Andover

Explore Andover, CT

(Part of Tolland County)

If you’re looking for the best hiking trails in Andover this is the complete guide to all the forests, mountain bike trails, and pine covered paths it has to offer.

Links

• Andover – Trails in Town
• 2015 Plan of Conservation and Development
• Andover Conservation Commission
• Andover Historical Society
• CTMQ’s Guide to Andover

Explore

Hiking

Town Parks

• Doris Chamberlin Nature Preserve —★★— 2.5 miles — Easy trails and a small picnic area with an option to extend your hike on the Hop River Trail
• Talbot Parcel — 8.84 acres — possible future trail (accepted by town vote in January 2021)

Land Trust

• Joshua’s Trust
  • Skinner Hill Preserve – possible future trail
• Northern CT Land Trust
  • Unidentified parcel — 8.54 acres — (possible future trail)

State Parks and Forests

• Bishop Swamp WMA —★★— 6 miles — Rarely traveled, this secluded wildlife management area has a few surprises
• Hop River Trail State Park —★★★— 20 miles — Andover has a nearly 5 mile section of the trail including the covered bridge over Rt. 316 and heads for many miles in either direction
• Nathan Hale State Forest —★★★— 12 miles — A large southern portion of the forest lies in Andover with a network of forest paths, old farm roads, and horse trails

Mountain Biking

• Nathan Hale State Forest — Popular area with a large network of MTB specific trails
• Hop River Trail State Park — Cycling more than mountain biking, but can be biked in either direction
• Doris Chamberlin Nature Preserve — There is at least one flowy MTB trail criss-crossing the Percy Cook trail

Boating/Fishing

• Bishop Swamp — A small area where boating is possible along Jurovaty Road
• Andover Lake is privately owned and not open to the public

Town History

Andover was a parish named 1747 likely from Andover, Mass.  The town officially incorporated from land in Coventry and Hebron in May 1848 making it the 146th oldest town in Connecticut.

Now get out and explore Andover, CT!