Length:                Windsor Locks Canal Towpath; 4.7 miles

                               Enfield Trail Extension; 0.7 miles

                               Enfield Bike Path; 2 mile Loop (2.9 mile Loop including Barns Boat Launch Loop & Park Loop Trail)

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat paved surface. Paved surface is in rough shape from tree root issues, especially the Northern Section.

                               Enfield Trail Extension; Easy. Slight hill along a paved trail.

                               Enfield Bike Path; Easy. On-road and paved path relatively flat.

To start from the Canal Road parking lot [Northern End]; Take exit 47W off of I-91 and follow Route 190 west over the Connecticut River. Turn left onto Route 159 south. Take the first left onto Canal Rd and follow to the parking lot.  

To start from the Montgomery Mill Apartments & Trail parking lot [Southern End]; Take exit 45 off of I-91 and go west on Route 140. Just after you cross over the Connecticut River will be the Montgomery Mill Apartments on your right. Follow the apartment road around the building and follow to the far parking lot.

Starting from Route 140 in Windsor Locks [Southern End]; Across Route 140 the Windsor Locks Canal travels South, between Main St and Canal Bank Rd, but is not accessible. It then enters the Connecticut River just before the I-91 bridge. Spot a red barn, across the Canal from S Main St, that says "The Windsor Locks Canal Co".

Note; A pedestrian bridge (under construction, as of June 2026) crosses the Canal to Main St. Right leads to the Windsor Locks Station, which is an Amtrak and CT Rail train station on the New Haven–Springfield Line. See; Amtrak . Scheduled to open in 2027.

Note; Wooden sign posts (numbered 1 through 15) are located along the trail and outline the history, purpose, and construction of the 170-year-old Canal, with Sign 1starting at the Suffield end [Northern End] and Sign 15 concluding at the Windsor Locks end [Southern End]. A pamphlet should be available at each end of the trail, with a future QR Code coming to each post.

The trail follows a paved road past the front of the cement & brick Montgomery Mill Apartments, which used to house the "Montgomery Co. Est. 1871 Decorative and Electrical Tinsels" mill buildings, alongside the Canal. The J. R. Montgomery Company, which was founded in 1871, built this site in 1881. It was once the country's largest manufacturer of Christmas tinsels, in addition to weaving cotton warps and yarns. Travel North, along the Eastern Side of the Windsor Locks Canal; Lower Basin. Old turntable in the Canal. Pass by the parking lots, followed by a picnic area w/Porto-Potty and Canal history informational signs. This brings you to the official start of the paved Windsor Locks Canal Towpath at 0.3 miles. Mile Markers painted on the trail. 0 Mile Marker starts here heading North. The Connecticut River parallels the Canal along your right. This section is more open to views of the Canal. Come to the Windsor Locks Canal; Upper Basin at 0.7 miles. Eagle nesting sites along your right. Travel underneath a railroad trestle, that crosses over the Connecticut River, at 1.2 miles before entering Suffield. We had two Amtrak trains pass through on our journey. Past here, more trees and shrubs alongside the Canal. A steep drop off along both sides of the trail will take you into either the Canal or the riverbank so watch the young ones closely. At 2.2 miles you’ll cross the Stony Brook Aqueduct, where the Canal is diverted over Stony Brook. Continuing along the trail the Connecticut River splits at Kings Island which you'll follow for a bit. Come to the Canal Headworks at 4.5 miles. If you look out towards the river, you can see where it was dammed long ago to divert the water into the Canal. Travel over the Lock and gates, where the water enters the Canal from the Connecticut River and the trail takes you up to the Canal Road parking lot in Suffield after 4.7 miles. Maps, BIKE STATION, picnic tables and Porto-Potty's. 0 Mile Marker starts here heading South. 

[Continuing Mileage] The paved Enfield Trail Extension continues North, past the parking lot, above the river and underneath the Route 190 Bridge where it turns left, West. This brings you to an intersection alongside Route 190 at 4.9 miles.

Note; Heading right, West, up a slight hill brings you out to the intersection of Routes 190 & 159 in Suffield after 0.4 miles.

Heading left, East, takes you across the Connecticut River, with nice unobstructed views and then over some active RR tracks. You head away from Route 190 up a slight hill to *Pearl Street in Enfield and across from the Public Library at 5.4 miles.

Note; You can connect to the Enfield Bike Path from here.

Head left, North, on-road along Pearl St. [Re-zeroing Mileage] Future plans call for the creation of a BIKE LANE. This takes you into the Thompsonville Section of Enfield. Come to Main & N Main Streets after 0.5 miles, where you'll pick up the paved Enfield Bike Path.

Note; Future plans call for a BIKE LANE left, West, along Main St, leading to the Barns Boat Launch and Overlook of the Connecticut River. You can check it out by traveling left, on-road down Main St and underneath the RR tracks. Then turn left, across a bridge closed to traffic to the Boat Launch. You may then Loop back by traveling underneath the Asnuntuck St RR Bridge back up to Pearl St for an 0.6 mile Loop.

The Enfield Bike Path travels East, alongside Freshwater Pond and N Main St, starting next to the Enfield Dam. A pedestrian path follows alongside, leading to an overlook and fishing pier. Pass a **Pedestrian bridge on your right, that crosses Freshwater Brook to another paved path. Continue straight, along the Eastern Side of Freshwater Brook and N Main St, through a wooded corridor. As the trail turns South, pass by a short set of stairs up to a crosswalk over N Main St at 0.8 miles.

Note; You can access a short Park Loop Trail from here. Cross N Main St and follow the town access road to a playground. Here, a wide, paved Park Loop Trail travels around an open field, pavilion and playground. Exercise stations along the route and Porto-Potty's. Return to the Enfield Bike Path after a 0.3 mile Loop.

Come to Enfield St at 1 mile. To your left is the Enfield Town Green. Travel right, South, on-road (narrow shoulder/sidewalk available) a short distance to High St. Head right, along High St to pick up the paved trail again. The trail now heads North, Looping back along the Western Side of the brook and bringing you back to the **Pedestrian bridge and Freshwater Pond. Continue straight, South, along the opposite side of the pond, out to Central St. Turn right, West, to complete your Loop back to Pearl St at 1.6 miles. Head left, South, to return to the Route 190 Bridge & *Pearl Street after a 2 mile Loop [2.3 miles w/Park Loop Trail].