HALEY FARM STATE PARK:
BLUFF POINT STATE PARK:
G&S TROLLEY TRAIL
POQUONNOCK RIVER WALKWAY
GROTON, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: January 22, 2024
Length: Haley Farm SP to Bluff Point SP; 1.8 miles
Bluff Point SP Loop Trail; 3.7 mile Loop
G&S Trolley Trail; 1.1 miles
Poquonnock River Walkway; 0.9 miles
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. Haley Farm SP connects to Bluff Point SP. Haley Farm SP also connects to the Groton & Stonington Trolley Trail, which connects on-road to the Poquonnock River Walkway. The Groton & Stonington Trolley Trail follows the old 1904-1928 Groton & Stonington RR that traveled from the Thames River to Westerly, RI. The Poquonnock River Walkway follows the Poquonnock, a tidal river, that connects to reservoirs in Groton. Starting from Haley Farm SP and heading West you'll come to the Poquonnock River Walkway. You can follow this trail Northwest, then connect on-road, to the Poquonnock River Walkway. Heading Northwest will connect you to Bluff Point SP, which has a Loop trail. For more information visit; BLUFF POINT SP & HALEY FARM SP .
Haley Farm State Park:
Starting from the Haley Farm State Park parking lot [Eastern End]; The stone-dust 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 of the G&S Trolley Line Trail.
Note; Turning right, Northwest, takes you down the G&S Trolley Trail. See Below.
To continue towards Bluff Point SP, follow the
paved 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 trail takes a sharp right, Northwest,
at the sign for Bluff Point SP. Don't
go straight down the utility line path. Here the trail consists of hard packed
dirt and gravel. You then travel 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
come to Bluff
Point
SP.
Bluff Point State Park:
Starting from the Bluff Point State Park parking lot [Northern End]; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Porto-Potty, picnic tables and water located here. The 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 parking lot for a 3.7 mile Loop.
Poquonnock River Walkway/G&S Trolley Trail:
Starting from the Bluff Point State Park parking lot; [Re-zeroing Mileage]
Note; You may return to Haley Farm SP the way you came or choose to Loop back via the Poquonnock River Walkway/G&S Trolley Trail.
Travel, North, through the parking lot out Depot Rd (dirt and gravel which can be dusty when a car passes) crossing the RR tracks and coming to the start of the Poquonnock River Walkway on your left after 0.4 miles.
Poquonnock River Walkway:
[Re-zeroing Mileage] [Southern End] 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.
G&S Trolley Trail:
Starting from the Poquonnock River Walkway parking lot; To connect to the G&S Trolley Trail travel on-road right, South, along Depot Rd, then left, East, along Industrial Dr (low traffic). Pick up a paved trail on your left after 0.3 miles. This is the start of the Western End of the G&S Trolley Trail.
[Continuing Mileage] The wide, paved G&S Trolley Trail follows the power lines Southeast. Two steep hills and one small bridge crossing over Fort Hill Brook) before you come to the intersection for Haley Farm State Park on your left. The G&S Trolley Trail continues straight across the RR bridge where it ends at 1.4 miles.
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CLICK HERE FOR HALEY FARM SP & G&S TROLLEY LINE TRAIL MAP:
CLICK HERE FOR BLUFF POINT SP/POQUONNOCK RIVER WALKWAY/G&S TROLLEY LINE TRAIL MAP:
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT