The city of Hartford has embraced it’s frontage on the Connecticut River with miles of paths and bridges through riverside parks. For a 5.5 mile tour of these scenic paths, start at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza downtown. Head south downriver towards Charter Oak Landing. Cross over the Charter Oak Bridge to East Hartford and follow the stairs down over the Hockanum River. Continue north through Great River Park until you reach the stone Bulkeley Bridge (I-84). Turn around and return south to Founder’s Bridge, crossing back to Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. To complete the circuit, head north through the sculpture park to Riverside Park. Turn around at the boat launch and return for a total of 5.5 miles.
Add-Ons & Options. This guide to the trails from Riverfront Recapture has great trail descriptions and loop options. Also this map. There are also 4-5 miles of trails at Riverside Park.
The city of Hartford has embraced it’s frontage on the Connecticut River with miles of paths and bridges through riverside parks. For a 5.5 mile tour of these scenic paths, start at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza downtown. Head south downriver towards Charter Oak Landing. Cross over the Charter Oak Bridge to East Hartford and follow the stairs down over the Hockanum River. Continue north through Great River Park until you reach the stone Bulkeley Bridge (I-84). Turn around and return south to Founder’s Bridge, crossing back to Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. To complete the circuit, head north through the sculpture park to Riverside Park. Turn around at the boat launch and return for a total of 5.5 miles.
Add-Ons & Options. This guide to the trails from Riverfront Recapture has great trail descriptions and loop options. Also this map. There are also 4-5 miles of trails at Riverside Park.
This ~5 mile loop through downtown sidewalks covers the top sights in Hartford, including the Mark Twain house, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the Old State House, and several intriguing sculptures.
The lovely walkways encircling a carousel, lily pond, and the Connecticut State Capitol at Bushnell Park are the jewel of downtown. Our route around the perimeter is about 1.25 miles.
This gorgeous park in West Hartford is known for its elaborate rose gardens, encircled by miles of paved and gravel paths. One loop around the park’s main way is about 1.8 miles. Terrific neighborhood running on streets adjacent to park.
This 6.5 mile run combines the best of Hartford's parks and a section of our Hartford history tour. Bushnell Park, a loop around Elizabeth Park, and the important sites along Asylum Ave. & Farmington Ave., which run between the two parks.
Local runners love these paved and gravel paths around the city’s reservoir system. 3.4 loop around Reservoir 1, 3.6 mile loop around Reservoir 6, with additional trails and wooded paths.
The city of West Hartford is an up and coming suburb, known for its elegant neighborhoods and hip shopping centers. Public improvement projects have recently amped up streets, sidewalks, and lighting, making for a great commercial/residential runs.
Good opportunity for a long off-road run east of Hartford. The dirt/gravel path follows an old rail line through Vernon, Bolton, Coventry, Andover, and Columbia. Mainly wooded. Seamless and well-marked.
Run a section of the 60+ mile Metacomet Trail in Penwood State Park. This hilly but scenic 6 mile out and back includes views of a lake and a vista from a traprock ledge.
A beautiful run in the state's largest historic district, spanning 2 sq mi and 1,100 buildings dating back to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Old Wethersfield is 5 miles south of Hartford. Create your own route or use our 4.3 mile mapped run.
Scenic, paved multi-use trail follows a historic canal towpath for 4.5 miles between Windsor Locks and Suffield. The path runs along a thin strip of land between the old canal and the Connecticut River. Great water views. NOTE: Closed Nov.15-March 31.
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