Explore Glastonbury, CT

Town Parks

• • Addison Bog Walk –★★– 1.8 miles – Dominated by the Bell-Hebron Linear Park which is a popular paved biking path for an easy stroll, there are rough trails through the woods for those willing to explore and find the anti-climatic bog
  • Blackledge Falls –★★★– 2 miles – Short but popular trails with a small waterfall and connections to Gay City State Park
  • Buckingham Park –★– 1.5 miles – Not to be confused with nearby Buckingham Reservoir this small park is mainly a playscape and ballfields though has a short loop trail through the woods
  • Cotton Hollow –★★★★– 1.2 miles – A very popular spot year round for short hikes, swimming in Roaring Brook, and views of historical ruins
  • Earle Park –★★– 1.2 miles – Behind the former Audubon Center, confusing trails wander to a unexpected view of the Connecticut River
  • Ferry Landing – Unexplored
  • Great Pond Reserve –★★– 2 miles – A bit hidden but trails lead to a small pond, and old cedar tree, and high banks along the CT River
  • J.B. Williams Park –★★– 3 miles – Well traveled trails, lean-to camping for residents, and a small pond for fishing
  • Matson Hill Open Space – Unexplored
  • Richard Strong Memorial Open Space – Unexplored
  • Riverfront Park –★★– 1 mile – A popular boat launch into the Connecticut River, a level crushed stone walking path, and plenty of ballfields and open space
  • Shoddy Mill Preserve –★★– 2 miles – Rough trails loop through the woods in two sections here with views of the Shoddy Mill ruins
  • Smut Pond – Unexplored
  • Tiboni Property – Unexplored

Land Trust

• • Kongscut Land Trust – I’m not certain which properties have trails so this is a lightly edited list, all are but Hollister are unexplored
    • Booth Woods Preserve
    • Drumlin Hill Preserve
    • Fern Hollow Preserve
    • Goodale Hill Preserve
    • Hollister Preserve/Whitehouse Family Nature Preserve –★★– 2.2 miles – 1.5 mile loop trail along Smith Brook and up to a vista with great views of the Hartford skyline
    • Landa Family & Costabile Preserve
    • Scoville Tract
    • Swan Estate & Riley Parcel
    • Zihrup Open Space Preserve

State Parks / Forest

• • Not technically “in”, but Gay City State Park has trails that connect into Glastonbury
  • Meshomasic State Forest
    • Kongscut Mountain & Phillips Cave Loop –★★★– 5 miles – An overlook on one side of the road and a loop trail with a ledge ‘cave’ on the other

Blue Blaze

• • Shenipsit Trail
    • Shenipsit: Case Mountain –★★★– 2 miles – Though Case Mountain is a popular Manchester town park, the Shenipsit through the property is generally quiet and some of the best hiking in the park
    • Shenipsit Trail: Dark Hollow –★★– 5 miles – A rugged stretch of trail after Rt 2 with plenty of hills and valleys and a short spur trail to a long cascading waterfall
    • Shenipsit Trail: Dickinson Rd –★★– 5 miles – Winding along a network of old woods roads this uneventful section has long gradual hills

The Rest

• • Buckingham Reservoir –★★★– 11 miles – A maze of popular mostly unblazed hiking and mountain bike trails centered around the reservoir with connections north to Case Mountain
  • Case Mountain –★★★★– 12 miles – Largely a Manchester town park, the southern corner of the trail network is in Glastonbury