Glastonbury

Hike Glastonbury, CT

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

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Hiking |expand|


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

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

Boating/Fishing |expand|

Mountain Biking

  • 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

Breweries, Bakeries, and More |expand|

Town History |expand|

33. Glastonbury, incorporated May, 1693; set off from Wethersfield, June, 1692; named from Glastonbury in Somersetshire.

Now get out and explore Glastonbury, CT!

Shenipsit Trail: Dickinson Rd

★★☆☆☆

41.649529, -72.518351

Shenipsit Trail: Dickinson Rd Blue Blaze Trail and Connecticut State Forest in East Hampton and Glastonbury, CT Parking: Shoulder parking past 96 Dickinson Road, South Glastonbury, CT… Read more…

Buckingham Reservoir

★★★☆☆

41.719096, -72.497895

Buckingham Reservoir Manchester Water Company Property 529.87 in Glastonbury, CT Parking: Small lot and shoulder parking near 29 Coop Rd Glastonbury, CT Trail Map      Trails:…

Great Pond

★★☆☆☆

41.645416, -72.615311

Great Pond Preserve Glastonbury Town Park 70 acres in Glastonbury Parking: Grassy shoulder parking across from 401 Great Pond Rd South Glastonbury, CT Trail Map     …

Buckingham Park

★★☆☆☆

41.715059, -72.528617

Buckingham Park Glastonbury Town Park 40 acres in Glastonbury, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 1285 Manchester Rd Glastonbury, CT Trail Map           Trails:…

Shenipsit: Dark Hollow Section

★★★☆☆

41.669598, -72.503706

Shenipsit : Dark Hollow Brook to Flat Brook Falls Blue Blaze Shenipsit Trail and Connecticut State Forest in Glastonbury, CT Parking: Dark Hollow: At the end the road near… Read more…

Cotton Hollow

★★★★☆

41.664113, -72.585052

Cotton Hollow Preserve Glastonbury Town Park 83 acres in Glastonbury, CT Parking: Main Area: Medium sized lot for near 501 Hopewell Road Glastonbury, CT Western Area: Small…

Case Mountain

★★★★☆

68 Birch Mountain Rd, Manchester, CT

Case Mountain Manchester Town Park and Manchester Land Conservation Trust Property 640 acres in Manchester and Glastonbury, CT Parking: Four options (most popular to least): Case Pond… Read more…