Buckingham Reservoir Watershed
Managed by Town of Manchester Water Department
2,717 acres63.6 mi of trail
Black MambaPitch Pine TrailCornholio
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Glastonbury
Glastonbury has 174 miles of mapped trails, 3.4 for every square mile of land
29% of Glastonbury’s land is conserved, about 9,483 acres. Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. 2,527 acres are parks and preserves, 72 per 1,000 residents.
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns · #1 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
29%
9,483 acres · of 51.3 sq mi of land
Trails
174 mi
3.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,527 ac
72 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
6.8 mi
6.8 mi paths
Highest peak
896 ft
Mannantuck
Lakes & rivers
38
1 beach
What kind of outdoors town is Glastonbury?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Glastonbury have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Glastonbury is among the top 1% of U.S. towns, #1 of 155 in Connecticut. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Glastonbury’s overall grade.
Conserved land29% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails3.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (174 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land72 acres of park per 1,000 residents (2,527 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to homeVirtually all residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Among the top 1%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)#1 of 155
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Glastonbury’s 29% is ahead of 89% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 98% 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 Buckingham Reservoir Watershed, with 63.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Meshomasic State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
2,655 acres27.6 mi of trail
Yellow TrailOld New London TurnpikeGay City/Blackledge Falls Connector
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
J.B. Williams Park
Managed by Town of Glastonbury
161 acres4.9 mi of trail
Pavilion TrailOld Ski TrailJBW Smith Connector
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Swan Estate and Riley Parcel
Managed by Kongscut Land Trust Inc
114 acres4.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Shoddy Mill Preserve
Managed by Town of Glastonbury
107 acres3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Longo Farm Open Space
Managed by Town of Glastonbury
153 acres2.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Addison Bog and Woodlands
Managed by Town of Glastonbury
200 acres2.6 mi of trail
Addison Bog Nature Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Great Pond Open Space
Managed by Town of Glastonbury
113 acres2 mi of trail
Bob Kaye LoopPond TrailDana's Rim Walk
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 186 parks & preserves
Buckingham Reservoir Watershed2,717 acres · 63.6 mi of trail · Town of Manchester Water Department
DirectionsMeshomasic State Forest2,655 acres · 27.6 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsJ.B. Williams Park161 acres · 4.9 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsSwan Estate and Riley Parcel114 acres · 4.5 mi of trail · Kongscut Land Trust Inc
DirectionsShoddy Mill Preserve107 acres · 3 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsLongo Farm Open Space153 acres · 2.9 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsAddison Bog and Woodlands200 acres · 2.6 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsGreat Pond Open Space113 acres · 2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsBlackledge Falls87 acres · 1.9 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsTown of Glastonbury97 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsAlexander and Melba Zihrup Open Space Preserve89 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Kongscut Land Trust
DirectionsLoveland Open Space70 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Earle Park47 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsEdmund Gorman Open Space30 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Hollister Preserve24 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Kongscut Land Trust, Inc.
DirectionsRiverfront Park78 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsBlue Hills Trails Open Space47 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Arbor Acres Open Space71 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsWhitehouse Family Nature Preserve33 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Kongscut Land Trust, Inc.
Keeney Street Open Space549 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsMarchand Open Space57 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
South Meadows Greenway at Goodwin University251 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Goodwin University
DirectionsBuckingham Park39 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsToll Brothers Open Space29 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsBalf's Bluffs Open Space15 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Grayledge Open Space87 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsTiboni Open Space54 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsGorman Natural Area18 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Red Hill Open Space12 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Great Meadows II Open Space10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Angus Park19 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Fernbridge Subdivision Open Space12 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Geary Open Space9 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Bush Hill Farm6 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Manchester Land Conservation Trust
Bellridge Open Space27 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Salster Open Space26 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsGreat Meadows III Open Space24 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Somers Open Space24 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Jurgelas Open Space23 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Butler Drive Open Space15 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Butler Field11 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Glastonbury Parks and Recreation
Ash Swamp Road Open Space10 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsCoop Road II Open Space10 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Smith Brook Open Space8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Ferry Landing Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsGrouse Hill Open Space4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Grouse Hill Owners Assoc.
Winter Hill Farm Open Space135 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsCavanaugh Open Space66 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsRicciardi Open Space52 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Addison Park33 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Glastonbury Parks and Recreation
DirectionsCider Mill Historical Site22 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Salmon Brook Park11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCarson–Town Hall Open Space9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsGreat Meadows I Open Space8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Olde Stage Road Open Space8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Richard Strong Memorial Open Space8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Tall Timbers Crossing Subdivision Open Space7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Bogdan Parcel5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Kongscut Land Trust, Inc.
Horizon Resub Open Space5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Coop Road I Open Space4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
Goodale Hill Preserve4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Kongscut Land Trust
Clove Hill Road Open Space2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Glastonbury
East Glastonbury Fish & Game Association104 acres · East Glastonbury Fish and Game Association, Inc.
Canepa Open Space94 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Delponte Open Space84 acres · Town of Glastonbury
T. & M. Old Maids Open Space82 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Cotton Hollow Preserve80 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsColdbrook Turnpike Open Space53 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Yanaros Open Space47 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Chamberlain Open Space44 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Scoville Tract37 acres · Kongscut Land Trust Inc
The Woods At Glastonbury36 acres
Tanglewood Open Space26 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Hopewell Pond Open Space25 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsWoodfield Crossing Open Space24 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Vinnick Open Space22 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Reardon Open Space21 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Crosscup Open Space21 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Kongscut Mountain Open Space20 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Shagbark Open Space19 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Richard and Barbara Booth Woods Preserve17 acres · Kongscut Land Trust Inc
Neipsic Bog Reserve17 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Old Maids Farm Open Space16 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Town Woods Open Space16 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Meadow Road Open Space15 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Betty Brown Preserve15 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Hopewell School Natural Area14 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Drumlin Road Open Space14 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Lancaster Estates Open Space14 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsState Highway Open Space13 acres · State of Connecticut
DirectionsKimberly Open Space13 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Mueller Subdivision Open Space13 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Route 2 Open Space13 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Oakwood Drive Open Space13 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Decarolis Open Space12 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Pine Hill Woods Open Space11 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Jasmine Lane Open Space11 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Rotary Field Reserve Land11 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsBlackledge River Woods Subdivision10 acres
Greentree Open Space9 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Cardinal Drive Open Space9 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Hanover Fields Open Space9 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Welles Park9 acres
DirectionsFirehouse No. 3 Open Space9 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Smut Pond Open Space9 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Daniel Civitillo Ash Swamp9 acres · Kongscut Land Trust Inc
DirectionsKongscut Valley Open Space8 acres
DirectionsDiamond Lake Watershed8 acres · Kongscut Land Trust Inc
Rotary Field8 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsHomestead Drive Open Space7 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Brook Street Bog7 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Lakewood Drive Open Space7 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Robert Easement6 acres
East Carriage Drive Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsForest Lane Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Tara Hills Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Crystal Ridge Subdivision Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Fern Hollow Preserve6 acres · Kongscut Land Trust Inc
House Street Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsBrookfield Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Carriage Drive Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Hubbard Green Park6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Funk Open Space6 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Fallview Open Space5 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Whispering Hollow Subdivision5 acres
Bayberry Hill Open Space5 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Wickham Brook Open Space5 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Tyler Open Space5 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Founders Woods Open Space5 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Eastbury Hill III Open Space5 acres · Town of Glastonbury
L. Longo Open Space4 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsEastbury School Natural Area4 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Clark Field4 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Water Street Open Space4 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Addison Falls Open Space4 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsLombardo Farm3 acres · Manchester Land Conservation Trust
Hilltop Subdivision II3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Chimneysweep Hill Open Space3 acres
Richard H. Ross Field3 acres · Glastonbury Parks and Recreation
DirectionsThompson Street Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Matson Hill Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsNewgate Subdivision Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Hodges Pond3 acres · Kongscut Land Trust Inc
Santhouse Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Eastbury Hill I Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Bronzi Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Clearview Estates Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Rolling Woods Open Space3 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Bidwell Street Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Stockade Bog Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Eastbury Hill II Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Woodbridge Park2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Roaring Brook II Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Toll Gate Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Glastonbury Meadow Open Space2 acres · State of Connecticut
Drumlin Hill Preserve2 acres · Kongscut Land Trust
Great Meadows Riverfront Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Stanley Drive Streambelt2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Neipsic Tennis Club2 acres
Vincenzo Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsHemlock Hills Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Needletree Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Opal Drive Open Space2 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Malcolm and Susan Barlow Park1 acres · Manchester Land Conservation Trust
Old Parsonage Estates Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Rockhaven Pad & Subdivision1 acres
Neipsic Springs Subdivision 4 (2 Parcels)1 acres
Buckingham Island Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsRouse Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsKowalsky Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsGrange Pool1 acres · Glastonbury Parks and Recreation
DirectionsPoint Meadow Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Neipsic Springs Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsDayton Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Jones Reserve1 acres · Manchester Land Conservation Trust
Old Farms Road Detention Pond1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Shelley Lane Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Boylan Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsFresk Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Glastonbury Memorial Park1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsTall Timbers Detention Pond Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Naubuc Avenue Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
DirectionsHillstown Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Fairlawn Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Woodside Open Space1 acres · Town of Glastonbury
Hurlburt Corner Open Space1 acres · State of Connecticut
Who protects it
9,483 conserved acres
29% of Glastonbury’s land. Who manages Glastonbury’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city2,325 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits214 ac
State conservation178 ac
Other state land145 ac
Not recorded7,322 ac
Watershed Protection Area · 2,673 acState Resource Management Area · 2,554 acLocal Other or Unknown · 1,713 acLocal Conservation Area · 1,662 acLocal Park · 471 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 302 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 179 of 397 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Reservoir Property Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 2,673 | Unknown |
| Meshomasic State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 1,975 | Unknown |
| Unknown Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 1,603 | Unknown |
| Meshomasic State Forest (Old Forest Management Area) State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 573 | Unknown |
| Glastonbury Hills C.C. Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 205 | Open |
| Great Pond O.S. Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 104 | Open |
| Canepa O.S. Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 94 | Open |
| Blackledge Falls Local Park | Town or city | 86 | Open |
| Zihrup Open Space Preserve Private Conservation | Not recorded | 85 | Unknown |
| Elks Club Local Park | Town or city | 80 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
53 places to go in Glastonbury
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Glastonbury
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Public pools in Glastonbury
4 public pools without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Glastonbury
19 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks in Glastonbury
1 dog park without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Glastonbury
Blackledge FallsIn Blackledge Falls
DirectionsCascadesIn Cotton Hollow Preserve
DirectionsScenic views in Glastonbury
14 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Glastonbury
Mannantuck896 ft elevation
DirectionsJohn Tom Hill892 ft elevation
DirectionsKongscut Mountain768 ft elevation · In Meshomasic State Forest
DirectionsMinnechaug Mountain705 ft elevation
DirectionsClark Hill676 ft elevation
DirectionsBelltown Hill597 ft elevation
DirectionsTown Woods Hill531 ft elevation
DirectionsRed Hill89 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Glastonbury
2 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Glastonbury
Camp NeipsicFriends of Camp Neipsic, Inc.
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Glastonbury
1 community garden without a name on the map.
Trails & water
19 named trails and 38 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 20.2 miHorses · 1.8 miUnpaved · 43.9 mi
Yellow Trail1.3 mi
Bob Kaye Loop0.7 mi
Black Mamba0.6 mi
Riverfront Trail0.5 mi
White Trail0.5 mi
Addison Bog Nature Trail0.5 mi
Red Trail0.4 mi
Pond Trail0.4 mi
Cornholio0.4 mi
Dana's Rim Walk0.3 mi
9 more trails
Pavilion Trail
0.3 miOld New London Turnpike
0.3 miButler Field Trail
0.2 miCountry Club Trail
0.2 miGay City/Blackledge Falls Connector
0.2 miPitch Pine Trail
0.2 miJBW Smith Connector
0.2 miOld Ski Trail
0.2 miSpringside Trail
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Addison PondreservoirAlbasi LakelakeAndrews PondBestor PondlakeBonas PondBrainard PondBuckingham ReservoirreservoirCamp Bennett PondCarini PondClarissa's PondpondCold Brook ReservoirreservoirDiamond LakeDuck PondEastbury PoolpondGreat PondpondHolland Brook PondMay PondMinnechaug PondlakeNipsic PondpondPasture PondlakePotter PondpondPreli Pond No 2pondRosers PondpondSaint Jean PondpondScaglia PondlakeScaglia Pond No 1pondSeventeen PondlakeShoddy Mill PondlakeSlocomb Pond No 2reservoirStrombery PondlakeTom's PondlakeTreat PondTurkey Farm PondWassuc PondpondWilliams PondWood PondpondConnecticut RiverKeeney Cove
Biking & sports
6.8 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
6.8 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
31Tennis
29Soccer
19Baseball
13Basketball
7Softball
5Multi-sport
2Lacrosse
1Volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →12 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 13 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Gideon Welles HouseBuilding · listed 1970
About itJohn Hollister HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itWelles-Shipman-Ward HouseBuilding · listed 1977
About itWilliams, J. B., Co. Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1983
About itGlastonbury Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1984
About itSouth Glastonbury Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1984
About itDr. Elizur Hale HouseBuilding · listed 1989
About itCurtisville Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1992
About itAbraham Coult HouseBuilding · listed 2000
About itGlastonbury-Rock Hill Ferry Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2005
About itSouth Glastonbury Historic District Boundary IncreaseDistrict · listed 2009
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Glastonbury: 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 | 47 | 60 | 71 | 79 | 84 | 82 | 75 | 63 | 52 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
February is the driest month (3.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.7 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Glastonbury →
Next door
Glastonbury and its neighbors
Glastonbury has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Glastonbury174 miManchester101 miPortland63 miMarlborough28 miRocky Hill20 miEast Hartford12 miWethersfield7.6 miGlastonbury Center4.1 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glastonbury | 29% | 3.4 | 72 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Manchester | 18% | 3.7 | 22 | 97% | A+ |
| Wethersfield | 13% | 0.6 | 18 | 96% | A |
| East Hartford | 6% | 0.7 | 6 | 96% | B+ |
| Rocky Hill | 11% | 1.5 | 8 | 74% | A− |
| Marlborough | 27% | 1.2 | 33 | 71% | A |
| Portland | 34% | 2.7 | 32 | 52% | A |
| Glastonbury Center | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Glastonbury
Where can I hike in Glastonbury?
The longest trail networks: Buckingham Reservoir Watershed, 63.6 miles; Meshomasic State Forest, 27.6 miles; J.B. Williams Park, 4.9 miles; Swan Estate and Riley Parcel, 4.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Glastonbury is conserved land?
29% 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 Glastonbury’s trails?
Buckingham Reservoir Watershed and Meshomasic State Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Glastonbury?
6.8 miles of bike routes are on the map: 6.8 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Glastonbury?
22,620 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Glastonbury or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,527 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Glastonbury have?
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #1 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 Glastonbury 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 →