Shenipsit Trail

Hike the Shenipsit Trail

Traveling 50 miles from Portland to Stafford this blue blaze trail is maintained by volunteers coordinated by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

Shenipsit Striders Annual End to End Run

Section List:

  • North Terminus – Unexplored- 2.4 miles
  • Unnamed Section – Unexplored- 1.2 miles
  • Soapstone Mountain –★★★– 5.5 miles –
  • 2 mile road walk Shenipsit Lake Rd to Grahaber Rd
  • Shenipsit Lake –★★– 1.8 miles – A flat easy walk along an old rail bed with occasional views of the water
  • 1.2 mile road walk along Gerber Dr/Kingsbury Ave/Rt. 74
  • 0.6 miles along Gages Brook
  • Walker’s Reservoir –★– 1 mile – Road walk along Reservoir Rd to Rt. 30 to pass under I-84
  • Tankerhoosen WMA –★★– 1.5 miles –
  • Belding WMA –★★– 1.6 miles –
  • Valley Falls –★★★– 0.2 miles – Descend from the Hop River Trail to the western edge of Valley Falls Pond
  • Freja Park –★★– 2.8 miles – 0.6 miles past the old Manchester Drive-In along Bolton Notch Pond and onto the Hop River Trail for 2.2 miles
  • Case Mountain –★★★★★– 1.9 miles – While Case Mtn is very popular the Shenipsit Trail through the park is quiet and beautiful
  • Gay City State Park –★★★– 1.7 miles – A connector trail from the state park that provides access and views, but isn’t park of the thru-hike
  • Garnet Ledge –★★– 3 miles –
  • 0.3 mile road walk on Birch Mtn Rd
  • Dark Hollow Brook / Flat Brook Falls –★★★– 5 miles – Remote and rugged terrain past a cascading waterfall
  • Bald Hill to Rt 2 –★★– 4.8 miles – Uneventful hike on old CCC roads
  • South Terminus –★★★– 3.5 miles – A steep climb to a great overlook of the CT River then on to a tiny waterfall below Bald Hill

Tankerhoosen WMA

★★☆☆☆

41.841233, -72.445106

Tankerhoosen Wildlife Management Area Connecticut WMA 449 acres in Vernon, CT Parking: From the north at Walker’s Reservoir near 129 Reservoir Rd, Vernon, CT From the south… Read more…

Walker’s Reservoir

★★☆☆☆

129 Reservoir Rd, Vernon, CT, USA

Walker’s Reservoir Natural Area Vernon Town Park 12 acres in Vernon, CT Parking: Medium lot near 129 Reservoir Rd, Vernon, CT Trail Map       Trails: 0.9…

Shenipsit Trail: Dickinson Rd

★★☆☆☆

41.649529, -72.518351

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

Shenipsit Lake

★★☆☆☆

41.881941, -72.422886

Shenipsit Trail – Shenipsit Lake Connecticut Blue Blaze Trail in Tolland, CT Parking: Shoulder parking near 15 Tolland Stage Rd, Tolland, CT Trail Map        …

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…

Gay City State Park

★★★☆☆

386 North St, Hebron, CT 06248

Gay City State Park Connecticut State Park 1,569 acres in Hebron, CT Parking: Large lot at 386 North St Hebron, CT year round with additional parking open…

Shenipsit Trail: South Terminus

★★★★☆

41.576774, -72.551996

Shenipsit Trail – South Terminus at Great Hill Connecticut Blue Blaze Trail – Shenipsit in Portland, CT Parking: Small lot and shoulder parking off gravel Gadpouch Rd…

Soapstone Mountain

★★★★☆

41.961605, -72.408513

Soapstone Mountain Connecticut State Forest 1800 acres in Ellington, Somers, and Stafford, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 399 Gulf Rd, Somers, CT Trail Map     …

Shenipsit: Dark Hollow Section

★★★☆☆

41.669598, -72.503706

Shenipsit : Dark Hollow Brook to Flat Brook Falls Blue Blaze Shenipsit Trail in Glastonbury, CT Parking: Dark Hollow: At the end the road near 453 Toll Gate Rd… Read more…

Freja Park

★★☆☆☆

41.786520, -72.455719

Freja Park Bolton Town Park 21 acres in Bolton, CT Parking: Access from the Park & Ride off Rt. 44 or at Bolton Notch State Park Trail…