How many hard hikes are listed near Waterbury?

13 routes currently meet both this guide’s filter and the directory quality gate. Each submitted route has a traceable source, mapped geometry and sampled elevation data.

What is the average distance and ascent?

The average mapped distance is 47.7 km with 911 m (2,989 ft) of recorded ascent. The longest route in this set is 95.2 km.

How are the routes ordered?

Appalachian Trail currently ranks first. Ordering uses the directory score and route-data completeness; it is not a claim that editors have field-tested every route.

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

No route in this set is currently rated easy. In every category, verify surface, exposure, access and current conditions independently.

Hard Hiking Trails near Waterbury

The directory currently contains 13 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Waterbury. Their average mapped distance is 47.7 km and average recorded ascent is 911 m (2,989 ft); the longest route in the set is 95.2 km.

This subset represents 7% of the 183 quality-checked routes near Waterbury. Its average distance is 47.7 km, compared with 5.4 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 911 m (2,989 ft), versus 125 m (410 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, 13 (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

35.8 km

Mohawk Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

1,162 m

Mattatuck 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.

Expert

Appalachian Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 80.6 km
Elevation gain: 2,207 m
Typical duration: 22 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Expert

Mattabesett Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 95.2 km
Elevation gain: 1,205 m
Typical duration: 24 hr

Mountain
Forest
Waymarked route

Expert

Metacomet Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 95.1 km
Elevation gain: 1,550 m
Typical duration: 24 hr

Mountain
Forest
Waymarked route

Expert

Mattatuck Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 65.2 km
Elevation gain: 1,162 m
Typical duration: 16 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Expert

Tunxis Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 72.4 km
Elevation gain: 1,464 m
Typical duration: 19 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Expert

Mohawk Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 35.8 km
Elevation gain: 1,228 m
Typical duration: 9 hr 55 min

Mountain
Waymarked route

Hard

Paugussett Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 20.9 km
Elevation gain: 508 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 17 min

River
Forest
Waymarked route

Expert

Quinnipiac Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 31.5 km
Elevation gain: 848 m
Typical duration: 8 hr 20 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Hard

Menunkatuck Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 25.8 km
Elevation gain: 277 m
Typical duration: 6 hr 7 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Hard

Ives Trail Greenway

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 21.5 km
Elevation gain: 712 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 45 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Saugatuck Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 17.9 km
Elevation gain: 334 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 20 min

Waymarked route

Hard

The Branford Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 26.9 km
Elevation gain: 201 m
Typical duration: 6 hr 16 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Hockanum River Linear Park

Connecticut · United States

Distance: 31.2 km
Elevation gain: 146 m
Typical duration: 7 hr 12 min

River

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
Route	Distance	Ascent	Time	Difficulty	Best season
Appalachian TrailConnecticut	80.6 km	2,207 m	22 hr	Expert	April to October
Mattabesett TrailConnecticut	95.2 km	1,205 m	24 hr	Expert	April to October
Metacomet TrailConnecticut	95.1 km	1,550 m	24 hr	Expert	April to October
Mattatuck TrailConnecticut	65.2 km	1,162 m	16 hr	Expert	April to October
Tunxis TrailConnecticut	72.4 km	1,464 m	19 hr	Expert	April to October
Mohawk TrailConnecticut	35.8 km	1,228 m	9 hr 55 min	Expert	April to October
Paugussett TrailConnecticut	20.9 km	508 m	5 hr 17 min	Hard	April to October
Quinnipiac TrailConnecticut	31.5 km	848 m	8 hr 20 min	Expert	April to October
Menunkatuck TrailConnecticut	25.8 km	277 m	6 hr 7 min	Hard	April to October
Ives Trail GreenwayConnecticut	21.5 km	712 m	5 hr 45 min	Hard	April to October

Appalachian Trail, Mattabesett Trail, Metacomet 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.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

How do these routes differ?

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

Return logistics

Trails

The shortlist, side by side

Frequently asked questions

How many hard hikes are listed near Waterbury?

What is the average distance and ascent?

How are the routes ordered?

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

Plan with more confidence

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Related guides

People also search for