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Loop Trails near Branford

The directory currently contains 39 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Branford. Their average mapped distance is 1.6 km and average recorded ascent is 40 m (131 ft); the longest route in the set is 10.2 km.

This subset represents 23% of the 170 quality-checked routes near Branford. Its average distance is 1.6 km, compared with 3.2 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 40 m (131 ft), versus 68 m (223 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is classified as a loop and returns to its starting area. A loop can still reuse part of the same path. Within this set, 29 routes (74%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 39 (100%) 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

0.7 km

Spencers Creek Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Blue Trail

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

Return logistics

6 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

Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
341 m
Typical duration
2 hr 38 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
105 m
Typical duration
1 hr 10 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Waymarked route
Little Free Library at St. John's Episcopal Church, North Guilford Connecticut
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
8 min
  • Alpine meadow
View from Quinnipiac River Park in Fair Haven looking northeast toward the Fair Haven Heights neighborhood with the spire of Saint James Episcopal Church on East Grand Avenue visible.
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • River
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
151 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
View from scenic overloop of the Housatonic River's Lake Zoar (along the Miller Trail in Kettletown State Park).
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
117 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Five Mile Point Light , located in New Haven, Connecticut , USA
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
27 min
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
5 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Glacier
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
28 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
Munger Brook TrailConnecticut1.3 km19 m17 minEasyApril to October
Spencers Creek TrailConnecticut0.7 km6 m9 minEasyApril to October
Zoar TrailConnecticut10.2 km341 m2 hr 38 minModerateApril to October
Mark Schaefer TrailConnecticut4.9 km105 m1 hr 10 minModerateApril to October
Yellow TrailConnecticut1.9 km97 m32 minModerateApril to October
Blue TrailConnecticut0.8 km0 m10 minEasyApril to October
Eric L. Stone TrailConnecticut3.8 km25 m50 minEasyApril to October
North LoopConnecticut0.7 km12 m10 minEasyApril to October
Orange TrailConnecticut0.8 km14 m12 minEasyApril to October
Redwing Pond TrailConnecticut0.7 km8 m10 minEasyApril to October

Munger Brook Trail, Spencers Creek Trail, Self-Guided 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

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