Farmington Canal Heritage Trail

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) is a paved multi-use path going from New Haven to the Massachusetts border where it connects to the New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway, with a notable break in northern Southington and all of Plainville.

Description

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) runs from the coast in New Haven to the Massachusetts border where it continues north as part of the 80+ mile New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway (NHNCG). 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.

When complete, the FCHT will be 56-60 miles; currently 47.5 miles are complete. Gaps exist in southern New Haven and from northern Southington through Plainville. Work to close these gaps ranges from the planning stage to active construction. The accompanying map fills the gaps with on-road segments that are not part of the FCHT. The on-road segments are one of many on-road options for connecting the finished sections.

All completed parts are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. Transition areas may not be accessible, such as road crossings, parking lot access, and some short sections that don't follow the original railroad path. All of the on-road connectors pose some hazard, please use caution.

As a convenience to trail users, the map includes 9.4 miles of the NHNCG trail in the Massachusetts towns of Southwick and Westfield.

Other Information

Rules:

Ride, walk, and skate on the right of the trail and pass slowly on the left.
Before passing, call out or ring a bell to announce your intent to pass.
Please do not stop in the trail or ride, walk, or skate in such a way as to use the whole trail width.
Trail users are responsible for their own safety. Cyclists and inline skaters should always wear approved helmets and other protective equipment that could save your life. Keep your bicycle in good operating condition.
Take your own trash home or place it in an approved container.
Please help the town and volunteers who must clean up the trails.
Clean up after pets and dispose of waste in trash receptacles.
Please keep dogs closely leashed to avoid entanglement.
Motorized assistive devices and class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed. All other motorized vehicles and horses are prohibited from the trails. Special rules may apply to sections in specific towns.
The trail is open year round from sunrise to sunset except where posted.

Trail Manager

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: