Our Community » Local Attractions

Hiking & Walking

Glastonbury has an abundance of walking and hiking trails in the numerous parks and open spaces. Additionally, Gay City State Park and the Shenipsit Trail pass through portions of Glastonbury for recreational use.

Please see the table below for a full list of Town facilities that provide local hiking/walking trails, (click the site name or photo for more details and amenities), or use the web application.

To learn more about the benefits of walking, advice on how to start a walking program, and walking locations around town, click click here to access the "Glastonbury Takes a Walk for Health" brochure. (Developed by the Glastonbury Health Department.)

Walking/Hiking Trail Application - "FunFinder"

Glastonbury offers a website application, FunFinder, that allows community members to view hiking/walking trails on their PC, tablets, and smartphones. The platform includes trail facts, downloadable maps, the ability to create your own trail map or elevation profile, and a “find my location” tool to use when you’re out on a trail. Additionally, any parcels that are part of the Town's Poetry in the Parks program, or Parks Passport program, will be denoted as such. (Simply click on the parcel of interest and the program logo will appear in the pop-up information box if the parcel is part of either/both programs).

To learn more or access the web application, visit:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c73a2829c4864e5e8909488c43d072d9/

 

Hiking/Walking Trails

  • Great Pond Preserve

    GreatPond 3
    1. Address:451 Great Pond Road
      Glastonbury, CT 06033
    Amenities:
    1. Access to Woodlands
    2. Hiking / Walking Trail
    3. Natural Area
    4. Nature Preserve
    5. Scenic Views
    Categories:
    1. Hiking/Walking Trails
    2. Parks
    3. Parks and Recreation

This 70 acre preserve is owned by the Town of Glastonbury and managed in cooperation with the Great Pond Stewardship Committee. Great Pond itself is a 12 acre glacial drawdown pond, experiencing great fluctuations in water level throughout the year. The plants around the pond are specially adapted to survive conditions of total immersion and drought. The trail head begins off Great Pond road and leads to the largest Red Cedar tree in New England with a circumference of 10'. CLICK HERE to view the Great Pond Preserve Trail Map.

CLICK HERE  to download a Self Guided Tree Walk of the Great Pond Preserve recently created by Brendan O’Connor of Boy Scout Troop 540 as his Eagle Scout Project.

Directions 

Route 2 East to Exit 5. Route 2 splits here and Exit 5 is a left hand exit. You will then be on Route 17. Stay on Route 17/Main Street for approximately 5 miles. Great Pond is on your right.

Route 2 West to Exit 10. Take a left onto Manchester Road. Go to stop sign and take a right onto New London Turnpike. At the next light take a left onto Chestnut Hill Road. Follow Chestnut Hill Road until the intersection with Main Street. At that light take a left onto Main Street/Route 17. Stay on Route 17/Main Street for approximately 5 miles. Great Pond is on your right.

Click on the following link to get directions using Google Maps: Great Pond Preserve

GreatPond 1 GreatPond 3

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