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Charter Oak Greenway

The Charter Oak Greenway is a shared-use urban trail connecting Hartford to Bolton Notch State Park, as well as to the Hop River State Park Trail and the Air Line State Park Trail. It is a part of the East Coast Greenway, from Maine to Florida.
Trail Activity
Accessible Experience Walking Bicycling
Length
12.7 miles, One Way
Difficulty
Easy
Towns
Bolton, Manchester, East Hartford
Surface
Paved/Cement
Pets
Permitted on leash
Fees
No

Description

The Charter Oak Greenway is named after Connecticut's state tree, the Charter Oak. The section passing through Manchester was part of an interstate highway planned in the 1970's. Thanks to local advocacy, creative thinking and Department of Transportation (DOT) cooperation, the recreational areas, trails, and woodlands within the highway cloverleaf and right-of-way could be preserved. It took about 25 years from concept to construction of the Manchester - East Hartford section, and the connection to the Hop River State Park Trail was completed in 2018.

Most of the Charter Oak Greenway consists of paved paths away from motorized traffic; some sections are along minor roads (e.g. crossing I-384 on Bidwell Street bridge). There are many other parks including playscapes, picnic areas etc. as well as restaurants and port-a-pots along the trail when you need a break on your adventure.

There is a stretch of trail from the entrance to Manchester Community College on Bidwell to the trail entrance just east of 672 Hartford Road which is still sharing the road with motorized vehicles. At this time, the route can be traveled by using a sidewalk for pedestrians and on-street by cyclists. A project is underway to complete this gap.

Other Information

Visit the Charter Oak Greenway and Hop River State Park Trail pdf brochure and map for more information. 

Trail Manager

CT Department of Transportation maintains the trail from 
     - East Hartford/ Manchester town line to Bidwell Street (including the Manchester Community College campus) and
     - Keeney Street to South Main Street. 

The Town of Manchester maintains the trail from 
    - Bidwell Street to Keeney Street and 
    - South Main Street to the Bolton/Manchester town line. 

Please contact the correct organization depending on the section of trail. 

Town of Manchester, Public Works
Town of Manchester, Public Works
321 Olcott Street
Manchester, CT 06040
860-647-3067
View website
CT DOT - Complete Streets - Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
CT DOT - Complete Streets - Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
View website

Trail Tips

Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Be aware of and limit the noise you and your group generate. Enjoy the sounds of nature.
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Trailhead Information

Accessible Parking is available at Veterans Clubhouse, the Commuter Parking Lot, Charter Oak Park, and the Bolton Park & Ride.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
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