Mansfield

• The overlooks at 50 Foot or Coney Rock
• All the hidden gems within Mansfield Hollow
• The hidden Codfish Falls

Town Parks

• Coney Rock –★★– 5 miles – Steep climbs to a couple ridgeline overlooks
• Dorwart Preserve / Lions Memorial Park –★★– 1.25 miles – Old cart paths that connect to Mansfield Hollow trail network
• Dunhamtown Forest –★★– 4 miles – Hike that passes local history amidst varied environments
• Eagleville Preserve –★★– 1 mile – Invasive species guided walk along the Willimantic River
• Fifty Foot Cliff Preserve –★★★– 1.5 miles – Short hike on the Nipmuck trail through rocky terrain to a nice overlook
• Merrow Meadow –★★– 1 mile – Popular town park with a paved walking path and rougher trails along the river
• Moss Sanctuary –★★★– 2 miles – Secluded park next to UCONN with good short loops around a pond and a waterfall
• Mt. Hope Park –★★– 1 mile – Skirt the edges of fields, rivers, and beaver ponds in a short easy loop
• River Park / Lynch Landing –★– 1 mile – Boat launch for the Willimantic River and start point of the Willi River hiking trail
• Sawmill Brook Preserve –★★– 3 miles – Starting point of the Nipmuck West, excellent bird viewing platform with access to Wolf Rock
• Schoolhouse Brook Park –★★★– 8.5 miles — Large park with a variety of trails plus swimming, fishing, and mountain biking
• Shelter Falls Park –★★★– 2 miles – Easy trail to a tiny waterfall and sheltering rock, rough trails elsewhere
• Simpson-Wood Preserve –★★–  2 miles – Mansfield’s newest park is still under construction, but will soon be a great short hike
• Southworth Preserve –★– 1 mile – This tiny preserve now has a short trail that connects to Mansfield Hollow trail network
• Torrey Preserve –★★– 1 mile – A short loop trail just off the Nipmuck trail that follows a field edge and up a slope

Land Trust (All Joshua’s Trust)

• Babcock Preserve –★– .25 miles – I have not been able to locate the short trail here on any of my visits to Schoolhouse Brook
• Bradley-Buchanan Woods –★★– .5 miles – A short hike through a very rare geologic area in Connecticut called a kame terrace with connections to Mansfield Hollow
• Coney Rock Preserve –★★★– 5 miles – Steep climbs to a couple ridgeline overlooks
• Dunham Woods –★★– 1 mile – A short hike with seasonal views of Dunham Pond and connections to the town-owned Dunhamtown Woods
• Goodwin Reserve –★– .6 miles – A  unmaintained short hike that passes an interesting rock outcrop
• Holt-Kinney Woods –★★– .7 miles – A nice short addition to Schoolhouse Brook Park with a mysterious double stone wall
• Knowlton Hill Preserve –★★★– 2.5 miles – A glacial drumlin, majestic trees, and loop hike options
• Lof Woodlands –★★– .5 miles – Simple loop hike
• Mason’s Mill Site –★★– No trails – The site of a grist and saw mill that operated from at least 1778 to 1935
• Owen’s Mere –★★– .2 miles – A simple tiny loop around a man-made pond that beautiful in the fall
• Pond Lot –★– .25 miles – A shorty entryway to Echo Woods and Mansfield Hollow 
• Whetten Woods –★★★– 2.5 miles – A quiet hiking trail right next to Storrs UCONN
• Wolf Rock Nature Preserve –★★★★– A great overlook with a large glacial erratic with options for loop hikes or the Nipmuck trail in either direction

State Parks / Forest

• Mansfield Hollow State Park –★★★★★– 15 miles – A varied park that is popular for boating, picnics, and easy walks. There are long loop trails, nice views, and many sections to explore

Blue Blaze – Nipmuck Trail in Mansfield

• Nipmuck Trail East Terminus –★★★– 4 miles – This eastern section of Mansfield Hollow is much quieter yet has 2.28 miles of Nipmuck and plenty of trails with interesting features to discover including rare views along the lake
• Nipmuck Trail West Terminus –★★– 3 miles – An unassuming start at Sawmill Brook that has a short loop and connections to Wolf Rock
• Fenton Tract –★★★– 6 miles – Within easy distance of UCONN. From the slope of Horsebarn Hill explore down to the Fenton River and Nipmuck Trail
• Nipmuck Trail Section Rt. 89 –★★– 3 miles – Iron bridges built in 1901 over the Fenton River with connections to other parks
• Fifty Foot Cliff Preserve –★★★– 1.5 miles – A steep climb from either direction of the Nipmuck trail to a great overlook or an easy walk from the Manchester Historical Society

The Rest

• Codfish Falls –★★– No trails – A small waterfall with an 8ft drop that bends through a small ravine (this area is private property)
• UCONN HEEP –★– 2.25 miles – A short gravel road with interpretive signs and overgrown forest trails of just over a mile with a great marsh viewing platform in this education park across from Shelter Falls
• Hiking on the Willimantic River Trail

• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Boating on the Willimantic River
  •  Launches:
    • Merrow Meadow
    • River Park
    • Eagleville Preserve

• Fifty Foot Cliff Preserve
• Wolf Rock Nature Preserve
• Pot Hole — Unexplored (pretty sure it’s technically private property)

• Fenton Tract
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Schoolhouse Brook Park

Mansfield, settled 1686; set off from Windham and incorporated Oct., 1702; named from Major Moses Mansfield. Originally called Ponde-town. Indian name, “Noubesetuck.”