Explore Tolland, CT

Town Parks

• • Auperin Conservation Area –★★– <1 mile – A short hillside trail that connects to Weigold and the Tobiassen Forest
  • Baxter Street Conservation Area –★– 0.3 miles – Old woods road out and back
  • Becker Conservation Area –★★– 1 mile – The current terminus of the Willimantic River Trail on this short loop
  • Campbell’s Peaceful Valley –★– 2.2 miles – A great rocky overlook with plenty of trails to explore and a connection to Stoppleworth
  • Crandall Park –★★★– 5 miles – Popular town park with hiking and mountain biking trails, a beach, courts, fields, pavilions, and more
  • Cross Farms –★★– 1 mile – There is an seldom used hiking trail here though half has been taken over by the disc golf course
  • Crystal Peat Conservation Area –★★– 1.15 miles – Short trails around the ruins of the Crystal Peat Humus Company
  • Heron Cove –★★– <1 mile – Mainly a boat launch into the Willimantic River, but there is a short loop trail that follows the banks
  • King Riverside –★★– 1.2 miles – Part of the Willimantic River hiking trail with the remains of Peck’s Mill and the the District IV schoolhouse
  • Knofla Conservation Area –★★– 2.9 miles – Forested trails lead down to Knofla’s Pond, a bog view, and hilly loops
  • Luce Conservation Area –★★– 1 mile – Tiny cascades on Charter Brook, a rocky spine covered in young pines, and a flooded stonewall
  • Nedweid Conservation Area –★– 1 mile – Seldom used section of the Willimantic River hiking trail connects to King Riverside
  • Palmer Kendall Mountain –★★★– 1.5 miles – A ridge overlook, the “knob”, and a rock jumble they call a “quarry”
  • Parciak Conservation Area –★★– 2.8 miles – A “meteor” and a quartz boulder highlight the trails here
  • Paulk Hill Conservation Area –★★– 5 miles – Mountain bike specific trails that connect to Crandall Park
  • River Park –★★– 1 mile – Oddly there are no river views from the park, but trails connect to the Becker CA which do
  • Schindler/Schmidt Conservation Area –★★★– 3.8 miles – Mostly easy walking on old roads through rocky terrain
  • Shafran Conservation Area –★★– 1.4 miles – One of the most peaceful places with pines, ferns, and clear streams
  • Stoppleworth Conservation Area –★– 1 mile – An old cellar hole, birch lined paths, and a connection to Campbell’s Peaceful Valley
  • Wanat Park –★★– 0.15 miles – Park geared towards seniors with a labyrinth, ADA trail to an old silo, and open fields
  • Weigold Conservation Area –★★– <1 mile – A short trail that connects to Auperin and the Tobiassen Forest

Land Trusts

• • Joshua’s Trust
    • Madeline Regan Preserve –★★– 1 mile – A figure eight hiking loop preserving a section of the Old Connecticut Path and a dramatic esker
    • Tobiassen Forest –★★– 2 miles – A short wooded loop with some grand old trees

State Parks / Forest

• • Charter Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary – No public access
  • Nye-Holman State Forest –★★– <1 mile – One short rough trail, more popular for boating/fishing on the river and its archery course
  • Kollar Wildlife Management Area –★★– 5 miles – The remains of Scripture bridge and a range of unblazed trails run through the property

Blue Blaze

• • Shenipsit Trail
    • Shenipsit Lake –★★– 1 mile – The Connecticut Water Co. trolley trail, flat easy walking with a view or two of the lake

The Rest

• • Benton Homestead –★– <1 mile – A short unmaintained loop next to the roar of I-84, the homestead is a museum
  • Willimantic River Trail – Tolland is the current northern terminus of this long trail