Blue Blaze Trails

Blue Blazed Trails of Connecticut

The blue blaze trail system is unique to Connecticut.  Started in by the newly formed ‘Trails Committee’ of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association in 1929 the trails have expanded to the oft-cited number of 825 miles.  I’d guess that around 600 miles are actually blazed with the iconic blue rectangle and the remaining 2ooish are maintained by CFPA and their partners.

Ranging all across the state’s rugged hills, glacial streams and lakes, and traprock ridges they can be anywhere from a 1.3 mile loop (the newest blue blaze trail!) to a 111 mile trip across the state (The New England Trail) and beyond.

The trails are maintained entirely by volunteers with a core staff overseeing the entire scope and an annual summer crew that tackles large projects.  The blue trails are an amazing resource to explore no matter what part of the state you’re in!

The Big 12 Blue Blaze Trails

Another Eight

Other Trails – Trails maintained by the CFPA

Talcott Mountain

★★★★★

41.835607, -72.791504

Talcott Mountain Connecticut State Park 574 acres in Avon, Bloomfield, and Simsbury, CT Parking: Lots of parking near 560 Simsbury Rd, Bloomfield, CT Trail Map     …

Hubbard Park: Castle Craig

★★★★★

41.556511, -72.835818

Hubbard Park: Castle Craig Meriden Town Park 1,800 acres in Meriden, CT Parking: Year round lot near 999 W Main St, Meriden, CT or drive up to…

Valley Falls

★★★☆☆

41.822938, -72.443411

Valley Falls Park / Andrew Kenneth Webster Preserve Vernon Town Park and Northern Connecticut Land Trust 196 acres in Vernon, CT Parking: Large lot near 300 Valley…

Lantern Hill

★★★☆☆

41.465179, -71.945849

Narragansett Trail – Lantern Hill Connecticut Blue Blaze Trail in North Stonington, CT Parking: Shoulder parking near 215 Wintechog Hill Rd, North Stonington, CT Trail Map   …

Hopeville Pond State Park

★★★☆☆

Hopeville Pond State Park Connecticut State Park 554 acres in Griswold, CT Parking: Several parking areas near 931 Hopeville Rd Griswold, CT Trail Map       …

Hubbard Brook Preserve

★★★★☆

41.520788, -72.560650

Hubbard Brook Preserve / Scovill Loop Trails CFPA Blue Blaze Trail 75 acres in Middletown, CT Parking: Medium lot near 3606 River Rd, Middletown, CT  Trail Map…

Old Furnace State Park

★★★★☆

450 S Frontage Rd, Danielson, CT 06239

Old Furnace State Park Connecticut State Park 367 acres in Killingly, CT Parking:  Medium lot available near 450 S Frontage Rd Danielson, CT Medium lot at the…

Talmadge Tract

★★☆☆☆

41.841828, -72.240032

Talmadge Tract / UCONN Moss Forest / Royal Knowlton Preserve Willington Town Park / Blue Blaze Nipmuck Trail 408 acres in Willington, CT Parking: Small lot near 100-,…

Pequot Trail – North Terminus

★★★☆☆

78 CT-165, Preston, CT 06365

Pequot Trail – North Terminus at Hellgate CFPA Blue Blaze Trail in Preston, CT Parking: North End – CFPA claims space for 2 cars near 78 CT-165,…

Ross Pond State Park

★★☆☆☆

41.771477, -71.869135

Ross Pond State Park Connecticut State Park 314 acres in Killingly, CT Parking: Medium sized lot at the end of the forest road near 223 Ross Rd Danielson,… Read more…