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Family-Friendly Hikes near West Torrington

93 routes near West Torrington qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 1.3 km, with the longest running to 4.5 km.

That is 51 percent of the 183 routes we map near West Torrington. They are shorter than the local average, 1.3 km against 3.9 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 24 m (79 ft) against 108 m (354 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

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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 38.
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
9 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
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
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
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
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
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
Rock cairns just of the Metacomet Trail in Penwood State Park
Easy

Red Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Easy

Red Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Waymarked route
Abandoned manure spreader (trailer), McLean Game Refuge , Eastern Region, Connecticut, USA.
Easy

Sandy Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Waymarked route
Abbott on set.
Easy

Swamp White Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Easy

Teal Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
12 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

Van Ingen Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Samuel Hayes II House , Granby, Connecticut.
Easy

Werbitzkas Loop Trail

Connecticut · United States

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

White Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Sunshine Market, West Avon Connecticut
Easy

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Rock cairns just of the Metacomet Trail in Penwood State Park
Easy

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Waymarked route
Clarence A. Bingham School , Bristol, Connecticut.
Easy

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Farmington Rail Trail at CT 20 in East Granby, Connecticut.
Easy

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Housatonic Range Blue-Blazed Trail. Blue-Blazed CFPA linear foot path from Candlewood Mountain in New Milford and to Gaylordsville Cemetary in Gaylordsville. Housatonic Range CFPA Blue-Blazed Trail in New Milford. Housatonic Range Trail (AK
Easy

Kelly Slide Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
Litchfield–South Roads Historic District , Harwinton, Connecticut.
Easy

Dim Red

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Litchfield–South Roads Historic District , Harwinton, Connecticut.
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Litchfield–South Roads Historic District , Harwinton, Connecticut.
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
67 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Waymarked route
Gallery on the Green, Canton Connecticut
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Farmington Canal Trail W, Farmington Connecticut
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Waymarked route
Clarence A. Bingham School , Bristol, Connecticut.
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Benomi Case House , Windsor, Connecticut.
Easy

Rainbow Reservoir Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Waymarked route
Litchfield–South Roads Historic District , Harwinton, Connecticut.
Easy

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Abandoned manure spreader (trailer), McLean Game Refuge , Eastern Region, Connecticut, USA.
Easy

Meadow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Post office, West Granby Connecticut
Easy

Brook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
8 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Farmington Canal Trail W, Farmington Connecticut
Easy

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Waymarked route
Samuel Hayes II House , Granby, Connecticut.
Easy

Boundary Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 44.
Easy

Brookside Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Waymarked route
The beginning of the trail to Heublein Tower in Talcott Mountain State Park in Connecticut, on a busy October Sunday afternoon.
Easy

Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
7 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
Branch Brook TrailConnecticut1.3 km6 m16 minEasyApril to October
Valley Overlook TrailConnecticut1.8 km16 m24 minEasyApril to October
Sam Yankee TrailConnecticut1.7 km62 m26 minEasyApril to October
Shinar TrailConnecticut1.5 km14 m20 minEasyApril to October
Yellow TrailConnecticut1.0 km106 m22 minEasyApril to October
Yellow TrailConnecticut3.7 km141 m59 minEasyApril to October
Black TrailConnecticut1.3 km15 m18 minEasyApril to October
Blue TrailConnecticut0.8 kmflat10 minEasyApril to October
Brinsmade LoopConnecticut1.3 km34 m19 minEasyApril to October
East Slope TrailConnecticut0.4 kmflat6 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Branch Brook Trail, Valley Overlook Trail, Orange Trail. 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

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