Coventry

Hike Coventry, CT

Part of Tolland County

If you’re looking for the best hiking trails in Coventry this is the complete guide to all the long trails, waterfalls, and history it has to offer.

Coventry preserves over 1,800 acres across 13 explorable locations with over 21 miles of trails. There are boating/fishing options along Coventry Lake and the Willimantic River as well as mountain biking in the state forest and a disc golf course.

Trail range from simple field loops  to wooded hill climbs

Explore

My Highlights

  • The deep woods groves at Nathan Hale
  • Trail options down to a view of the river at the Williams Preserve

Hiking

Town Parks

  • Creaser Park★★– 2 miles – Simple trail loops, fishing along Skungamaug River, camp cabins, a rentable pavilion, and a 9 hole disc golf course
  • Lisike Beach – Small beach on Coventry Lake.
    • Resident season pass: $10 per vehicle.
    • Non-resident passes available: $10 weekdays, $20 weekend.
  • Mill Brook Park ★★– 0.35 miles – A beautiful postage stamp of a park with a gazebo, mill view, and book trail
  • Patriots Park Small park with a small beach on Coventry Lake
  • Patriots Park Woods★– 0.8 miles – A forgotten town trail
  • Riverview Trail Park ★– 0.66 miles – A short out and back trail along the Willimantic River part of the Willimantic River Trail
  • Thornton Brook Preserve–1 mile – An unmaintained loop hike at last visit with confusing trails and blazes
  • William Hunt PreserveProposed 1 mile trail in 2023  (proposed trail map)
  • Williams Preserve★★– 2 miles – Coventry’s newest town park in 2018, trails here head down to the Willimantic River and connect to Joshua’s Trust Couch Preserve

Land Trust

  • Joshua’s Trust
    • Couch Preserve★★– .6 miles – A simple lollipop loop that connects to Coventry’s new Williams Preserve
    • Broadway Meadow★– No trails – Two small meadows offer a brief walk along their perimeter next to a subdivision

State Parks / Forests

  • DEEP Meadow★– No trails – A small meadow maintained by the state along the Willimantic River
  • Hop River Trail – The current southern terminus is in Coventry on Kings Rd and continues through town for at least 4 miles
  • Nathan Hale State Forest★★★★– 12 miles – Confusing but excellent trails and mountain bike singletrack that start behind the Nathan Hale Homestead 

Other

Boating/Fishing

What's Nearby

  • Bidwell Tavern

Town History

Coventry was first settled in 1709.  It was named from Coventry in Warwickshire, England and was the first town in the colonies to adopt the name. It was officially incorporated in May 1712 making it the 46th oldest town in Connecticut.

The lake has long drawn New Yorkers and, in the 1930s, vaudeville performers established an actors’ colony on the west side. The streets are named for Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and other stars. Tommy Dorsey performed at a casino there, said Bill Jobbagy, the town’s ad hoc historian and the author of a book about East Coventry. Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are among other big names believed to have performed or vacationed there, he said.

Now get out and explore Coventry, CT!

Nathan Hale State Forest

★★★☆☆

41.764554, -72.347094

Nathan Hale State Forest Connecticut State Forest 1,529 acres in Coventry, CT Parking: Large lot at 2299 South St, Coventry, CT Trail Map        Trails: 12…

Creaser Park

★★☆☆☆

41.778407, -72.358612

Creaser Park Coventry Town Park 57 acres in Coventry, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 109 Case Rd Coventry, CT Trail Map            Trails:…