Looking for the best trails around Bristol?

Explore the best rated trails in Bristol, CT. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Windsor River Trail and Niantic Bay Boardwalk. With more than 53 trails covering 450 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

Recent Trail Reviews

Maybrook Trailway

Maybrook Trail is a delight

June, 2023 by fivecylinderfreak

I chanced upon this trail on a cycling day from Pennsylvania Terminal in NYC to Amenia, New York and while pedaling I thought of the former freight train engineers gliding through these wonderful environments and having the views all to themselves. Now, we all can enjoy the trailway! The surface is smooth and the journey is peaceful. My trip north from Gotham and return trip south two days later took place on nice days in August, and I imagine that the Maybrook must be terrific in the fall. On its own, the Maybrook is an excellent trail; connect to it via Westchester County's South- and North County Trailways and/or the Putnam Trailway, and the Maybrook becomes one leg of many possible cycling adventures. This summer, I am going back, because I need my Maybrook fix. Thank you, New York State, for investing in premier recreational resources!

Branford Trolley Trail

Short Beautiful Trail

June, 2023 by jpalmarozza3rd_tl

Trail is an easy walk with beautiful views. 1.7 miles out and back

Larkin State Park Trail

Larkin State Park Trail

June, 2023 by whitney495

Great trail, most of it in the forest. A few areas of deep sand and a few mud bogs to go thru, but that's what makes it fun! I will be going back to this one.

Accordion

Hop River State Park Trail

Hop River

June, 2023 by trainman1957

Starts off a little rough! Then it is one of the best trails around!!!

Cheney Rail Trail

great biking trail

June, 2023 by trainman1957

This trail was a lot of fun! Very easy to pedal on it!!!

Farmington Canal Heritage Trail

Combination trail ride into MA

May, 2023 by steve.schwinn

Road part of this trail as an out and back in conjunction with the Southwick RT and the Columbia Greenway RT from Avon, CT, to Westfield, MA, an approximately 50 mile round trip (25 on the Farmington Canal Trail).
The trail is in very good condition. The transition to the Southwick Trail at the CT/MA border (with no road crossing) is seamless.
Road crossings decrease as you head north and are well marked with push-button warning signals to alert traffic.
Half Mile Falls Park at the north end of the Columbia Trail in Westfield is definitely worth a stop!

Southwick Rail Trail

Great trail with seamless trail connections at both ends!

May, 2023 by steve.schwinn

Road this trail as an out and back in conjunction with the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and the Columbia Greenway RT from Avon, CT, to Westfield, MA, an approximately 50 mile round trip.
The trail is in excellent condition. The transitions to the Farmington Canal Trail at the CT/MA border (with no road crossing) and to the Columbia Greenway RT on the north are seamless.
The mileage markers are great!
Half Mile Falls Park at the north end of the Columbia Trail is definitely worth a stop!

Columbia Greenway Rail Trail

Trail closure

May, 2023 by steve.schwinn

Road part this trail as an out and back in conjunction with the Southwick RT and the Columbia Greenway RT from Avon, CT, to Westfield, MA, an approximately 50 mile round trip.
This trail should be a 5 but it is closed at Main Street in Westfield with no information on when it will reopen or detours.

Larkin State Park Trail

Serene walk, but parts of the trail need work

May, 2023 by mikeecsedy

I got onto the trail at Southbury. I parked at IBM since there was no parking at the trailhead, and got a nice (?) note from security on my windshield. The first half mile from Southbury is very verdant and marked by nice wild phlox, but the path was so narrow you had to watch your feet instead to try to avoid the poison ivy. It widens out once you get to the rail trail. We saw a heron and a deer. A woman on horseback said the heron is famous for trying to scare the horses, they call it the "Pterodactyl". The trail seems to disappear once you get to some of the cross roads and is hard to find again.

Sue Grossman Still River Greenway

Trail has been extended

May, 2023 by colleen727

I just rode this trail, again. I pleasantly surprise that the trail has been extended about 3/4 mile and now goes up to motor vehicle office in Winsted.

Windsor River Trail

Really liked this well maintained trail. Great views with picnic tables along the route. Wish is was longer.

May, 2023 by a19olsen

Really liked this well maintained trail. Great views with picnic tables along the route. Wish is was longer.

Harlem Valley Rail Trail

Nice Surprise

May, 2023 by bazydloforcrawford

Was not expecting trail to be as nice as it was. Rode from southern trailhead to Millerton about 12 miles one way. Great views of farms / hills / streams/ wetlands all along a nicely paved trail. Planning to go back and complete the remaining 13 miles north of Millerton. And by the way thank you to Millerton for the excellent bathroom facilities!

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