A Bang! Bang! Trail Quinnipiac River Linear Trail, Wallingford September 2022 There was a time when there were no dedicated bike trails like this in the state. So far be it from me to whine about those like the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail that are sort of "just there." End-to-end paths with no connections to … [Read more...]
Nassahegon State Forest Intro
Nassahegon State Forest Burlington I don't know how many of Connecticut's state forests are contained entirely in one town like the Nassahegon is. The forest was originally designated in 1926 to protect the watershed for the state fish hatchery, now called the Burlington Trout Hatchery. Today the forest is … [Read more...]
Air Line State Park Trail: Section 2
Putting the Quiet in the Corner Route 97, Pomfret to Hop River State Park Trail, Windham (~14 miles) August 2021 If you'd like to begin with my Section 1 through Thompson and Pomfret, here you are. (This is just a placeholder for now.) We'll pick up this section at the Route 97 crossing in Pomfret, although I'd … [Read more...]
Charter Oak Greenway
Not a Showcase Charter Oak Greenway, 15.4 Miles Bolton, Manchester, East Hartford Every other "trail report" for the Charter Oak Greenway is nothing more than some mileage markers and a few comments about its hills or propensity for highway proximity. Not CTMQ. Oh, no. So sit back and prepare for a billion of my … [Read more...]
Cycling, Multi-Use, & Rails-to-Trails Paths
Connecticut's Cycling, Multi-Use, & Rails-to-Trails Paths Hoo boy. I delayed putting this page together for a decade - a decade which saw massive growth and improvement of Connecticut's network of various multi-use trails. I was sort of waiting until my younger son was able to ride for 10+ miles to bother cataloging … [Read more...]
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail: Farmington River Loop
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail: River Loop Extension Red Oak Hill Road, Farmington to Hopmeadow Steet, Simsbury (~16 miles) July/August 2020 The northernmost section of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Connecticut has miles of beautiful stretches. But for my money, this loop extension Farmington River Trail … [Read more...]
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail: Section 2
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury to Red Oak Hill Road, Farmington (~11 miles) July 2020 If you'd like to check out section 1, here you are. You can also learn a bit about the history of the failed Farmington Canal and how it became the failed rail line there as well. We'll pick up … [Read more...]
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail: Section 1
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Massachusetts border to Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury (~11 miles) June/July 2020 Annnnd away we go! Definitely one of Connecticut's top few bike paths... greenways, rails-to-trails trails... whatever we call them. It bisects the state, right down the middle from Suffield to New Haven. … [Read more...]
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Intro
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Massachusetts border (Suffield) to New Haven The summer of 2020 - the pandemic summer of 2020 - sort of forced my son Calvin and I to begin riding Connecticut's rails-to-trails in earnest. Nothing was open for visits in any normal way, so why not ride our bikes. Unfortunately, Calvin … [Read more...]
Hop River State Park Trail: Section 1
Let's Get Hoppin' Colonial Road to Bolton Notch State Park, 6.9 Miles Manchester, Vernon, Bolton, June 2020 Alright, let's get going with this thing. 20.2 miles of graded stone dust trail from the center of Manchester east to the Airline Trail in Windham. (I suppose I should mention that means Calvin and I will … [Read more...]