SOUTH MEADOWS RIVER TRAIL:
EAST HARTFORD-GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT
PUTNAM BRIDGE BIKE PATH:
GLASTONBURY-WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: May 04, 2024
Length: South Meadows River Trail; 1.7 miles
Putnam Bridge Path; 1.4 miles
Difficulty: South Meadows River Trail; Easy. Flat paved trail.
Putnam Bridge Path; Easy. Paved trail with a slight grade each way.
Directions:
To Start from the Goodwin College parking pavilion in East Hartford for the South Meadows River Trail [Northern End]; From I-84 take exit 55 to Route 2 south. Take exit 5A to High St and turn right. Travel 0.3 miles and turn right on South Meadows Lane. If the gate is open it will bring you to the parking pavilion next to the Connecticut River. If the gate is closed park in the spots at the start of South Meadows Lane and follow the gravel road 0.3 miles down to the pavilion and start of the trail.
To Start from the Naubuc Ave parking lot in Glastonbury for the Putnam Bridge Bike Path [Eastern End];
From Route 3 Eastbound, take the Main St exit to Glastonbury Blvd and turn right to Naubuc Ave. Turn right and just before an underpass, the parking lot will be on your right.
From Route 3 Westbound, take the Main St exit to Putnam Blvd and turn left to Naubuc Ave. Turn left and travel underneath Route 3. The parking lot will be on your immediate left.
To Start from the Great Meadows Road parking lot in Wethersfield for the Putnam Bridge Bike Path [Western End];
From I-91 Northbound, take exit 26 to Great Meadows Rd. Parking lot straight ahead.
From I-91 Southbound, take exit 26 and turn left to Great Meadows Rd. Turn right. Parking lot will be on your left underneath the bridge.
The South Meadows River Trail follows the Eastern Bank of the Connecticut River from East Hartford, through a slice of Wethersfield, to Glastonbury. Currently the trail begins at Goodwin College's Field Lab in the South Meadows and travels South to the Putnam Bridge in Glastonbury. A Spur Trail here takes you up to the Putnam Bridge Bike Path, which travels Northeast, from Wethersfield, across the Connecticut River to Glastonbury.
South Meadows River Trail:
Starting from Goodwin Colleges parking pavilion [Northern End]; Map Board and Porto-Potty located here. Caution trail floods during the Spring.
Note; Heading North (Right) the paved South Meadows River Trail only travels 0.1 miles before ending. Plans are for the trail to be extended north to Goodwin College's existing campus paths.
Heading South (Left) the paved South Meadows River Trail follows the Connecticut River south. Picnic tables located here along with an exercise area. Informational signs, Map Boards and benches along the trail. The paved trail splits after 0.2 miles.
Note; Heading left, East, the paved Inland Trail winds inland through the woods. It then connects West back to the South Meadows River Trail after 0.3 miles.
Continuing straight, South, along the main trail you continue alongside the river. Pass by the Inland Trail where both combine at 0.4 miles. The paved section ends just shy of 0.7 miles at the Wethersfield town line.
Phase 5 will pave the trail South from the Wethersfield town line to the Glastonbury town line.
Some benches overlook Keeney Cove Marsh. Here the trail is hard packed dirt & grass. Quickly cross the Glastonbury town line at 1 mile, where the trail gets a bit sandy and rutty. Avoid after heavy rains. Cross a bridge at 1.5 miles and come to another Map Board and benches. Across this road is a Spur Trail that will take you up to the Putnam Bridge Bike Path. See Below.
Putnam Bridge Bike Path:
Starting from the Naubuc Ave parking lot in Glastonbury [Eastern End]; Map Board.
Note; You can travel 0.8 miles South, on-road, along Naubuc Ave to connect to the Riverfront Community Center Loop Trail, which is part of Glastonbury Trails .
The wide, paved Putnam Bridge Bike Path travels Southwest, just below Route 3, along the Southern Side of the bridge. Flood plains along your left. Cross over a culvert where Keeney Cove travels under the bridge before coming to an intersection at 0.7 miles. Bench and informational board.
Note; Left, a Spur Trail will take you down below the bridge to the South Meadows River Trail after 0.25 miles.
The trail now narrows as it travels alongside Route 3 along a metal grate. Cross the Connecticut River where the trail crests at 1 mile. You then travel down to another Map Board. The wide, paved trail then winds down to Great Meadows Rd, across which is the Great Meadows Road parking lot in Wethersfield after 1.4 miles.
Note; Here you can connect to the Heritage-Way Bikepath .
HH
CLICK HERE FOR RIVERFRONT TRAIL & SOUTH MEADOWS RIVER TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR SOUTH MEADOWS RIVER TRAIL MAP
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
