Menunkatuck
Trail Guide
Trail at a Glance
The blue blaze Menunkatuck Trail runs 17.2 miles across Guilford, CT and serves as the southern end of the 235 mile New England Trail. Spanning from Long Island Sound northward into Guilford, it connects to inland park trail systems and links to the Mattabesett Trail.
The trail offers a diverse landscape of coastal marshes, historic colonial landmarks, and dense forests making it suitable for hikers of all experience levels. Maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, the Menunkatuck Trail showcases the state’s natural beauty and the power of connection.
I hiked the length of the trail in 2024 while completing the New England Trail.
Section List
North to South
- 2.8 miles to Bluff Head Parking
- Junction with the Mattabesett Trail
- Broomstick Ledges – 0.2 miles – Beautifully rocky winding trail over and between the ledges
- Genesee Recreation Area – 3.6 miles – Gently rolling trail skirts the edge of this Water Authority property but doesn’t touch its history
- Cockaponset: Guilford North Parcel – 1.6 miles – (Parking) – Fairly standard old woods road with a “cave” passing the local Sportman’s Club
- Timberland Preserve – 2.6 miles – Crosses Iron Stream, passes Paradise Pool and the upper reaches of Upper Guilford Lake
- 0.2 mile road walk
- Nut Plain Woods – 1.7 miles – (Parking) – Long wetland board walk and unassuming woods between private property
- East River Preserve – 3.2 miles – (Parking) – Rocky along the East River to the open fields and through the woods
- 3.9 mile road walk
- Chittenden Park – 0.2 miles – (Parking) – From Long Island Sound, over a boardwalk, through the field, and onto the road
The Mattabesett was the third trail created by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and was completed in 1932. Students from Wesleyan University helped to clear and blaze the trail.
In 2009 it was added to the New England Trail
