Tunxis Trail

Tunxis Trail
Cussgutter Brook in Winter - Tunxis Compounce Cascade Side Trail
Length79 mi (127 km)
LocationHartford / New Haven counties, Connecticut, USA
DesignationCFPA Blue-Blazed Tunxis Trail System
Usehiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, other
Highest pointPine Mountain, 1,378 ft (420 m)
Lowest pointFarmington River, 150 ft (46 m)
Difficultyeasy, with difficult sections
Seasoneasiest spring to fall
Hazardshunters, deer ticks, poison ivy

The Tunxis Trail is a 79-mile (127 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail "system" that traverses the western ridge of the central Connecticut Valley. The mainline (official "Blue" and "non-dot") trail is not completely contiguous, notably there are two gaps of several miles (between the Southington and Burlington sections and between the Burlington section and the Nepaug section).

The Tunxis Trail is composed of eighteen (18) trails of which one is the primarily North-to-South mainline trail plus a number of shorter side trails. Despite being easily accessible and close to large population centers, the trail is considered[weasel words] to be rugged and scenic.

Its features include the Lake Compounce Amusement Park (and its "non-ski lift"), "Tory Den", the "Mile of Ledges", colonial era cemeteries, several caves (including the "Indian Council Caves"), waterfalls, cliff faces, woodlands, swamps, lakes, river flood plains, farmland, historic sites, and the summits of Pine Mountain and Southington Mountain.[1] The Tunxis Trail, maintained largely through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

The Tunxis Trail system, at approximately 79 miles in length, is the longest of the Blue-Blazed Trails maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

Because the trail runs parallel to the Metacomet Trail there are several views from the Tunxis Trail of Metacomet Ridge features to the east.

  1. ^ Connecticut Walk Book: A Trail Guide to the Connecticut Outdoors. 17th Edition. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Rockfall, Connecticut. Undated.