Length:             Hop River Rail Trail; 20.6 miles

Difficulty:         From Manchester to Coventry; Easy. Flat rail trail with a stone-dust surface.

                            Willimantic section; Easy. Flat paved trail.

To start from the Colonial Road parking lot in Manchester [Western End]; From I-84 take exit 63 to Route 30. Head east to Route 83 (Oakland St) and head right. Turn left on Sheldon Rd into the industrial park. Turn right on Colonial Rd and the parking lot will be immediately on your left.

To start from the Church Street parking lot in Vernon [Western Section]; Take exit 65 off of I-84 in Vernon to Route 30. From the westbound exit take Route 30 west and from the eastbound exit take Route 30 east. Cross over the interstate via the Dobson Bridge which turns into Washington Street. Immediately after crossing the bike path, turn left onto Church Street. The parking lot will be a little ways down on your left.

To start from the Bolton Notch parking Lot in Bolton [Center Section]; There is a parking lot located off of I-384 westbound only. It's tricky to reach though. From Routes 6 & 44 in Bolton Notch, enter I-384 westbound. Just past the "Middle Turnpike" highway sign, look for a brown "Boat Launch" sign on the right. Take this sharp right turn off the highway down a narrow road. This brings you to the parking lot that is located next to the trail as it passes underneath I-384. 

River State Park Trail, Airline State Park Trail; South & Airline State Park Trail; North.

Note; Heading Northeast; Is the start of the paved Airline State Park Trail; North .

Note; Heading Southwest; Is the start of the stone-dust Airline State Park Trail; South .

Heading Northwest; The paved Hop River State Park Trail follows the old rail bed. 0 Mile Marker begins here. Mile Markers are located every mile along the trail, as well as, road name signs at every crossing and town border signs. Numerous informational signs are located along the trail. The trail follows the Willimantic River and travels underneath Route 66, up to the Route 66 parking lot. Map Board. You cross a bridge over the river into Columbia, at 0.7 miles, where the trail reverts to hard packed dirt & grass, as of 2025. You follow the old rail bed, paralleling Route 66 and passing by an old iron RR Rail Holders on your left. + See; RR Rail Holders Below. Come to a narrow tunnel underneath Flanders Rd at 1 mile.

Note; Plans are underway to widen the old tunnel under Flanders River Rd and continue along the old rail bed to connect to a planned replacement bridge over the Hop River. Construction was scheduled for 2025, but no progress as of October.

Detour; Head right, along the dirt path that will take you up to Flanders Rd. Continue right, on-road (low traffic) and take your first left on Kings Rd (low traffic) returning to the rail bed at 1.6 miles [+0.1 miles w/detour] in Coventry. 

Continuing along the stone-dust trail [1.5 miles] you pass through a long rock cut, before traveling underneath 2 sets of transmission lines, with the Hop River below and the Route 6 expressway at 2.3 miles. Next travel underneath Pucker St and follow the Hop River, before crossing Hop River Rd at 4.2 miles. 

Note; If you take a short detour left, up Hop River Rd it will bring you to a bridge over the river. Small dam where the river was diverted for an old mill (stone foundations). Spot the old Power Canal as it traveled under the road, then back to the river.

Hop River Road parking lot and Map Board located here. Next you'll cross an old RR bridge back into Columbia. This next section is very scenic, with a pond on your left and the Hop River on your right. Cross Parker Bridge Rd into Andover at 4.5 miles. Pass by an old cement RR Whistle Post on your left, + See; RR Whistle Post Below. Travel along a berm and head through a tunnel underneath Route 6, before crossing a bridge over a brook and coming to Lake Road at 6.9 miles. Parking lot. Cross a bridge over Merritt Valley Rd and travel through a rock cut, passing behind the old Andover Town Hall, which is now the Andover Historical Society. Next, cross a covered bridge over Route 316 in Andover Center. This bridge was installed to replace the original RR bridge that was removed many moons ago. Cross Staddle Brook and you'll come to the Center Street parking lot just shy of 8 miles. This was the site of old Andover RR Depot & Yard. Map Board, BIKE STATION, picnic table and information sign located here. Cross Shoddy Mill Rd and Wales Rd before coming to Burnap Brook Road at 9.4 miles. Parking area.

Note; Here, you can take a quick side trip down to Burnap Brook. A beautiful brook, flowing through a scenic gorge, which then flows through an old stone tunnel underneath the rail trail. Just take the trail next to the parking area. 

Cross a road through the Andover Sportsman's Club, so don't be alarmed if you hear gunshots coming from the woods. After passing by a bench, look left for a single old iron RR Rail Holder. Next you'll pass by Mile Marker 10, before crossing a small bridge over a brook. Travel through a rock cut, passing by an old cement RR Whistle Post and briefly pass through Bolton, before crossing Bailey Rd at 10.6 miles. Cross back into Bolton, and past a bench on your right. Look left to spot 2 old iron RR Rail Holders with a tree between them. You then pass through a massive rock cut before passing by Mile Marker 11 and traveling along a high berm with steep drop offs. You'll cross Steel Crossing Road at about 11.8 miles, where you'll find another parking lot and Map Board. The trail now travels through a forested corridor along a berm with lots of brooks passing underneath. Very scenic. Pass by Mile Marker 13 and you'll travel through a long rock cut. Spot the old stone bridge abutments as you enter the cut. Very scenic during the winter months, with icicles hanging down. Travel underneath Notch Rd and pass through a long tunnel underneath I-384. 

Note; The tunnel is closed, as of November 2025, so that lights can be installed. It is expected to re-open in November.

This brings you to the Bolton Notch parking lot at 13.7 miles. Informational signboards, Map Board, Porto-Potty and BIKE STATION. This was the location of the old Bolton RR Station.  

Note; You can connect to the Charter Oak Greenway from this parking area. Head up the entrance road, where you'll pick up the paved Charter Oak Greenway as it travels West, alongside Bolton Notch Pond and out to the Route 44 Commuter Lot off of Route 44. 

Travel North, through a long deep rock cut (check this out in the winter when it's full of huge icicles). You cross a  wooden footbridge over Railroad Brook, which flows just below the trail to your right. Signboards describe the brook restoration project that took place here. You pass the Vernon town line at 14.8 miles. You’ll discover some old railroad ties still lined up on your right, from an old RR Siding. This was the site of the RR Clubhouse Siding. You travel alongside a ridgeline with steep drops along your right. You'll come to the first of two stone culverts, that travel underneath the trail. In the springtime, the streams are quite a site as they run down from the hill above. Continuing along the trail you'll pass an old cement RR Mileage Marker once used by the railroad. These old  RR Mileage Markers were located every mile along the railroad. At 16.2 miles, you'll encounter a bike rack and trail markers.  

Note; This is part of Valley Falls Park. The trail on your right originates from the park, crosses the rail trail and heads left up the hill through a grove of Mountain Laurel to a scenic overlook. Nice side hike. If you head right down this trail just a short ways you'll come to a scenic overlook of the pond at Valley Falls, along with some benches. See; VALLEY FALLS PARK  for more information.

The trail turns West and you'll cross over Tunnel Rd at 17.3 miles which, as you can see, passes through a narrow stone tunnel below the trail. Follow a high berm, with steep drops on either side. Imagine the labor that went into building this for the railroad, so as to keep the grade fairly level. You cross Phoenix St at 18.1 miles. 

Note; This is where the Rockville Spur Trail turns right, down to Warren Ave. See; Rockville Spur Trail .

Continuing along both the Hop River State Park Trail & Rockville Spur Trail, you'll come to the Church Street parking lot at 18.2 miles. This was the site of the old Hartford, Providence & Fishkill RR Vernon Depot. Picnic tables, Map Board, Porto-Potty, picnic table, BIKE STATION and a pavilion are all located here, along with the old stone block remains of the old RR Roundhouse. + See; RR Roundhouse Below. If you head down to the old RR Roundhouse and look right, East, you can still spot the old Rockville Railroad rail bed. See; VERNON DEPOT MAP . 

Note; This is also the start of the Rockville Spur Trail, where the 0 Mile Post originates from. Wooden Mile Markers every 0.25 miles. The Rockville Spur Trail utilizes a short section of the Hop River State Park Trail, as the old rail bed is inaccessible. 

As you continue along the old rail bed, along your right is the location of the old RR Yard and includes multiple informational signs. Here, the double track from East Hartford expanded into four tracks. Come to an old RR Switch on your right. + See; RR Switch Below. This was where all the RR tracks led to the old RR Roundhouse. Cross Dobson Rd and along a high berm. The Tankerhoosen River travels underneath this berm. Pass by an informational sign about the old Dobson Mill.

Note; A dirt path on your right leads down to the Tankerhoosen River, past old mill remnants, including an old Power Canal. A dam (Dobsonville Pond) creates a scenic waterfall through a gorge here. For history visit; MILLS on the TANKERHOOSEN RIVER .

The trail turns Southwest, as you travel through several rock cuts before crossing Elm Hill Rd at 19.2 miles. This was the site of the old Talcottville Depot Station. The trail now follows a residential corridor, crossing Taylor St, before you cross the town line into Manchester. The trail opens up along an industrial corridor and you can still spot some old RR tracks along your right, before coming to the Colonial Road parking lot in Manchester after 20.6 miles. Map Board and Porto-Potty located here.

Note; Construction is planned to begin Spring 2026 and will extend the trail Southwest, to the Cheney Rail Trail in Manchester and consist of stone-dust. A pedestrian bridge will be built to cross Lydall Brook & about 10 parking spaces will be created on Old North Main St (behind the library). See; Map Below.

To connect on-road, head right, out to Sheldon Rd, then head left on-road (Not recommended for kids on bikes). Cross Route 83 and continue straight on N School St (low traffic). Cross Route 83 again to Main St, cross the RR tracks and the stone-dust Cheney Rail Trail begins on your right, next to Farrs Sporting Goods after 1.3 miles.

Old Railroad Equipment:

+ RR Whistle Post:
The Whistle Post, was a post with a large "W" engraved or painted on it. This meant the railroad engineers were to start sounding the trains Whistle. The Whistle posts were usually placed 0.25 miles in advance of a road crossing, bridges, tunnels and other points. Usually, there would be a post placed on both sides of the crossing, covering both directions.

+ RR Rail Holders:
RR Rail Holders were used to store extra railroad track alongside the train tracks. Usually made of iron or concrete, the top is shaped like a small U to keep the tracks from falling off. I assume these were used to keep the rails off the ground and quickly available if needed. Couldn't find any information on them.

+ RR Switch:
A RR Switch is a mechanical installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a junction or where a spur or siding branches off.

+ RR Roundhouse:
A RR Roundhouse is a building with a circular or semicircular shape used for servicing and storing trains. They could have only a few stalls or as many as 50. Locomotives would be serviced with the front of the locomotive pointing outward and the tender of the locomotive facing the Turntable. RR Turntables are bridges that spin and are used for turning locomotives and rolling stock.