Woodbridge’s 13-mile Greenway was initially described in the Woodbridge 2000 Open Space Plan. The Conservation Commission has worked together with many agencies to secure any missing links through the purchase or donation of conservation easements, development rights, or fee simple interests. Most of the Greenway follows the native American Naugatuck trail, more specifically the east branch (coming from West Rock Ridge) and the south branch, which meet in the Bladen's Brook/ Russel Swamp junction near Sanford Road. Artifacts of Woodbridge’s early history (mills, house foundations etc.) can also be found along the Greenway.
This Greenway is remarkable not only for its length and variety, but also because it serves as the central linkage in a regional greenway system connecting New Haven, Hamden, Bethany, Seymour, Ansonia, and Derby.
The Woodbridge Greenway can best be hiked counterclockwise, starting at Bishop Estate East and Darling House Trails, and heading west on the Bishop Estate West Trails towards Dillon Road. The next section, from Dillon Road to Amity Road, can either be hiked through Regional Water Authority (RWA) land (permit required), or along Dillon and Sperry Roads. From Sperry Road, the trail follows the utility easement westward across Amity Road (Rt. 63).
From there, the Round Hill, Bladen's Brook, & Russell Swamp section provides nice views and then descends to Bladen's Brook and Russel Swamp, including a boardwalk through diverse wetlands of the Bladens River watershed. From here, hikers can either go north to Bethany Farms Trails, or continue south into Elderslie Preserve which includes the The Lodge tract and Milford Meadows property along with Wepawaug Falls. Next is the Alice Newton Street Memorial Park which also offers a wide variety of trails and the Greenway connects to Fitzgerald Tract, then Racebrook Estates and currently finishes at the south end of the Historic Indian Trails Park Lane Area.
Going forward, expansion of the Woodbridge Greenway will increase walkability, reducing Woodbridge’s overall environmental impact by preserving and connecting more open space.
A permit from the Regional Water Authority is required for the connection from Dillon Road to Amity Road, as this section passes through RWA land. Alternatively, hikers can use Dillon Road, Sperry Road, Cassway Road and Amity Road (Rt.63 to meet the entrance to Round Hill. Please use caution walking along Amity Road.
The Town of Woodbridge, the Woodbridge Land Trust, and the Woodbridge Park Association steward these trails. To help maintain the Woodbridge trails, sign up here.
The individual sections can be accessed as follows:
Bishop Estate East and West:
Dillon Road to Amity Road:
Round Hill, Bladen's Brook and Russel Swamp:
Elderslie Preserve:
Alice Newton-Street Memorial Park :
Fitzgerald Tract:
Racebrook Estates:
Historic Indian Trails Park Lane Area:
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