Find the top rated running trails in Old Lyme, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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
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.
Only about 7 miles round trip but a lot of gear changing and climbing! Great workout.
Use gps route its not well marked like others have said but part of the fun was planning the route and then finding your way as you go.
The path is nicely paved and a lot of it goes thru wooded areas. There are a few hills that can challenge the casual rider.
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 rode 20.5 miles of the southern section of the Air Line Trail from East Hampton to Willimantic on a very hot day in June. This section of the Air Line Trail offers gorgeous scenery, peaceful seclusion and a tightly packed gravel surface that is in very good condition throughout. Despite the heat the trail is very shaded which provided much needed relief from the sun. There are a fair amount of road crossings, most are very small, quiet roads and all of the busier roads have warning lights that can be activated to let motorists know you are crossing.
The only two small complaints I have is there is a lack of signage along the trail. There is one very short on road section that I almost missed getting back on the trail due to there being no signage, I just rightly assumed the small unmarked path on the road was the way to get back on the trail. The gates at the road crossings are on the narrow side which can make navigating through the road crossings difficult. I feel these two issues do not at all detract from what this section of the Air Line Trail has to offer.
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