Winding Trails Recreation Area
Nature preserve
282 acres11.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Spongetastic69 · CC BY-SA 4.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Farmington
Farmington has 66 miles of mapped trails, 2.4 for every square mile of land
27% of Farmington’s land is conserved, about 4,912 acres. 1,923 acres are parks and preserves, 71 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Winding Trails Recreation Area (11.3 mi), Shade Swamp Sanctuary (5.4 mi), West Hartford Reservoirs Recreation Area (5.1 mi).
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns · #4 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
27%
4,912 acres · of 27.9 sq mi of land
Trails
66 mi
2.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,923 ac
71 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
88%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
13 mi
0.2 mi lanes · 11 mi paths
Highest peak
751 ft
Rattlesnake Mountain
Lakes & rivers
18
3 beaches · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Farmington?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Farmington have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Farmington is ahead of 97% of U.S. towns, #4 of 155 in Connecticut. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Farmington’s overall grade.
Conserved land27% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails2.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (66 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land71 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,923 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home88% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 97%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 98%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Farmington’s 27% is ahead of 86% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 83% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Winding Trails Recreation Area, with 11.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Shade Swamp Sanctuary
Managed by State of Connecticut
495 acres5.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
West Hartford Reservoirs Recreation Area
Managed by Metropolitan District
167 acres5.1 mi of trail
EdenKenney RidgeMetacomet Trail (NET)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
Farmington Memorial Forest
Nature preserve
367 acres4.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Hill-Stead Museum Grounds
Nature preserve
150 acres3.3 mi of trail
Woodland TrailBittersweet LoopPond LoopSwamp Oak Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Meadow Land
Nature preserve
373 acres2.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 39 parks & preserves
Winding Trails Recreation Area282 acres · 11.3 mi of trail
DirectionsShade Swamp Sanctuary495 acres · 5.4 mi of trail · State of Connecticut
DirectionsWest Hartford Reservoirs Recreation Area167 acres · 5.1 mi of trail · Metropolitan District
DirectionsFarmington Memorial Forest367 acres · 4.2 mi of trail
DirectionsHill-Stead Museum Grounds150 acres · 3.3 mi of trail
DirectionsMeadow Land373 acres · 2.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSuburban Park20 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsTunxis Mead Park99 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTown Open Space (Walnut Farms Subdiv.)3Parcels41 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsFarmington Club20 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsTown Open Space (Rattlesnake Mountain)17 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Farmington
Lions Memorial Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBatterson Park290 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Hartford
DirectionsFarmington Canal Line State Park Trail43 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTown Open Space (Pondwood Acres Subdivision)2P27 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Town Open Space (New Britain Avenue)9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTown of Farmington Open Space103 acres
DirectionsQuirk Park89 acres
DirectionsTown of Farmington Property65 acres
Devonwood Subdivision Open Space53 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (Cope Farms Subdiv.) 3 Parcels51 acres
Coppermine Village Open Space32 acres
DirectionsProperty of Marilyn P. Cohen31 acres
Town Open Space (Westview Terrace) 2 Parcels26 acres
DirectionsColt Park18 acres
Town Open Space (Oakridge Subdivision)6Parcels16 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (Plainville Avenue & Redcoat Lane)11 acres
Town Open Space (West District Rd./Copper Mine Rd.)10 acres
Town Open Space (Burlington Road)9 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (Sanford Drive)8 acres
Town Open Space (Roma Drive) 2 Parcels8 acres
Town Open Space (Pequabuck Lane)7 acres
State of CT, Shade Swamp Sanctuary6 acres
Yodkin-Morin Memorial Park4 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (Main Street)4 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (Brookshire Lane)2 acres
Town Open Space (West Gate Road)2 acres
Town Open Space (Highpoint W. Subdiv.) (6 Parcels)2 acres
Town1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
4,912 conserved acres
27% of Farmington’s land. Who manages Farmington’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city1,088 ac
State conservation386 ac
Regional agency12 ac
Not recorded4,537 ac
Local Other or Unknown · 2,166 acPrivate Conservation · 1,095 acLocal Conservation Area · 856 acState Conservation Area · 567 acLocal Park · 459 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 84 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 189 of 223 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 2,308 | Unknown |
| Shade Swamp Wildlife Sanctuary State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 567 | Unknown |
| Meadow Land (3 Parcels) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 516 | Open |
| Winding Trails Private Conservation | Not recorded | 387 | Unknown |
| Camp Courant Private Conservation | Not recorded | 279 | Unknown |
| Town Forest Local Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 270 | Unknown |
| Batterson Park (Owned By Hartford)(2 Parcels) Local Park | Town or city | 206 | Open |
| Hill-Stead Museum Private Conservation | Not recorded | 147 | Unknown |
| South Branch Park River Flood Control Site 5 Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 131 | Unknown |
| Batterson Park Local Park | Not recorded | 93 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
32 places to go in Farmington
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Farmington
3 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Farmington
14 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Farmington
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Fishing spots in Farmington
1 fishing spot without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Farmington
1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Farmington
7 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Farmington
Rattlesnake Mountain751 ft elevation
DirectionsKillkenny Rocks636 ft elevation · In West Hartford Reservoirs Recreation Area
DirectionsFarmington Mountain502 ft elevation
DirectionsBurnt Hill443 ft elevation · In Town of Farmington Property
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Farmington
Larry Kolp Community GardensFee
DirectionsTrails & water
12 named trails and 18 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 2.6 miUnpaved · 7.1 mi
Metacomet Trail (NET)1.1 mi
Woodland Trail0.9 mi
Henry Mason Trail0.6 mi
Power Dams Trail0.6 mi
Eden0.5 mi
Clatter Valley Road Trail0.5 mi
Kenney Ridge0.4 mi
Cowles Trail0.3 mi
John McManama Nature Trail0.3 mi
Bittersweet Loop0.3 mi
2 more trails
Pond Loop
0.2 miSwamp Oak Trail
0.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Ayer PondpondBatterson Park PondreservoirBushley PondCurtains PondpondFarmington Golf Club PondFarmington ReservoirreservoirLast Natural PondLower PondRiddles PondSecond Natural PondTaplin PondpondTasker PondpondThird Natural PondTrout PondpondWalton PondpondFarmington CanalFarmington RiverPequabuck River
Biking & sports
13 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.2 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
11 mi
off-road bike paths
1.5 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
44Tennis
21Soccer
11Baseball
10Basketball
2Field hockey
2Beach volleyball
1Multi-sport
1Skate park
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →10 places on the National Register, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 7 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
★
Williams, Austin F., Carriagehouse and HouseNational Historic Landmark · Building · listed 1998
About itFarmington Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1972
About itGen. George Cowles HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itTunxis Hose FirehouseBuilding · listed 1983
About itPequabuck BridgeStructure · listed 1984
About itShade Swamp ShelterBuilding · listed 1986
About itWest End LibraryBuilding · listed 2000
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Farmington: April to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 36 | 39 | 48 | 60 | 71 | 80 | 85 | 83 | 75 | 63 | 51 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (3.2 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 5.3 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Farmington →
Next door
Farmington and its neighbors
Farmington has the second most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Burlington112 miFarmington66 miAvon66 miWest Hartford56 miBristol28 miPlainville18 miNew Britain16 miNewington11 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | 27% | 2.4 | 71 | 88% | A+ |
| West Hartford | 23% | 2.6 | 43 | 91% | A+ |
| Avon | 19% | 2.8 | 71 | 77% | A+ |
| Plainville | 8% | 1.9 | 10 | 89% | A− |
| New Britain | 7% | 1.2 | 8 | 89% | A− |
| Burlington | 7% | 3.8 | 18 | 36% | B+ |
| Bristol | 6% | 1.1 | 10 | 71% | B+ |
| Newington | 5% | 0.8 | 9 | 82% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Farmington
Where can I hike in Farmington?
The longest trail networks: Winding Trails Recreation Area, 11.3 miles; Shade Swamp Sanctuary, 5.4 miles; West Hartford Reservoirs Recreation Area, 5.1 miles; Farmington Memorial Forest, 4.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Farmington is conserved land?
27% of its land, against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Farmington’s trails?
Winding Trails Recreation Area and Shade Swamp Sanctuary don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Farmington?
13 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.2 of painted or protected lanes, 11 of off-road paths and 1.5 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Farmington?
18,934 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Farmington or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,923 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Farmington have?
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #4 of 155 in Connecticut. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Farmington neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →