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Family-Friendly Hikes in Connecticut

There are 590 hikes in Connecticut in our database that fit. They average 1.4 km, with the longest running to 6.8 km.

That is 63 percent of the 942 routes we map in Connecticut. They are shorter than the local average, 1.4 km against 3.5 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 23 m (75 ft) against 72 m (236 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Family routes here are short, gently graded and interesting enough to keep younger legs moving. Every one is under seven kilometres with limited climbing. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Целостное видение, представление о совершенстве
Easy

Falls Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
The abandoned railbed of the Middletown–Middlefield streetcar line, seen in Marzalek Park in Middletown in March 2023
Easy

Little Falls Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Daniel and Esther Bartlett House
Easy

Turkington Falls Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Stone foundation south of Gay City Pond, west of Yellow Trail and Blackledge River in Connecticut's Gay City State Park.
Easy

Gay City Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
96 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Waymarked route
Hezekiah S. Ramsdell Farm , Thompson, Connecticut. This area includes foundational remnants, and is probably where the house stood.
Easy

Shoreline Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
1 hr 26 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Jericho Blue-Blazed Trail. View north from Crane's Lookout.
Easy

Branch Brook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
The abandoned railbed of the Middletown–Middlefield streetcar line, seen in Marzalek Park in Middletown in March 2023
Easy

Laurel Grove Brook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Meeting House Hill Historic District , Guilford, Connecticut.
Easy

Munger Brook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
The refuge's Falkner Island Unit. Refuge staff will soon head out to the refuge's other island units to assess damages. Credit: Tylar Greene/USFWS Stay informed www.facebook.com/usfwsnortheast www.twitter.com/usfwsnortheast
Easy

Spencers Creek Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
March Route Rochambeau's Army-Hutchinson Road , Andover, Connecticut.
Easy

Bobcat Woods Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Rowdy at Angel's Peak
Easy

Raptor Woods Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Easy

Woodland Road Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Narragansett Trail's Lantern Hill view of the Mashantucket Pequots Foxwoods Casino Resort. This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America . Its reference nu
Easy

Woods Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Nepaug State Forest's Valley Outlook Trail scenic overlook view of the Nepaug valley and Yellow Mountain.
Easy

Valley Overlook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
New England Cement Company Quarry , Woodbridge, Connecticut.
Easy

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Waymarked route
Case Brothers Historic District
Easy

Carriage Path

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
157 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 63.
Easy

Hazen Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Bridge No. 1605 (downstream side), Devil's Hopyard State Park, East Haddam, Connecticut.
Easy

Millington Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
75 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Waymarked route
Divided back postcard of Andover station
Easy

Percy Cook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
Hop River State Park Trail, Bolton Connecticut
Easy

Rose Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Porcupine just off dirt road between Old Man McMullen Pond and Wapato Pond in Great Mountain Forest
Easy

Sam Yankee Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Waymarked route
Stone lintel culvert that used to carry the Shepaug Railroad right of way in Washington, Connecticut. This is within the Steep Rock Reserve looking east from Tunnel Road.
Easy

Shinar Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Waymarked route
Redding Center in Redding Connecticut; May 2014
Easy

Two Ridges Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
170 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Easy

Williams Preserve Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Waymarked route
Bridge No. 1605 (downstream side), Devil's Hopyard State Park, East Haddam, Connecticut.
Easy

Woodcutters Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
54 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
The remaining north pier of the former trolley bridge over the Middle River in Stafford Springs, seen in December 2018
Easy

Woodlawn Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Waymarked route
The old Collins Mill in Collinsville, Connecticut as viewed from the bridge on Connecticut Route 179. The Farmington River is visible in the foreground.
Easy

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
106 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth from STS-135
Easy

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
141 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Waymarked route
some unusual action
Easy

Access Way

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Witter House , Chaplin, Connecticut.
Easy

Agnes' Pasture Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Bolton High School, Bolton Connecticut
Easy

Bates Nature Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Easy

Black Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Waymarked route
Original cut of the Shore Line Railway in Old Lyme, Connecticut, photographed in December 2017. At right is an abutment for a former bridge that carried a road over the railroad.
Easy

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Main house of Applewood Farm in Ledyard, Connecticut This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America . Its reference number is 87001765 ( Wikidata ).
Easy

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waymarked route
Old County Jail Museum, Tolland, Connecticut
Easy

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Easy

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
The abandoned railbed of the Middletown–Middlefield streetcar line, seen in Marzalek Park in Middletown in March 2023
Easy

Bridge Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Waymarked route
The remains of the Valley station pedestrian bridge along the Shepaug Railroad (visible as a rail trail on the distant bank) in Washington, Connecticut.
Easy

Brinsmade Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Waymarked route
Ledyard High School, Ledyard, Connecticut
Easy

Burton Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Spring Hill Historic District , Mansfield, Connecticut. First Baptist Church.
Easy

Byron's Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 45.
Easy

Cabin Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
On this rock the original settlers scouting party spent their first night.
Easy

Casey Lane Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Easy

Chapin Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Waymarked route
Ruby-throated hummingbird, Bafflin Audubon Sanctuary, Pomfret, CT USA
Easy

Clara, Emma and John's Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Waymarked route
Stone foundation south of Gay City Pond, west of Yellow Trail and Blackledge River in Connecticut's Gay City State Park.
Easy

Connector Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waymarked route
Abijah Rowe House, Salmon Brook Historical Society, Granby, Connecticut This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America . Its reference number is 78002860 (
Easy

East Slope Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 45.
Easy

Eric L. Stone Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Falls TrailConnecticut1.1 km15 m15 minEasyApril to October
Little Falls TrailConnecticut1.1 km32 m16 minEasyApril to October
Turkington Falls LoopConnecticut1.5 km22 m21 minEasyApril to October
Gay City TrailConnecticut2.6 km96 m42 minEasyApril to October
Shoreline TrailConnecticut6.5 km48 m1 hr 26 minEasyApril to October
Branch Brook TrailConnecticut1.3 km6 m16 minEasyApril to October
Laurel Grove Brook TrailConnecticut1.4 km27 m20 minEasyApril to October
Munger Brook TrailConnecticut1.3 km19 m17 minEasyApril to October
Spencers Creek TrailConnecticut0.7 km6 m9 minEasyApril to October
Bobcat Woods TrailConnecticut1.9 km18 m26 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Little Falls Trail, Gay City Trail, Turkington Falls Loop. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

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