The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) runs from the coast in New Haven to the Massachusetts border. When complete, the FCHT will be 56-60 miles; currently 50.5 miles are complete. A gap exists from northern Southington through Plainville, and work is underway to close this gap. The accompanying map fills this gap with an on-road route based on the route of the East Coast Greenway.
This multi-use path runs primarily along former rail corridors and canal towpaths through urban, suburban, and rural areas. Along the way are historic buildings, restored canal locks, rail line structures, murals, and other landmarks that provide a rich cultural experience for the trail user. The East Coast Greenway (ECG) shares the same route with the FCHT for 47 miles, from the New Haven shore to Simsbury.
All completed parts are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
At the Massachusetts border the trail continues north as part of the 80+ mile New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway (NHNCG). As a convenience to trail users, the map includes 9.4 miles of the NHNCG trail in the Massachusetts towns of Southwick and Westfield.
Trail User Guidelines
Please help keep the trail safe and enjoyable for everyone. Trail regulations may vary by town. For maintenance issues, contact the appropriate town. Call 911 for emergencies.
Trail Etiquette for All Trail Users
• Keep right except when passing.
• If you stop, move off the trail.
• At road crossings, stop and obey traffic controls. Never assume motorists will stop.
• If using earbuds or headphones, keep the volume low enough to hear other trail users and your surroundings.
Cyclists
• Ride at a safe and appropriate speed for trail conditions.
• Before passing, use a bell or call out "Passing on your left".
• E-bikes: Follow Connecticut state law and local trail regulations. Where permitted, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on the trail.
Pet Walkers
• Keep dogs on a short leash and away from the middle of the trail.
• Clean up after your dog and take pet waste out with you.
Download a gpx file that is a single line of the main trail without spurs. This is created for use in mobile apps and GPS devices.
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail maintenance concerns and reports should be directed to contacts within each of the Towns along the trail which can be found on the Trail Towns page. For additional information, contact the organizations below:
There are many parking areas located along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. See the interactive Connecticut Trail Finder map or the Farmington Valley Trails Council website for additional information.
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