Bike rides in Connecticut

Explore 12 rail-trail, greenway and park ride options in Connecticut, with route lengths, surfaces, access notes and starting locations. These are selected recreational outings, not an exhaustive trail inventory. Read each guide’s scope and access cautions before choosing a ride.

12 ride guides · alphabetical order

• Air Line Trail — Bull Hill to the Lyman viewpoint

  Colchester

  0.7 mi · Out and back

  Stone-dust rail trail; walk the gravel parking connection.

  This short outing visits the Lyman Viaduct viewpoint from the Bull Hill Road trailhead. It offers a taste of the southern Air Line Trail without a long commitment or a road connection to another section. The viaduct is an elevated, filled former railroad crossing; expect an open view and an embankment setting rather than a low lakeside path. Riders uncomfortable with heights can turn back sooner.

• Bluff Point: short riverside gravel-road return

  Groton

  Up to about 1.7 miles return · Out-and-back

  Improved gravel fire road

  Follow the broad main gravel fire road south beside the Poquonnock River. At the junction where the western shore arm meets the route toward the old Winthrop foundations, turn and retrace. Do not take the narrow beach spur, continue to the bluff, cross the railway bridge or add rugged interior trails. If the junction is unclear, turn at 0.85 outward mile or sooner at unsuitable gravel.

• Derby Greenway: short levee return from Division Street

  Derby

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved greenway

  Follow the paved Derby levee trail south with the river beside you. Turn after one outward mile or earlier before a public road, barrier, steep approach or the island / downtown junctions. Retrace. Do not cross Division Street to Ansonia, ride the Derby–Shelton bridge or add O’Sullivan’s Island branches.

• Farmington Canal: paved return from Todd Street

  Hamden

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved canal / rail-trail

  From the Todd Street trailhead join the completed main paved trail north toward Brooksvale and Cheshire. Turn at two outward miles or before an earlier public-road crossing, barrier or uncomfortable transition. Retrace. Do not add on-road gap connectors, the whole state corridor or a public-street detour.

• Farmington River Trail: short Collinsville riverside return

  Collinsville

  Up to 2 miles return · Out and back

  Paved main river rail-trail

  Join the signed river rail-trail at Collinsville, walk any steep bridge ramp, and follow the off-road main trail south up to one mile before retracing. Turn before an on-road connection.

• Great River Park riverwalk: short bicycle return

  East Hartford

  Up to 1 mile return · Out-and-back

  Paved main riverwalk

  Follow the signed main path south on the paved east-bank riverwalk toward the Hockanum River. Turn after 0.5 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Haley Farm: short stone-dust bicycle return

  Groton

  Up to 1 mile return · Out-and-back

  Stone-dust bicycle path

  Follow the designated crushed-stone bicycle path southwest toward Bluff Point. Stay on the broad marked bike path at forks. Turn after half an outward mile, or earlier before the railway bridge approach, a barrier or unsuitable tread, and retrace. Exclude soil foot trails, shore paths, town streets and the Bluff Point extension.

• Hartford Riverwalk: Riverside Park bank-level return

  Hartford

  Up to about 1.6 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved west-bank riverwalk

  Follow the paved bank-level riverwalk south from the boathouse, under the Bulkeley Bridge toward Mortensen Plaza. Turn at the foot of the plaza terrace stairs, before climbing them, or at 0.8 outward mile if sooner. Retrace. Do not use stairs, the seasonal elevator, a bridge crossing or a downtown road to close a loop.

• Hop River: short rail-trail return from Colonial Road

  Manchester

  Up to 3 miles return · Out-and-back

  Improved crushed-stone / gravel rail trail

  Take the main Hop River rail trail east from its western terminus. Turn at 1.5 outward miles or before an earlier public-road crossing, barrier, rough tread or uncomfortable section, then return on the same trail. Do not follow narrow side paths, cross a road to lengthen the outing or add the Bolton tunnel.

• Quinnipiac River: paved return from Community Lake

  Wallingford

  Up to 3 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved main linear trail

  Follow the main paved linear trail north toward Fireworks Island, staying on pavement at lake and labyrinth branches. Turn after 1.5 outward miles or sooner at a barrier, road interface or uncomfortable bridge / underpass slope. Retrace. Exclude dirt side trails, private drives and the proposed Route 150 bridge connection.

• Tabor Trail — western packed-gravel return: short bicycle return

  Branford

  Up to 1 mile return · Out-and-back

  Flat packed gravel / crushed-stone Tabor section

  Follow the signed main path east on the signed Tabor packed-gravel section toward Birch Road. Turn after 0.5 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Windsor Locks Canal: northern paved towpath return

  Suffield

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved canal towpath

  Follow the paved towpath south between canal and river. Turn after two outward miles or earlier at a barrier, pavement break or uncomfortable approach and retrace to the northern lot. Exclude the southern gravel entrance and any Bridge Street or apartment access. Stay well back from water edges; walk the narrow entry bridge if needed.