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

  • Hollister Preserve & Whitehouse Family Nature Preserve

    Hollister-Whitehouse Family Nature Preserve and view of Hartford Skyline - photo by Ray Purtell
    1. Address:585 Tall Timbers Road
      Glastonbury, CT 06033
    Amenities:
    1. Access to Woodlands
    2. Fishing
    3. Hiking / Walking Trail
    4. Natural Area
    5. Nature Preserve
    6. Scenic Views
    Categories:
    1. Fishing
    2. Hiking/Walking Trails
    3. Parks
    4. Parks and Recreation

The 24 acre Hollister Preserve and 39 acre Whitehouse Family Nature Preserve combine with 11 acres of Town owned open space to create a 74 acre stretch of open space along Smith Brook that is surrounded by human habitation.

The Hollister Preserve, which is dedicated to Carl Hollister, includes a vista, affectionately known as Dorothy's Vista to honor Dorothy Waring, a life long preservationist and open space advocate, that provides beautiful views of the Hartford skyline across the valley. A second vista, known as the Whitehouse Vista, provides similarly spectacular views. The Whitehouse Family, working with the Kongscut Land Trust, is responsible for the preservation of this portion of the open space for the perpetual benefit of the community.

Access to the property is provided via a marked trail system at several points: one off of Tall Timbers Road; another at the end of Tall Timbers Drive; a third at the end of Sherwood Drive; and a fourth off Tall Timbers Road. CLICK HERE to view the Preserve Trail Map.

Special thanks to Dorothy and Donna Waring, the Hollister Family, and the Kongscut Land Trust for their efforts to preserve this beautiful open space for generations to come. 

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

Return to full list >>