12 Top-Rated Bike Trails in Connecticut (Paved & Mountain Biking)
Whether you’re riding on pavement or off-road, there are plenty of excellent bike trails in Connecticut. That’s why I went out of my way this past summer to see which ones are the best.
After riding all of the most popular bike routes in the state, I’ve narrowed down the list to the top 12 trails. So without further ado, these are the best bike trails in CT.
Paved Bike Trails in Connecticut
1. Air Line State Park Trail – East Hampton
Air Line State Park Trail is one the best places to go biking in Connecticut. The trail is 55 miles long and extends from East Hampton to the Massachusetts border.
The bike path is made of crushed stone, so it’s an easy ride for both beginners and experienced bikers. Plus, the scenery around the trail offers quite the view.
- Location: 69 Smith St, East Hampton, CT
2. Farmington Canal Heritage Trail – Farmington
The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is another great place to go biking in CT. This multi-use trail starts in New Haven and continues north to the Connecticut-Massachusetts border.
In total, the path is over 48 miles in length and is one of the longest paved trails in the state of Connecticut. It’s also a large part of the New England Rail-Trail Spine Network.
- Location: 990-1008 New Britain Ave, Farmington, CT
3. Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail – Suffield
The Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail is a 5-mile biking trail between Suffield and Windsor Locks. The entire path is paved and runs parallel to the Connecticut River.
The trail itself is relatively narrow, but it’s still a cool place to ride your bike. The trip takes about 45 minutes to an hour to ride to the end and back.
- Location: Canal Rd, Suffield, CT
4. Pequonnock Valley Greenway – Trumbull
Pequonnock Valley Greenway is home to one of the top bike trails in Connecticut. It’s a scenic 5.2-mile out-and-back trail that passes through a variety of parks in the Bridgeport-Trumbull area.
This bike path is part of the larger Pequonnock River Trail, which extends even further into the state. You can even stop at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo at the southern end of this historic bike trail.
- Location: Pequannock Valley Greenway (Housatonic Rail-Trail), Trumbull, CT
5. Charter Oak Greenway – Hartford
The Charter Oak Greenway is a premier bike trail in CT if you live in the Hartford area. The paved trail is 16 miles long and travels east through towns like East Hartford, Manchester, and Bolton.
The path is roughly 4 to 8 feet wide in most areas and features a gentle 5% grade. It’s perfect for both veteran and beginner bikers. The bike route is shared by cyclists and hikers, so be aware of that when riding.
- Location: Charter Oak Greenway, Hartford, CT
6. Farmington River Trail – Canton
The Farmington River Trail is a popular bike trail located on the border of Hartford County and Litchfield County. The trail is 16 miles long, but it connects with the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail to make a 26-mile loop.
The majority of the trial is paved with asphalt, plus it features a gorgeous canopy of trees overhead, so you can ride in the shade.
- Location: Canton, CT
Mountain Bike Trails in CT
7. Rockland Preserve Mountain Biking Trails – Madison
Rockland Preserve has some of the better trails in Connecticut for mountain biking. The trails are relatively challenging but are still a ton of fun.
All of the bike paths are purpose-built for mountain biking and are decently maintained. The one issue is that the biking trails are not well-marked, however, there is a bike map available on their website.
- Location: 2313 Durham Rd, Madison, CT
8. Collis P. Huntington State Park – Redding
Collis P. Huntington State Park is a fantastic spot to bike in Connecticut if you live in the southern part of the state. This 1000-acre park has routes for both beginner and expert riders.
The trails at this state park are mostly flat, but there are a couple of steep inclines where you really need to pedal hard.
- Location: 9 Dodgingtown Rd, Redding, CT
9. Pachaug State Forest – Voluntown
Pachaug State Forest is the location of many popular Connecticut bike trails. Riders can enjoy 15 different Connecticut trails of different difficulty levels that are used for bicycling, along with hiking.
The entire park encompasses 27,000 acres of land, so you can easily go several hours without running into other mountain bikers.
- Location: Voluntown, CT
10. Powder Ridge Mountain Park – Middlefield
Powder Ridge Mountain Park in Middlefield has an excellent Connecticut bike trail. The mountain bike trails here were professionally designed, so they flow very well.
The downhill mountain biking at Powder Ridge is some of the best in Connecticut since they have a terrain park with plenty of jumps. They even have the only lift-service biking trail in southern New England.
- Location: 99 Powder Hill Rd, Middlefield, CT
11. River Highlands State Park – Cromwell
River Highlands State Park is another highly-rated bike trail in Connecticut. The landscape at this state park is super unique, which makes for a very enjoyable ride.
There are a number of dirt road trails that are kid-friendly, but also plenty of more challenging gravel trails that were designed specifically for mountain bikes.
- Location: 113 Field Rd, Cromwell, CT
12. Millers Pond State Park – Durham
Millers Pond State Park is one more place to ride your bike in CT. This public recreation area features some of the best mountain biking in Connecticut.
There are a ton of obstacles for jumps and stunts, along with cross-country riding. This place provides some of the most technical mountain biking in the state.
- Location: 344 Foot Hills Rd, Durham, CT
Biking CT – Final Thoughts
Those are some of Connecticut’s top bike trails, both on roads and in the mountains. If you’re looking to break out the bikes and get some exercise, all of these bike routes are a fun time regardless of which trails you visit. Also, don’t forget to check out Connecticut’s top bike shops if you’re looking to upgrade your equipment.
If you prefer hiking over biking, I recommend checking out this article about the best hiking trails in Connecticut.
