farmington canal state park

I have logged thousands of miles on this trail. I have been walking it for over 15 years - I love that I can just walk most of it without traffic. Overall it's lovely and of course it changes with the seasons, I have seen hawks, deer, rabbits, coyotes, turkey vultures, and even an eagle once. But I do walk in the dead of winter too. The frogs of Brooksvale Park are great they come out in the spring and "sing" I think they sound like aliens. You can walk, bike, rollerblade, run, no motorized vehicles allowed. The only "bad" thing is that recently it has had a lot of bike riders, PLEASE WARN PEOPLE YOU ARE APPROACHING - nothing worse than having a bike wizz by you less than a foot away at high speed. Well marked. Parking is spread out along the way in several lots. If you have small children there are not a lot of bathrooms - Brooksvale, West Todd street (port-a-potty) and the lock in Cheshire, these are only opened seasonally.

I try to ride my bicycle almost daily on the Canal. Most sections are very safe, it is scenic, and there are lots of deer, birds, frogs and beaver. What a stress reliever!!

Farmington Canal LineHamden, CtOne of the best natural and healthy experiences you can have in Hamden Ct is to spend some time walking, jogging or riding bikes on the Linear Trail. The living trail which starts in New Haven, Ct and currently ends in North Hampton Massachusetts bisects the town of Hamden and is approximately 84 miles long. There are eventual plans to connect this with other communities throughout the state. The trail was an old rail and canal line used for business and commerce many years ago. The northern Hamden and Cheshire sections are heavily wooded and offer all the rustic charm New England can provide. I believe this section runs approximately 12-15 miles. No glitz, no neon. These sections meander near the base of Sleeping Giant and Quinnipiac University. Free commuter lots are located along the way for parking. There are sufficient areas to leave the trail and get refreshments and rest if you desire. Spring and Fall are two of the favored times of the year.