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Print Friendly MapThe first phase of the New Milford River Trail runs southeast from Gaylordsville via the scenic but lightly traveled River Road, through Sega Meadows to Boardman Bridge, a distance of about 5 miles. Thanks to the mix of surfaces along its length, the trail offers a diversity of experiences for users: there is asphalt along Riverview Road to Gaylordsville, packed dirt road along River Road, and crushed stone in Sega Meadows Park. Construction has already begun on a second segment, at Young’s Field Park along the Housatonic River, which links the riverfront to the downtown historic Village center. This piece will be completed in 2017. Ultimately, the trail will span a total of 13 miles, and link directly to the Brookfield Still River Greenway. Future plans include a possibly attaching a pedestrian bridge to an existing rail bridge, as well as incorporating a rail-trail component from Still River Road at the trail’s southern end to Brookfield.
There is parking available at the corner of US Route 7 and Boardman Road. Cross over Boardman Bridge and the gate to the entrance of the southern end of Sega Meadows is on your left. There are a couple of additional parking spots in front of the gate. Additional parking is also available down River Road (first left after gate). Travel down River Road for just over a mile, across the railroad tracks. You will spot a dirt road. The parking lot is on your left.
I drove over an hour to bike this trail only to find signs at both ends of the trail stating parking is for New Milford residents only and cars will be towed. Literally nowhere else to park. It was Monday morning and there were only three cars total parked between the two entrances.
My family and I took a lovely bike ride on this trail today. However, it’s important to share that (at least) one of the two parking lots (the southern-most one) is meant for New Milford residents only, and the cops will get your car towed if you’re not from New Milford. A true shame to exclude neighbors from enjoying the trail like that.
Good quick ride 10 miles round trip. I sometimes continue from road at Gaylordsville down to Bull's Bridge then do Schaghticoke to Kent.
I rode this trail in 2018 and loved it, the memory of that day, even the car drive getting there, always bring a smile to my face. It is not for bikes with racing tires, but most others will do fine if the region has not had any rain recently. It is not a tough path, even with its few small hills. Beautiful scenery very close to the river, mostly shaded from the trees. The trail seemed to end near a highway bridge where I sat with my lunch right on the river.
With a drive of almost 2 hours, I would not have visited this area without the this trail. If and when the trail is expanded I will be back. Trails do bring tourists and money into new areas, so good job New Milford.
Once you get in the main trail, it's a nice, easy ride. But I picked up some kind of metal shard in my tire, and I suspect it was on the access trail that starts on Boardman.
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.
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