Find the top rated bike trails in Connecticut, whether you're looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a bike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
September 5 2019. Best Rail to trail we have ridden on. We started at the parking area in Hamden and went north 12 miles. Most of the trail was smooth as fresh tar. We almost did not do this trail because of the reviews but they were wrong. If you like smooth riding and well marked, this is the trail for you
This trail was nice. We found parking at the rotary park lot. There were outhouses at this lot. Another parking lot was across from the Pall Corporation. It is busy with street sounds near the downtown area but it quiets down as you continue. We did not do the whole trail- we actually were on foot to see what it was like. We will go back on the bikes later. I wish that the shrubbery by the river was cut; I would have liked to see more of a view. There is a dog park at one end of the rt we saw as we drove by. Since we didn’t do the whole walk my question was if it circles around on the other side of the river or if it is a there and back walk
The bridge over the Willimantic River is now done and looking great. The Hop River Trail from the bridge has been bushed back and is easily passible to Flanders Road. Follow Flanders St to the 1st left and get back on the Hop River Trail. Last 1/2 mile connection project starts next year and will take 1 1/2 years to finish.
First, I’m 60 years old and ride a hybrid bike about 100 miles a week. Twenty years ago when I was mostly riding a mountain bike, I’d probably have rated it three stars. But based on my current riding, the trail is a complete waste of time.
The trail has many areas of loose sand, patches of mud (even though it hasn’t rained in days), three or four areas where you have to walk your bike, and is extremely narrow in parts. I’d say the trail is poorly marked, but that implies it is marked, just poorly. The reality is it essentially has no markings.
If you plan on walking it, it’s fine, but it’s nothing more special than 500 other walking trails in the state.
If you want a great dirt trail through the beautiful Connecticut woods, try the Airline Trail or Hop River trails - far better than Larkin.
Date: Thursday August 29, 2019, afternoon
Weather: Beautiful, 78-82 F, few light clouds, low humidity
I rode the southern section of the trail and enjoyed it thoroughly. My 26x1.50 tires handled the unpaved, but very smooth and hardpacked surface quite easily. There are some rough and soft spots as with any trail paved or unpaved, but even with rain the night before, it was all easy. There is a LONG slight incline up to East Hampton. And in East Hampton village there are all the food and drink places you need as well as AirLine Cycles, a bike shop with nice, helpful staff glad to talk to visitors such as myself, who drove 3 hours from my home to ride this trail. (I am a trail collector.)
This is a forest trail, puncutated by ponds and streams, with one or two expansive views. At every road crossing there are parking areas. I imagine it must be heavenly spectacular in the autumn when the leaves have turned their glorious colors, and also much farther vista views. It's a great trail to ride at least once anytime. Now I have to back and do more of it since I only saw about 13 miles, making a 25-mile round trip.
We rode the trail Newton (Pepper Rd) to Trumbull Twin Brooks Park. The trail is generally in good condition, a little hilly than most rail-trails we've ridded in CT and MA. Where the trail joins roadways, trail markings were very poor. Traffic was very considerate and stopped by us at all crosswalks. Only experienced three spots (of 14 miles) where the packed dirt was pretty loose like sand. We turned around at Twin Brooks Park because we lost the trail, absolutely no guidance in the area, but we took advantage of the beauty and had our lunch on a park bench near the pond. All said and done, the ride was good.
I love the I-384 bike trail, but I have a concern. The stop ahead signs are way too close to the actual stop sign. With a 21 speed bike, an going down some down-grades there isn't enough time to prepare to stop, especially Westbound between exit 5 and Rte. 85. But they all need to be moved back at least 40 feet. Otherwise, I love the trail!
So glad - bit by bit this trail continues to grow.
We lived in Trumbull many years, walked, biked, ran “The Valley” and other sections, including w. Grandkids (now grown - we are GREAT Grandparents now)
So excited, last spring, to finally find safe passage through the Rt 25 interchange area.
Now live in Southside VA
ps. Anyone know about the “cow tunnels” in the Pequonnock Valley, and the tungsten mines??
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Weather upper 80's F, humid. Slightly cloudy.
I drove 2.5 hours last year to arrive here at a trail closed due to insurance problems. Grrrr....
This year it was great. A nice parking lot at either end, the trail between is a nice mix of sun & shade, seclusion and water views. Yes, the asphalt trail can be a bit bumpy, but it is still better than unpaved. I have to admit, the best time to view this trail would be in the autumn when the leaves are at peak color, or after they have fallen for the best views everywhere. But it is worth a visit. You can combine this trail with the Connecticut River Walk in Springfield, MA, which is a bit shorter, but rightr along the river and very nice. It's about a 15-20 minute drive between each trail. I had a wonderful day doing both trails.
Warning: some of the trail photos are not from the Windsor Locks trail that I rode 5 days ago. I do not recognize them.
Warning 2: don't trust the parking lot addresses on Traillink. If you are driving further than half and hour always bring several addresses to try.
My wife and I have been using this trail for years primarily for in-line skating. It is a fantastic trail that is extremely enjoyable each time we are there, however we have noticed over the last few years a real deterioration in the sections in Cheshire and Hamden. The wooden bridges are breaking down that is it dangerous to skate over them, due to the holes that are developing. The inevitable tree roots are getting more and more noticeable and need to be addressed before the ruin the trail any further. The trail needs to be swept and blown regularly, as the stones, gravel and branches all over the trail are noticeable and a hazard to both in-line skaters as well as bikers.
We just rode the Plainville to Simsbury portion of the Farmington Canal Trail and then down the Farmington River Trail. Spectacular. There are a couple of confusing road crossings (1 in Simsbury and another less than clear route just after the bridge in Collinsville). But we loved it. Worth even a long drive. Very shady. Some parts through the woods so not suitable for skinny tire bike.
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