Find the top rated birding trails in Hartford, 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.
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I have hiked and rode horseback on the Cheshire rail trail needs to be welcome signs for hose trailers somewhere!
Finally did what I wanted to do for years. Biked from Northfield using the Lake Winnipesaukee trail to the Northern Rail Trail to the Fireside Inn in Lebanon NH. This was a weekend bike trip I wanted to do for a long time and had the perfect weather. My suggestion if you are going north and want to connect to the Northern Rail Trail instead of back tracking I would take Chance Pond Road. Once you go up the road a little cut to the right before the bridge going across the road. That bridge is part of the Northern Rail Trail. The hill to get to the bridge is quite steep so I recommend to walk the bike. Once on the bridge free sailing. My half way mark was the Danbury Country Store. They are very friendly to bikers and if you have an ebike they have a charging port on the right hand side of the store. Also have a deck on the front of the store with tables and chairs where you can have a meal while the bike is charging. Deli inside to grab something to eat.
Will say the more north you go the rougher the trail becomes. Some spots is an overkill of gravel that is very loose. Not very safe where you are trying to keep your balance and difficult to get any speed. Other than that a lot of lakes and scenery along the way. If you are using Google Maps along the trip it will suggest to get off the trail for 2 miles and get back on the trail. I recommend to stay on the trail. The fireside inn in Lebanon was about 1.5 miles off the trail and the hotel is bike friendly. You are in walking distance of a Walgreens and restaurants near by. Also there is free breakfast in the morning. A lot of off ramps along the trail for eatery which I believe was set up for snowmobiles in the winter time but if your bike has good suspension they are usable for bikers also. If you are using an ebike like I was the trip is durable as long as you save your power on the inclines and heavy gravel spots. The Danbury Country Store is ideal for charging as you take a break.
There is one spot on the trail you want to be careful on. On the way back past Enfield there is a steep incline with a pond to the right of you. To your left is a metal frame for a bridge and the trail is very narrow and a blind turn to the left. If someone was coming my way it would of been a major accident. I can't stress enough to be careful there.
Overall a fun bike trip if you are up for the challenge. I could of done each day trip within 5 to 6 hours but decided to take my time and do a lot of stops along the way and take pictures. I recommend to do the same.
Thanks to Jimbo's review, we lowered our expectations for this trail and had an enjoyable ride. We parked in Granville, NY, and took the trail southerly into Vermont. In NY, the trail includes stretches of grass, packed earth, and well-packed gravel. In VT, it switches to gravel. It certainly wasn't paved asphalt, and the ride had more vibration and required more effort than it would have been on a paved path, but riding our hybrids, we did not find it excessively bouncy, or even particularly uncomfortable. And although there were horseshoe prints, we didn't see any deep divots. At the same time, the ride passes through beautiful countryside and tidy farmland. We rode it on the Monday of a 3-day holiday, and saw virtually no one on the trail.
According to TrailLink, the Cross Vermont Trail (CVT) extends all the way to Wells River on the east end. Be forewarned, however, that much of the "trail" coincides with Rt. 302, which is a busy east-west highway with a narrow shoulder. We made two attempts to ride the CVT and finally hit the jackpot by parking at State Forest Road at Ricker Mills and riding north from there. That portion of the trail is well groomed (i.e. no ATVs) and the scenery is attractive. If you ride north seven or eight miles from Ricker Mills, you'll be rewarded on the return leg, which is all downhill.
Today was our first time to bike this trail. Sand was pretty deep in places as we started out from Newport. When I was fantasizing about riding on the road dodging cars rather than continue in the slow handlebar-turning sand, I knew it was time to throw in the towel on this trail. I get it--the ATV's need a place to ride, too. That's okay by me. Just quit saying this particular rail trail is a bike path. It isn't. Thank goodness for the options elsewhere, even if not as convenient in location to me as the Sugar River Rail Trail. Huge disappointment.
Road today July 16, 2021 absolutely bluebird of a day. You definitely want to start in Franklin as other reviews have mentioned. Park inTrestle Brook Park. Which is quite nice beautiful green grass benches to sit on and right on the Winnepesaukee river. When the first section of the trail ends you’ll come to a collection of old cabooses. From that point towards Tilton the trail isn’t that great you have to go through a big section of downtown I believe Tilton to pick up the trail again and at that point you’re on an active track so the trail is next to the tracks which ends near the McDonald’s in Tilton at a kind of sketchy old Motel six
the small stone surface on top of rough tar results in constant vibration and absorbs energy making travel difficult. A local indicated the trail was completed last year - it is clear they have no concept of how to make a bike trail.
This trail has come a long way. Recently resurfaced with gravel. It is a nice flat and is great for biking or walking. There are a couple of trails off the main one to explore.
As mentioned by others this HAS been a great trail.
Currently the trail is in very rough shape due to horse traffic. The type of material used last year to resurface the trail is great for walking and wheeled traffic but is damaged when horses are ridden at a gallop.
Recent attempt to ride resulted in my wife and I leaving the trail and finding a paved road to ride back on rather than endure the constant pounding.
I am trying to contact Vermont Dept of Forest ,Parks, and Rec about this but so far have had no luck getting a response.
I will update this review if new info comes or if the status of the trail surface changes,
I ran on this trail with my husband and children. Very stroller friendly path and very popular. There were many other people on the trail, which we didn’t mind. This could be due to the newly warm weather. Goes across several bridges and bodies of water. Picnic tables and benches along the way. Very scenic and excellent for a nice run. People were walking, roller blading, running, and riding their bikes. I definitely plan on coming back!
I have ridden this trail in increments, in 10ish mile out and back segments, and have enjoyed each ride a great deal. I have the last bit to finish still, a section in the middle where parking was not as clear to me initially. I hope to repeat it as a full ride at some point just to say I did it. Spring, Summer, Fall, all beautiful, and the covered bridges and historic areas are a nice surprise. The incline is so gradual, you don't realize it until you turn around and head back and finish a bit quicker on the return. It's busier at the Lebanon end but not packed by any means, and the Loons were a real treat.
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