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Family-Friendly Hikes near Waterbury

92 routes near Waterbury qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 1.4 km, with the longest running to 5.6 km.

That is 49 percent of the 187 routes we map near Waterbury. They are shorter than the local average, 1.4 km against 5.3 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 122 m (400 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Evergreen Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Starting at 10:09 PM ending at 11:08 PM EST.
Easy

FLT Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Waymarked route
Crambus agitatellus
Easy

Fishing Spur Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 62.
Easy

Fosters Pond Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
some unusual action
Easy

Gneiss Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 63.
Easy

Hazen Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 63.
Easy

Hazen Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Old Man McMullen Pond in Great Mountain Forest.
Easy

High Pocket Swamp Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Waymarked route
Station platform in Redding CT
Easy

Jamice's Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
A green plastic blaze marker along the Litchfield Community Greenway, a rail trail along the former Shepaug Railroad right of way. This one was next to West Cemetery, just southwest of the intersection of White Woods Road, South Lake Street
Easy

Little Pond Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waymarked route
Rowdy at Angel's Peak
Easy

Mead School Trail

Connecticut · United States

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

North Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Depot Washington, CT, by Landon, S. C. (Seth C.)
Easy

Northern Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Waymarked route
Целостное видение, представление о совершенстве
Easy

Old Field

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority's Lake Watrous reservoir reflecting West Rock Ridge shrouded in early morning mist. The dam and control building are on the far right.
Easy

Old Field Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
The Whitman House, 208 N. Main St., a Registered Historic Place in West Hartford, Connecticut
Easy

Orange Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Easy

Orange Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Rock cairns just of the Metacomet Trail in Penwood State Park
Easy

Orange Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
Jared Eliot House , Guilford, Connecticut.
Easy

Paul Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waymarked route
en:Bishop's Orchards
Easy

Red Rectangle

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
10 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
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
Raptor Woods TrailConnecticut1.7 km36 m24 minEasyApril to October
Valley Overlook TrailConnecticut1.8 km16 m24 minEasyApril to October
Blue TrailConnecticut3.5 km24 m45 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Little Falls Trail, Falls 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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