HALEY FARM STATE PARK TRAIL:
BLUFF POINT STATE PARK LOOP TRAIL:
G&S TROLLEY TRAIL
POQUONNOCK RIVER WALKWAY
GROTON, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 20, 2025
Length: Haley Farm SP Trail & Bluff Point State Park Connector Trail; 1.8 miles
Bluff Point SP Loop Trail; 3.7 mile Loop
G&S Trolley Trail; 1.1 miles
Poquonnock River Walkway; 0.5 miles
Combined Trails Loop Total; 7.8 mile Loop
Difficulty: Haley Farm SP Trail; Easy. Flat, stone dust surface.
Bluff Point SP Loop Trail; Moderate. First section mostly flat, hard packed dirt & gravel surface. Second section more hilly with rougher surface.
G&S Trolley Trail; Moderate. Paved with two steep hills.
Poquonnock River Walkway; Easy. Paved, boardwalk trail.
Directions:
Take exit 88 off of I-95 to Route 117 south.
To start from Haley Farm SP [Eastern End]; Turn left on Route 1 east and go 0.9 miles. Turn right onto Route 215 south and go a ½ mile. Take a right on Brook St, go a ½ mile and then turn right on Haley Farm Rd to the parking lot.
To start at Bluff Point SP [Western End]; Turn right on Route 1 west and go 0.2 miles. Then turn left onto Depot Rd and bear right after a ¼ mile, passing underneath the railroad tracks. Continue down the gravel road to the parking lot.
Connecticut's first governor, John Winthrop Jr., owned part of the Haley Farm in 1648. Over the years the land passed through various hands, including the Chester family in the 18th century, whose headstones are still on the property. When Caleb Haley owned and farmed the land in the late 19th to 20th centuries, he had a very unique hobby which can be seen throughout the park: the building of stone walls. Boulders found on the property were extracted and placed by an ox drawn stone-puller. Bluff Point was a popular vacation destination in the 1920's and 30's and even had a small amusement park along with the summer cottages. However, the Hurricane of 1938 destroyed much of the area and in 1975 it became a state park. For more information visit; BLUFF POINT SP & HALEY FARM SP .
The Haley Farm SP Trail connects West, to the Bluff Point SP Loop Trail. The Haley Farm SP Trail also connects West, to the Groton & Stonington Trolley Trail, which travels Northwest, following the old 1904-1928 Groton & Stonington RR bed that traveled from the Thames River to Westerly, RI. At its Northern End, you can connect, on-road, to the Poquonnock River Walkway, which follows the Poquonnock River, a tidal river, that connects to reservoirs in Groton.
If you would like to combine all trails into a Loop: Start from Haley Farm SP and follow the Haley Farm SP Trail West, to Bluff Point SP. Complete the Bluff Point SP Loop Trail, then exit the park by traveling on-road, North, along Depot Rd. This will bring you to the Southern End of the Poquonnock River Walkway & parking lot. Complete the Poquonnock River Walkway and return to the parking lot. You'll then travel Southeast, on-road, connecting to the Groton & Stonington Trolley Trail. You'll follow this trail Southeast, back to the Bluff Point SP Loop Trail, where you'll return to Haley Farm SP.
Haley Farm State Park Trail & Bluff Point State Park Connector Trail:
Starting from the Haley Farm State Park parking lot [Eastern End]; The stone-dust Haley Farm SP Trail starts next to the Map Board. Traveling West, you pass by a small pond and nature trail to your left. You then go alongside a massive stone wall that Caleb Haley built using a stone puller, which was drawn by oxen and could move a 3 ton boulder. Enter the shade of the woodlands. After 0.6 miles you come to the *Intersection for the G&S Trolley Line Trail.
Note; Turning right, Northwest, takes you down along the G&S Trolley Trail. See Below.
To continue towards Bluff Point SP, follow the
paved G&S Trolley Trail
left, South, over a bridge spanning the railroad tracks. This is a busy railroad
corridor and while there we saw three trains go by. After you cross over the
tracks, the G&S Trolley Trail
ends, as you takes a sharp right at the sign for Bluff Point SP. Don't
go straight down the utility line path. Here, the hard packed
dirt and gravel Bluff
Point State Park Connector Trail
travels Northwest,
alongside the railroad
tracks (coarse gravel) for a ½ mile. You pass by a side trail on your left
(leads to a Loop past Mumford Cove) before the
trail veers left, West, back towards the woods at a green gate into
Bluff Point SP.
Be sure to travel straight along the stone-dust
trail, as there are a lot of side trails along this section. After 1.8 miles you'll
come to the Bluff
Point
SP parking lot.
Bluff Point State Park Loop Trail:
Starting from the Bluff Point State Park parking lot [Northern End]; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Porto-Potty, picnic tables and water located here. The Bluff Point SP Loop Trail starts to the left of the Map Board. The wide trail is a hard packed/gravel surface that runs South, alongside the tidal Poquonnock River. You quickly come to a Y in the trail, this is where the trail Loops back to. Continue right, along the river. After 1.5 miles, you’ll pass by the beach entrance on your right. Porto-Potty on your left. The trail climbs a hill as it turns East. Pass by a small path on your right that leads to Bluff Point. Great views of Long Island Sound from this rocky bluff. After visiting the bluff, the trail turns inland and becomes narrower, rougher and hillier. The trail turns North and after 2.3 mile look left for a sign for Sunset Rock. This trail leads to a huge boulder where sunset religious services were once held. The trail continues uphill to the site of the Winthrop Home after 2.8 miles. Some of the old foundation is among an overgrown meadow. This was the former home of Connecticut's first governor, John Winthrop. Right a grass & dirt side trail leads East, down to Mumford Cove. Continue left, West, into the woods where the trail finally descends back to the main trail. Right, North, returns you to the Bluff Point State Park parking lot after 3.7 mile Loop [5.5 miles Total].
Note; To connect on-road to the Poquonnock River Walkway, exit the Bluff Point State Park parking lot and travel North, on-road along Depot Rd (dirt and gravel which can be dusty when a car passes). Cross the RR tracks and come to the Depot Road parking lot and start of the Poquonnock River Walkway on your left after 0.4 miles [5.9 miles Total].
Poquonnock River Walkway & G&S Trolley Trail:
Starting from the Depot Road parking lot [Southern End]; [Re-zeroing Mileage] The narrow, paved Poquonnock River Walkway travels West, then North, past a playground and the Poquonnock River Walkway parking lot out to a boardwalk that follows the river. Bench overlooks along the route. After 0.5 miles you pass a small gazebo and come to Route 1.
Note; Return to the Depot Road parking lot [6.9 miles Total]. To connect on-road to the G&S Trolley Trail, exit the parking lot and head right, South, along Depot Rd, then left, East, along Industrial Dr (low traffic). Pick up the paved G&S Trolley Trail on your left after 0.3 miles [6.2 miles Total].
The wide, paved G&S Trolley Trail [Re-zeroing Mileage] follows the power lines Southeast, along the old rail bed. Two steep hills and one small bridge crossing over Fort Hill Brook) before you come to the *Intersection with the Haley Farm State Park Trail on your left at 1 mile.
Note; The G&S Trolley Trail continues straight, across the RR bridge where it ends after 1.1 miles.
Note; Head left, East, along the stone-dust Haley Farm SP Trail, returning to the Haley Farm State Park parking lot after a 7.8 mile Total Loop.
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CLICK HERE FOR HALEY FARM SP TRAIL 7 G&S TROLLEY LINE TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR BLUFF POINT SP TRAIL/POQUONNOCK RIVER WALKWAY/G&S TROLLEY LINE TRAIL MAP:
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