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Moderate Hiking Trails near Norwich

The directory currently contains 39 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Norwich. Their average mapped distance is 4.2 km and average recorded ascent is 98 m (322 ft); the longest route in the set is 15.0 km.

This subset represents 26% of the 152 quality-checked routes near Norwich. Average recorded ascent is 98 m (322 ft), versus 59 m (194 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

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 9 (23%) 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

1.4 km

Ravine Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

41 m

Ravine Trail

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

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

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

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

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

Vista Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
157 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
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
Moderate

Joshua's Trust

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waymarked route
Narragansett Trail's Lantern Hill view of the Mashantucket Pequots Foxwoods Casino Resort. 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 nu
Moderate

Lantern Hill Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
144 m
Typical duration
40 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
Partially frozen pond along Pequot Trail.
Moderate

Pequot Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
3 hr 10 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

White Oak Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
13 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

Outer Loop Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
7.6 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Purple Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Waymarked route
Quinebaug Trail - stone foundation ruins north of Hell Hollow Pond.
Moderate

Quinebaug Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
12.6 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
210 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

White Trail

Connecticut · United States

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

Barrett Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

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

Blue Trail

Connecticut · United States

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

Ledge Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
73 m
Typical duration
47 min
Moderate

Casey's Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Waymarked route
Narragansett Trail - south end of Green Fall Pond looking north.
Moderate

Green Fall loop trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tower Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Ravine Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Norwich Westerly Railway trolley track in Preston, Connecticut. This view looks east down Poquetanuck Road (now Connecticut Route 2A). The house at right still stands.
Moderate

Poquetanuck White Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Wildwood Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
112 m
Typical duration
38 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Cockaponset Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
11.3 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
203 m
Typical duration
2 hr 39 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Friedman Forest Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
57 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Main Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
53 m
Typical duration
34 min
Large Erratic Boulder and unusual tree bough near the start of the Nayantaquit Trail loop in Nehantic State Park's western block.
Moderate

Nayantaquit Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
183 m
Typical duration
1 hr 22 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Loop Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
114 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Red Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
6.6 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
143 m
Typical duration
1 hr 35 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
1 hr 36 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Heritage Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
109 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Little Rock Nine Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Shenipsit/Gay City Connector

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Uncas Pond Connector

Connecticut · United States

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

White Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
10 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
Salmon River TrailConnecticut7.5 km136 m1 hr 45 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
Vista TrailConnecticut2.5 km157 m46 minModerateApril to October
Ravine TrailConnecticut1.4 km41 m21 minModerateApril to October
Joshua's TrustConnecticut1.4 km43 m21 minModerateApril to October
Lantern Hill TrailConnecticut2.1 km144 m40 minModerateApril to October
Moore TrailConnecticut15.0 km341 m3 hr 38 minModerateApril to October
Pequot TrailConnecticut13.8 km193 m3 hr 10 minModerateApril to October
Spring TrailConnecticut0.6 km65 m13 minModerateApril to October

Nipmuck Trail - West Branch, Salmon River Trail, Nipmuck Trail - East Branch 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 →

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