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Moderate Hiking Trails near Hartford

The directory currently contains 63 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Hartford. Their average mapped distance is 2.8 km and average recorded ascent is 96 m (315 ft); the longest route in the set is 15.0 km.

This subset represents 38% of the 168 quality-checked routes near Hartford. Its average distance is 2.8 km, compared with 7.0 km across the full local set.

Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 12 (19%) 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

1.3 km

North Summit Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

10 m

North Summit 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

Moderate

North Summit Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Whitestone Cliffs Trail. Blue-Blazed CFPA "loop" foot path in Mattatuck State Forest. Whitestone Cliffs Trail. Blue-Blazed CFPA "loop" foot path in Mattatuck State Forest. Whitestone Cliffs Trail head sign on Spruce Brook Road / Mt Tobe.
Moderate

Whitestone Cliffs Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
84 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Beacon Falls Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
153 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Lookout Mountain Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
84 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Jericho Blue-Blazed Trail. Ruins of Bridge at end of Sheffield Street, Waterbury. Trailhead for Hancock Brook Trail.
Moderate

Hancock Brook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
212 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Salmon River Trail Comstock Covered Bridge from state forest parking lot side.
Moderate

Salmon River Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
136 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • River
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bald Mountain Red Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
192 m
Typical duration
1 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Nipmuck Trail - East Branch

Connecticut · United States

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
187 m
Typical duration
2 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Nipmuck Trail - West Branch

Connecticut · United States

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
144 m
Typical duration
1 hr 57 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Regicides Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
11.0 km
/ 6.9 mi
Elevation gain
243 m
Typical duration
2 hr 40 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bald Mountain White Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
85 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Birch Mountain Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bald Mountain Green Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Vista Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
157 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
The ravine of Roaring Brook Falls.
Moderate

Roaring Brook Falls Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
115 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • River
Jericho Blue-Blazed Trail. Ferns on ledges on climb up ravine at mid-point in Jericho Trail.
Moderate

Jericho Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
312 m
Typical duration
1 hr 33 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Summit Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Ravine Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
One of many Chatfield Trail rock caves (and other rock formations) hikers can squeeze through.
Moderate

Chatfield Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
168 m
Typical duration
1 hr 41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Lake Compounce Amusement Park Non-Ski Lift High Point on Tunxis Trail in Bristol, CT.
Moderate

Compounce Connector Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
141 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Elliott Bronson Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
174 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Robet Ross Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
260 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Steep Climb Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
190 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Blue-White-Dot Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Fire Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
75 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Former Tunxis Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Highland Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Joshua's Trust

Connecticut · United States

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

Mohegan Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Moore Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
15.0 km
/ 9.3 mi
Elevation gain
341 m
Typical duration
3 hr 38 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Nature Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Old Mattabessett Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Purple Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Red Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Red Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
96 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Ski Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
140 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Spring Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Waquaheag Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
109 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

White Oak Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

White Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
76 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Witch Hazel Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

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

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
113 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
113 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
77 m
Typical duration
20 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 Summit TrailConnecticut1.3 km10 m17 minModerateApril to October
Whitestone Cliffs TrailConnecticut2.2 km84 m35 minModerateApril to October
Beacon Falls Yellow TrailConnecticut2.8 km153 m49 minModerateApril to October
Lookout Mountain TrailConnecticut1.7 km84 m29 minModerateApril to October
Hancock Brook TrailConnecticut4.2 km212 m1 hr 11 minModerateApril to October
Salmon River TrailConnecticut7.5 km136 m1 hr 45 minModerateApril to October
Bald Mountain Red TrailConnecticut4.2 km192 m1 hr 10 minModerateApril to October
Nipmuck Trail - East BranchConnecticut10.5 km187 m2 hr 28 minModerateApril to October
Nipmuck Trail - West BranchConnecticut8.3 km144 m1 hr 57 minModerateApril to October
Regicides TrailConnecticut11.0 km243 m2 hr 40 minModerateApril to October

North Summit Trail, Whitestone Cliffs Trail, Beacon Falls Yellow 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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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.

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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.

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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.

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