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.
We had two cars, and wanted to ride one way so we left one car behind the First Congregational Church 359 US 6, Andover, CT. The second car we parked at the trailhead 175 Colonial Rd, Manchester, CT where there is a dedicated parking lot. By car it was 15 minutes driving time one way between locations. From our start point we crossed RT 6 in front of the church to pick up the trail and then rode to the right heading west. The first 5 miles were a definite uphill grade, around mile 6 it became a downhill grade all the way to Manchester. Total distance between the two locations approximately 12 miles. Considering the trail is mostly hard packed dirt it was very well maintained, wider in some areas than others with a few road crossings. The scenery was mostly rocks that had been blasted through back when the railroad was built with a lot of ferns and greenery, but never saw the Hop River. There were mostly bikers on the trail, and everyone was very friendly. Other than the uphill grade for 5 miles it was a very pleasant ride. If you're looking for a nearby place to stay I highly recommended the Daniel Rust House in Coventry which was only 12 minutes from the church by car.
Started in Hamdon and road to Southington. Round trip was 28.04 miles. Rented bicycles from Cheshire bike shop which was all of 50 feet from trail. Trail was nicely paved the entire way except for a very short detour.
Beautiful ride along the river BUT you better have a very soft seat to absorb the rough surface!!
This is a nice place to stretch one's legs for about five miles. The southern end (just over Boardman Bridge from Route 7), with limited parking, runs through a town park for about 1.5 miles; the northern portion, ending at Gaylordsville, is just walking along the Housatonic on River Road, one of the few remaining dirt roads in the area. There is more parking at the park's main entrance off of River Road, about 1.5 miles north of Boardman Bridge.
If you like a flat trail in quiet woods and don't mind a few cars coming along, this is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. "There and back again" is about ten miles.
Full of goose crap. Loud and noisy. Thought it would be serene and picturesque by the river, but it was really industrial and boring, with no shade. The parking lot in Derby sucks. The bridge in Derby was full of firework debris, paper and junk. Very disappointed.
The Town of East Hampton and the State DEEP have added 1.3 miles of riding to the existing Airline Trail - South. It is hard to see the extension from the current ending on Route 196, but if you cross 196 and divert right and into the fire department parking lot you will find the new section. The new section goes to Alden's Crossing, a 1/2 mile from the intersection of Routes 16 and 66. The parking at the new ending is only marginal, 1-2 cars.
My hubby and I have walked and have now began bike riding it. Walking it is great exercise. I have to say though the bike was a bit harder when riding against the wind ... lol... Everyone we came across was very polite. Walkers, bike riders, roller blades etc. I certainly give it a thumbs up...👍🏼
Wonderful little trail...little bit on the residential side....but nevertheless wonderful. Very disappointing that we don't allow bicycling....nasty anti-bike sentiment among the comments. Lots of no-bike paths in Florida.
Pros: Clean toilets. Clean parking lot. View of the Connecticut River and bridges. Not much traffic. Cons: Bumpy trail. Geese on the trail. Goose poop covered trail. Geese will not let you go by if their goslings are with them. The smell of the canal in some locations. Water flowing on both sides of the trail (not for children).
We recently rode from Beaver Hill Road to Old Griffin Road, a section North of Willimantic. Frankly this section was fairly rough, with a lot of loose gravel making for slow going...very different from the lower sections south of Willimantic that are largely cinder. Very rural, tree-lined, would be nice in the Fall. I'm not sure what the other North sections are like, I know there are some upgrades in progress in the various towns.
I HAVE HIKED THIS SEVERAL TIMES. IN THE OPENING INFO THEY SAY ITS ONE MILE BUT THIS IS NOT CORRECT. ITS OVER TWICE THAT. PASSES THROUGH PEOPLES BACK YARDS AND I TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE THAT OVER LOOKS CENTER SPRINGS PARK. A VERY NICE VIEW. I ACCESS IT ON HILLARD STREET MANCHESTER. NICE IN TOWN TRAIL. VERY FLAT. TRAIL GET QUITE ROUGH ROCK WISE ONCE YOU GO PAST THE BRIDGE AREA BY CENTER SPRINGS PARK. I RECOMMEND JUST GOING TO THE BRIDGE AND TURNING AROUND SO AS TO AVOID TWISTING ONES ANKLE ETC. EVEN THEN YOU GET A 4-5 MILE HIKE OUT OF IT ROUND TRIP. JOE :)
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