Railroad Trail

All aboard the Moosup Valley State Park Trail, a hike with railroad history, mud and rocks.

There are 38 rail trails covering a total of 221 miles across Connecticut. The trails are a mixture of paved and blue stone gravel. A hike or bike ride along the level railroad beds is an easy and enjoyable jaunt. Not necessarily true of the Moosup Valley Trail.

History

Along the trail is this bridge which once took the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad over the Moosup River. It was built by the American Bridge Co., formed when J.P. Morgan engineered a merger of 28 bridge and structural companies.

The Trail

Much of the nearly first mile of the trail passes along a paved bed through the forest before reaching the first road crossing. On the other side of the road, the unimproved section of the old railroad bed begins. It can be muddy and uneven with damage done by all-terrain vehicles and trail bikes. This is a rustic trail and requires a good pair of boots.

The Moosup Valley State Park Trail is an out and back path along the abandoned bed of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. The trail passes over and near historic bridges with side trails along the scenic Moosup River.

Difficulty Level: Easy along the paved and flat stretches of the trail The rock side paths to avoid the wet areas are moderately difficult.

Total Mileage: Out and back from the weestern terminus parking area in Moosup to the Rhode Island border is nearly 12 miles. The out and back distance between Main Street in Moosup and Main Street in Sterling is aboutt 6 miles. The trail conditions vary greatly over its nearly six miles. Surfaces range from frequent packed dirt with some grassy, sandy and gravelly areas.

Things to do nearby

Vanilla Bean Cafe This cafe opened in 1989 in a restored early 19th century barn. The menu includes housemade soups, sandwiches and light dinners as well as fresh baked items.

Antiquing in downtown Putnam Putnam has become an antique lovers haven. Stroll through the many antique shops and mall for your treasures.

Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm A family farm owned and operated by the Hermonot family selling pastured mean and poultry, homemade ice cream, apple cider donuts and local goods.