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Trail Day Essentials
Connecticut is small, but it packs in a lot of riding. Old canals and railroad lines have become long rail-trails that cross the state, from the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail between New Haven and Massachusetts to the Air Line Trail’s historic viaducts in the east, and the rocky woods are home to some of the best technical singletrack in New England.
We’ve grouped the trails below into three regions: Hartford, New Haven and Central Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut, and Fairfield County and Western Connecticut. Each card lists the trail’s surface, length and type, with a link to the map, directions and the official trail page, so you can pick a ride that fits your bike and your legs.
Connecticut Bike Trails Map
All 13 Connecticut Bike Trails at a Glance
Sort by any column or search by trail name, county or region. Lengths are in miles; click a trail name to jump to its details.
| Trail | Region | Counties | Length (mi) | Surface | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington Canal Heritage Trail | Hartford, New Haven & Central Connecticut | New Haven & Hartford Counties | 49.1 | Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Farmington River Trail | Hartford, New Haven & Central Connecticut | Hartford County | 16.5 | Asphalt, Crushed Stone | Rail-Trail |
| Charter Oak Greenway | Hartford, New Haven & Central Connecticut | Hartford County | 16.5 | Asphalt | Greenway |
| Case Mountain | Hartford, New Haven & Central Connecticut | Hartford County | 33 | Dirt, Rock, Roots | Mountain Bike |
| Westwoods | Hartford, New Haven & Central Connecticut | New Haven County | 30 | Dirt, Rock, Roots | Mountain Bike |
| Air Line State Park Trail | Eastern Connecticut | Middlesex, New London, Tolland & Windham Counties | 60.3 | Crushed Stone, Gravel, Dirt | Rail-Trail |
| Hop River State Park Trail | Eastern Connecticut | Hartford & Tolland Counties | 20 | Crushed Stone | Rail-Trail |
| Pachaug State Forest | Eastern Connecticut | New London County | 20 | Dirt, Sand | Mountain Bike |
| Pequonnock River Trail | Fairfield County & Western Connecticut | Fairfield County | 14.5 | Asphalt, Crushed Stone | Rail-Trail |
| Larkin State Park Trail | Fairfield County & Western Connecticut | New Haven County | 10.8 | Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel | Rail-Trail |
| Collis P. Huntington State Park | Fairfield County & Western Connecticut | Fairfield County | 10 | Dirt, Rock | Mountain Bike |
| Mohawk State Forest | Fairfield County & Western Connecticut | Litchfield County | 15 | Dirt, Gravel, Asphalt | Mountain Bike |
| Mianus River Park | Fairfield County & Western Connecticut | Fairfield County | 14 | Dirt, Rock, Roots | Mountain Bike |
Hartford, New Haven & Central Connecticut
Two connected rail-trails that run most of the way from New Haven to Massachusetts, a riverside greenway through Hartford and two of the state’s best-known singletrack networks. 5 trails.
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail
The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is Connecticut’s best-known paved trail, with 49.1 miles open from downtown New Haven north through Hamden, Cheshire, Southington, Farmington and Simsbury to the Massachusetts line. It follows the route of an 1820s canal that later became a railroad.
Along the way you’ll pass Sleeping Giant State Park, the restored Lock 12 in Cheshire and old train depots in Southington and Simsbury. It’s part of the East Coast Greenway, and a few short gaps are still being filled.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 49.1 miles
- Rail-Trail
- New Haven & Hartford Counties
- Cycling
Farmington River Trail
The Farmington River Trail is a 16.5-mile rail-trail along the Farmington River, a National Wild and Scenic River, running from Farmington through Unionville, Collinsville and Canton to Simsbury.
Both ends connect to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, so you can ride a loop of roughly 28 to 30 miles. Stop in the old mill village of Collinsville, and look for the 1892 Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge in Simsbury.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Crushed Stone
- 16.5 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Hartford County
- Cycling
Charter Oak Greenway
The Charter Oak Greenway is a 16.5-mile paved greenway that starts at Bushnell Park near the State Capitol in Hartford, crosses the Connecticut River on Founders Bridge and heads east through East Hartford and Manchester to Bolton.
There are great river and skyline views at the Hartford end, and in Bolton it meets the Hop River State Park Trail. Expect some hills, short on-road links and highway noise where it runs beside I-384.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 16.5 miles
- Greenway
- Hartford County
- Cycling
Case Mountain
Case Mountain in Manchester is one of Connecticut’s best-known mountain bike spots, with about 33 miles of singletrack in a 640-acre town park just east of Hartford.
It’s classic New England riding: rocky technical climbs, roots, slick rock and fast descents with a few jumps, and it’s not a place for beginners. Not every trail is well marked, so it’s worth riding with someone who knows the area, and NEMBA often hosts group rides here.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Rock, Roots
- About 33 miles of singletrack
- Mountain Bike
- Hartford County
- Mountain biking
Westwoods
Westwoods is a 1,200-acre preserve in Guilford with about 30 miles of blazed trails, and it’s one of the most popular mountain bike areas on the Connecticut shoreline.
Two main doubletrack loops connect a web of singletrack over rocks, roots and ledges, with some natural features for freeride-style riding. The trailheads are across Route 1 from Bishops Orchards, a good stop for cider and donuts after a ride.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Rock, Roots
- About 30 miles of trails
- Mountain Bike
- New Haven County
- Mountain biking
Eastern Connecticut
Long, quiet rail-trails across the woods and farm country east of the Connecticut River, with historic viaducts, tunnels and a 24,000-acre state forest for mountain biking. 3 trails.
Air Line State Park Trail
The Air Line State Park Trail runs for 60.3 miles across eastern Connecticut on the old Air Line railroad, in two sections: one from Portland east through East Hampton, Hebron and Willimantic to Putnam, and another from Thompson to the Massachusetts line.
It’s mostly crushed stone and gravel through quiet woods and farmland, with big views from the 1870s Rapallo and Lyman viaducts. The historic Comstock Covered Bridge is a short side trip on local roads.
Trail facts
- Crushed Stone, Gravel, Dirt
- 60.3 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Middlesex, New London, Tolland & Windham Counties
- Cycling
Hop River State Park Trail
The Hop River State Park Trail is a 20-mile crushed-stone rail-trail on the old Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad, running from Manchester through Bolton, Coventry and Andover to Willimantic.
It’s full of railroad history, with three tunnels, deep rock cuts, old telegraph poles and a covered bridge over Route 316. It connects to the Charter Oak Greenway in Bolton and the Air Line State Park Trail near Willimantic.
Trail facts
- Crushed Stone
- 20 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Hartford & Tolland Counties
- Cycling
Pachaug State Forest
Pachaug State Forest near Voluntown is Connecticut’s largest state forest, covering about 24,000 acres, with 20-plus miles of singletrack, doubletrack and old woods roads open to mountain bikes.
The terrain is a mix of fast, sandy forest roads and rooty, rocky singletrack, so you can ride an easy cruise or a long, rugged day. It’s remote, so bring a map and plenty of water.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Sand
- 20+ miles of trails
- Mountain Bike
- New London County
- Mountain biking
Fairfield County & Western Connecticut
A river rail-trail from Bridgeport toward Newtown, a wooded bridle trail through the Naugatuck Valley and three forest and park networks for mountain bikers. 5 trails.
Pequonnock River Trail
The Pequonnock River Trail runs 14.5 miles on the old Housatonic Railroad line from Bridgeport north through Trumbull and Monroe toward Newtown, following the Pequonnock River valley.
It passes rapids, rock outcrops and a historic stone-arch railroad bridge, plus parks like Twin Brooks, Old Mine Park and Wolfe Park, which has a beach on Great Hollow Lake. Trumbull town parks require a parking permit, so plan your start point.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Crushed Stone
- 14.5 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Fairfield County
- Cycling
Larkin State Park Trail
The Larkin State Park Trail is a 10.8-mile rail-trail on the old New York & New England Railroad, running through the woods from Southbury through Middlebury to Naugatuck.
It’s unpaved, with some mud, sand and rocky spots, so a mountain or gravel bike is the best choice. Horses share the trail and have the right-of-way, and there are no services along the route.
Trail facts
- Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
- 10.8 miles
- Rail-Trail
- New Haven County
- Cycling
Collis P. Huntington State Park
Collis P. Huntington State Park, in Bethel and Redding, has about 10 miles of trails through woods, fields and around a string of ponds.
The loops around the ponds are easy and great for families, while other parts of the park get rougher and steeper, so riders of different levels can share a day here.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Rock
- About 10 miles of trails
- Mountain Bike
- Fairfield County
- Mountain biking
Mohawk State Forest
Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall and Goshen, in the Litchfield Hills, has 15-plus miles of quiet forest roads and doubletrack open to bikes, with a few paved roads mixed in.
It’s well mapped and more about scenery than technical riding, and in fall, when the leaves change across the hills, it’s one of the prettiest rides in the state.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Gravel, Asphalt
- 15+ miles of trails
- Mountain Bike
- Litchfield County
- Mountain biking
Mianus River Park
Mianus River Park, on the Greenwich–Stamford line, is home to the “Mianus Maze”, a tangle of singletrack along the Mianus River that riders link into a loop of about 14 miles.
There are many path options, so it’s easy to get turned around the first time, and the riding is intense, with lots of short climbs, rocks and roots.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Rock, Roots
- About 14-mile loop
- Mountain Bike
- Fairfield County
- Mountain biking
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