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Hard Hiking Trails near Norwich

The directory currently contains 6 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Norwich. Their average mapped distance is 40.9 km and average recorded ascent is 421 m (1,381 ft); the longest route in the set is 121 km.

This subset represents 4% of the 152 quality-checked routes near Norwich. Its average distance is 40.9 km, compared with 3.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 421 m (1,381 ft), versus 59 m (194 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

This set contains routes rated hard or expert from their available distance and elevation measurements. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 6 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

19.7 km

Narragansett trail (CT)

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

210 m

Nehantic Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Expert

Connecticut · United States

Distance
121 km
/ 75.4 mi
Elevation gain
674 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Log bridge, Pachaug Trail - Wiclcabouet Marsh, Voluntown, CT
Hard

Connecticut · United States

Distance
34.7 km
/ 21.6 mi
Elevation gain
433 m
Typical duration
8 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Narragansett Trail - First Baptist Church opposite Groton Sportsman Club land.
Hard

Connecticut · United States

Distance
19.7 km
/ 12.3 mi
Elevation gain
490 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Waymarked route
Natchaug Trail sign on Connecticut Route 44. Entrance to northern sections.
Hard

Connecticut · United States

Distance
27.9 km
/ 17.3 mi
Elevation gain
405 m
Typical duration
6 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Nehantic Trail - Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail.
Hard

Connecticut · United States

Distance
19.9 km
/ 12.4 mi
Elevation gain
210 m
Typical duration
4 hr 37 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Connecticut · United States

Distance
21.6 km
/ 13.5 mi
Elevation gain
316 m
Typical duration
5 hr 11 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
North South TrailConnecticut121 km674 m29 hrExpertApril to October
Pachaug TrailConnecticut34.7 km433 m8 hr 28 minHardApril to October
Narragansett trail (CT)Connecticut19.7 km490 m4 hr 59 minHardApril to October
Natchaug TrailConnecticut27.9 km405 m6 hr 48 minHardApril to October
Nehantic TrailConnecticut19.9 km210 m4 hr 37 minHardApril to October
Richard H. Goodwin TrailConnecticut21.6 km316 m5 hr 11 minHardApril to October

North South Trail, Pachaug Trail, Nehantic Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

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