In 1929, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association established the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System to better connect people to the land.

The trails have grown over time to include roughly 825 miles of public hiking footpaths across the State of Connecticut. The trails are maintained by dedicated volunteer maintainers and provide the hiking public with an outdoor experience of peace and respite. CFPA maintains these trails to keep them safe for hiking and to ensure that any environmental impact is minimal.

The trail system enjoys wide recognition and use throughout the State. The public has recognized the importance of these Trails as hiking trails, as Section 23-10a of the Connecticut Statutes states, “Those portions of the Connecticut blue-blazed trail system which cross state property are hereby designated as state hiking trails.”

Also, in 2001 the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System was designated an official state “greenway” by the Governor and the Connecticut Greenways Council. As a result of the Greenway designation, the Trail System has been included in the State Plan of Conservation and Development.

Land Acknowledgment

Trails in the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System

Alain and May White Nature Trails

4 miles

American Legion and Peoples State Forest Trails

14 miles

Appalachian Trail

56.6 miles

Aspetuck Trail

6.8 miles

Bigelow Hollow State Park Trails

20 miles

Case Mountain Trails

10 miles

Chatfield Trail

4.5 miles

Cockaponset Trail

7.4 miles

Falls Brook Trail

1.5 miles

Field Forest Trails

2.2 miles

Finch Brook Trail

2.6 miles

Gay City State Park Trails

9.2 miles

Goodwin State Forest Trails

5.1 miles

Hancock Brook Trail

2.6 miles

Hibbard Trail

1.5 miles

Highlawn Forest Trails

3.5 miles

Housatonic Range Trail

6.2 miles

Jericho Trail

3.1 miles

John Muir Trail

2.1 miles

Kettletown State Park Trails

6 miles

Lillinonah Trail

6.2 miles

Macedonia Brook State Park Trails

11.5 miles

Mattabesett Trail

65 miles

Mattatuck Trail

42 miles

McLean Game Refuge Trails

17.5 miles

Menunkatuck Trail

16.7 miles

Metacomet Trail

62 miles

Mohawk Trail

24.3 miles

Narragansett Trail

16.3 miles

Natchaug Trail

17.6 miles

Naugatuck Trail

5.4 miles

Nayantaquit Trail

4.6 miles

Nehantic Trail

12.6 miles

New England Trail

220 miles

Nipmuck Trail

40 miles

Old Furnace Trail

2.2 miles

Pachaug Trail

24.4 miles

Paugussett Trail

14 miles

Pequot Trail

8 miles

Pine Knob Loop Trail

2.5 miles

Pomperaug Trail

4.6 miles

Quinebaug Trail

6.5 miles

Quinnipiac Trail

21 miles

Regicides Trail

7.3 miles

Risley Pond Loop Trail

2.4 miles

Salmon River Trail

4.5 miles

Saugatuck Trail

11.8 miles

Scovill Loop Trails

1.6 miles

Shenipsit Trail

50 miles

Sleeping Giant State Park Trails

27+ miles

Stony Creek Trails

9.9 miles

Sunny Valley Preserve Trails

13.7 miles

Tunxis Trail

38.5 miles

Wabbaquasset Trail

1.4 miles

Walcott Trail

2.5 miles

Whitestone Cliffs Trail

1.3 miles

Zoar Trail

6.5 miles