Lots of people like to spend some holiday time taking a walk in nature. Those looking to get out of town might consider one of the four state park rail trails: the Air Line, Hop River, Moosup Valley, and Larkin.
They can plan their escape with the online CT Rail Trail Explorer at ct.gov/deep/railtrailexplorer This new online feature was developed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s State Parks Trails & Greenways Program in cooperation with DOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program.
Users can plan their trip by asking to see how many miles they have to travel from a parking lot to a destination, or measure distances between parking lots or other trail features of interest. There is an option to print out a map that includes trail elevations along a selected route; photographs of sites along the trails and parking areas; links to associated state park maps and websites for more details.
These rail trails cover 88 miles and pass through the 23 towns of Andover, Bolton, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, East Hampton, Hampton, Hebron Lebanon Manchester Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam Southbury Sterling Thompson, Vernon, and Windham.
Information: 860-424-3578.