the trail the trail was extremely gnarly and super overgrown. When we reached Goodwin State Forest, we were so happy to bail out and call it quits! Luckily, we had a SAG vehicle with us so we weren't forced to cycle back over the same awful trail.
Be warned, the entire trail we rode from Willimantic to Goodwin Forest was large, loose gravel, and the scenery is incredibly boring. There are places where the trail is extremely rough. At S. Brook Rd. the trail becomes unrideable, expect by maybe some die-hard mountain bikers. We used our SAG van to pop into other points along the trail from Goodwin to E. Hampton the trail only seemed to get even worse.
Honestly, just a really unpleasant ride.
We (5) Friends Have Biked This Trail in It’s Sections from E. Hampton to Willimantic for Many Years. We Have Always Considered it to be 4-5 Star Rated, (For a Gravel Trail). Since 2015, We Have Switched to E-Bikes which makes the Trail 3x more FUN !! Having the Best of Both Sun & Shady Sections, It Has Only One small Section of about 300’ Near the Start leaving E.Hampton Where it’s sandy & .Loose
Parked at northern end just S of Orphan Farm Rd, NY; Trail surface is outstanding including numerous portions of elevated sections over wetlands. Did not see much in the way of wildlife. Quite rural with the 1st p potty 10 miles south; Turned back at Millerton; Shade 50% or so.
I took a ride on a gravel bike from Putnam to Willimantic and back yesterday. I crossed the bridge in Putnam from Kennedy Drive (a nice paved path there along the north shore of the river!) to pick up the Air Line, which my map app shows as starting there. Though there were some short bits of various trails there, none of them went anywhere. I ended up back on roads and made my way to Town Farm road where the Air Line commenced, with signage. However, the next several miles were very rough, and I would not recommend riding there except with a balloon tire mountain bike with front and back suspension. But from the Pomfret Station on to Willimantic, it was either beautiful, or at least fine, except for some road crossing s with very steep and rocky ramps on both sides. For most riders, those ramps have to be negotiated off the bike. But overall, I had a great experience!
Haven't ridden the trail since 2023. Rode from Cheshire down to New Haven, Saturday July 19th. Absolutely awful; entire section needs repaving and upkeep. Constant cracks in pavement and much debris on surface; plus glass and homeless down by the Wharf. Connecticut should take notice from Mass and NY on trail up keep. Both states's trail are far superior to CT. Also, difficult to navigate at trail end in New Haven if you don't know the city; poor signage.
July 19 2025
Just rode from Pomfret west to the Rt6 overpass. Most of the trail is good riding except for some rocky sections, but the overgrowth is starting to close off the trail in sections. It is down to just one lane. It would be nice if the state could mow the weeds.
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