Length:                        Quinnipiac River Gorge Trail; 1.3 miles

                                      Hanover Pond Linear Trail; 1.1 miles                                  

Difficulty:                    Easy. Flat, paved surface.

Directions:  

From the junction of Routes 70 & 71 in Meriden, take Route 70 west for 1.6 miles to the junction of Oregon Road. Spot the old "Red Bridge". There is parking area located just off Route 70 next to this bridge, as well as, more parking just up Oregon Rd, next to Hanover Pond. You may also start from the Finch Ave parking lot by continuing along Route 70 (River Rd) and taking a right onto Norton Lane and another right onto Cheshire St. Take your next right onto Sindall Rd, which becomes Finch Ave. The parking lot is on your right just past the Meriden Waterworks Building.

The Quinnipiac River Gorge Trail & Hanover Pond Linear Trail follow the abandoned rail bed of the former Meriden & Cromwell Railroad  which operated from 1885 to 1888 until its name changed to the Meriden, Waterbury & Connecticut River Railroad, when it was extended to Waterbury. In 1892 it became the New York & New England Railroad. Water power was used to power industry along the river including the Meriden Gorge Carpenters Dam, which fed a civil war button factory. Larger dams created lakes such as Hanover Pond at the beginning of the trail. Here, you'll also find the 78 foot long "Red Bridge" as it crosses over the river. The City of Meriden reportedly built the original Red Bridge, circa 1880, as a wooden enclosure as not to “spook” the horses as they crossed the river at a cost of less than $1,000. by hiring the local poor, and one carpenter in 15 days. The bridge, named because one of its wooden predecessors was painted red, is now used exclusively for those fishing and as the pathway to the trail entrance in Lions Club Park. The Hanover Pond Linear Trail closely follows the channel of Sodom Brook from Hanover Pond to Platt High School on Coe Ave. For more information visit; MERIDEN LINEAR TRAILS .

Starting from the River Road (Route 70) parking lot; [Continuing Mileage from the Quinnipiac River Gorge Trail] The paved Hanover Pond Linear Trail [Southern End] travels East across Oregon Rd via a cross-light, then turns North alongside a double-wide sidewalk. Just before the Hanover Pond parking lot the trail becomes paved as it takes you between the parking lot and Hanover Pond to a brownstone column and Map Board at 0.2 miles. The trail travels briefly alongside the pond with a nice overlook before coming to an intersection at 0.4 miles. A dirt path to your right travels alongside the pond. Continue straight. You'll cross over Sodom Brook twice as the trail follows the power line. Pass by a parking lot for Platt High School and out to Coe Ave at 1.1 miles.