Blue Blaze Trails

Blue Blazed Trails of Connecticut

The blue blaze trail system is unique to Connecticut.  Started in 1929 by the newly formed ‘Trails Committee’ of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association 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 110 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!

Connecticut National Scenic Trail

• New England Trail – 110 miles

The Big 12 Blue Blaze Trails

• Mattabesett Trail – 64 miles
• Mattatuck Trail – 42.1 miles
• Menunkatuck Trail – 17.2 miles
• Metacomet Trail – 62.4 miles
• Mohawk Trail – 25.7 miles
• Narragansett Trail – 15.2 miles
• Natchaug Trail — 17.8 miles
• Nipmuck Trail – 41.5 miles
• Quinnipiac Trail – 18.5 miles
• Pachaug Trail – 25.1 miles
• Shenipsit Trail – 50.2 miles
• Tunxis Trail – 39.9 miles

Another Seven

• Nehantic Trail – 12.8 miles
• Paugussett Trail – 14 miles
• Pequot Trail – 8 miles
• Quinebaug Trail – 8.1 miles
• Saugatuck Trail – 12.1 miles
• Stony Creek Trails – 9.9 miles
• Sunny Valley Preserve Trails – 13.7 miles

Other Trails – Trails maintained by the CFPA

• Alain & May White Nature Trails – 4 miles
• American Legion & Peoples State Forest Trails – 4.6 miles
• Aspetuck Trail – 6.9 miles
• Bigelow Hollow State Park Trails – 20 miles
• Case Mountain Trails – 10+ miles
• Chatfield Trail – 4.5 miles
• Cockaponset Trail – 7 miles
• Falls Brook Trail – 1.5 miles
• Field Forest Trails – 2.2 miles
• Finch Brook Trail – 2.6 miles
• Gay City State Park Trails – 1.6 miles
• Hancock Brook Trail – 2.8 miles
• Highlawn Forest Trails – 3.5 miles
• Housatonic Range Trail – 6.2 miles
• Iron Trail – 4 miles
• Jericho Trail – 3.2 miles
• John Muir Trail – 2.1 miles
• Kettletown State Park Trails – 6 miles
• Lillinonah Trail – 6 miles
• Macedonia Brook State Park Trails – 6.6 miles
• Naugatuck Trail – 5.4 miles
• Nayantaquit Trail – 3.4 miles
• Old Furnace Trail – 2.2 miles
• Pine Knob Loop Trail – 2.5 miles
• Pomperaug Trail – 4.6 miles
• Regicides Trail – 7.3 miles
• Risley Pond Loop Trail – 2.4 miles
• Salmon River Trail – 5 miles
• Scovill Loop Trail – 2.1 miles
• Wabbaquasset Trail – 1.3 miles
• Whitestone Cliffs Trail – 1.3 miles
• Whitney Forest/Hibbard Trail – 1.5 miles
• Walcott Trail – 2.5 miles
• Zoar Trail – 6.5 miles