McLean Game Refuge
Nature preserve
3,360 acres25 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Wknight94 talk · CC BY-SA 3.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in Granby
29% of Granby’s land is conserved: 7,617 acres
68 miles of mapped trail cross Granby, 1.7 per square mile of land. 407 acres are parks and preserves, 36 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: McLean Game Refuge (25 mi), Holcomb Farm (10.2 mi), Enders State Forest (5.7 mi).
Ahead of 91% of U.S. towns · #29 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
29%
7,617 acres · of 40.7 sq mi of land
Trails
68 mi
1.7 per sq mi of land
Park land
407 ac
36 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
63%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
1.4 mi
1.4 mi paths
Highest peak
1,060 ft
Pine Cone
Lakes & rivers
13
2 beaches
What kind of outdoors town is Granby?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Granby have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Granby is ahead of 91% of U.S. towns, #29 of 155 in Connecticut. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Granby’s overall grade.
Conserved land29% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails1.7 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (68 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4APark land36 acres of park per 1,000 residents (407 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home63% 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 91%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 82%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Granby’s 29% is ahead of 90% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 66% 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 McLean Game Refuge, with 25 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Holcomb Farm
Managed by Town of Granby
291 acres10.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Enders State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
1,527 acres5.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Mary Edwards Mountain Property
Managed by Granby Land Trust
201 acres3.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve
Managed by Granby Land Trust
208 acres3.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Holcombe Preserve
Managed by Granby Land Trust
151 acres2.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Salmon Brook Park
Managed by Town of Granby
165 acres2.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Granby Land Trust Preserves
Managed by Granby Land Trust
407 acres2.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 34 parks & preserves
McLean Game Refuge3,360 acres · 25 mi of trail
DirectionsHolcomb Farm291 acres · 10.2 mi of trail · Town of Granby
DirectionsEnders State Forest1,527 acres · 5.7 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsMary Edwards Mountain Property201 acres · 3.9 mi of trail · Granby Land Trust
DirectionsDismal Brook Wildlife Preserve208 acres · 3.6 mi of trail · Granby Land Trust
DirectionsHolcombe Preserve151 acres · 2.8 mi of trail · Granby Land Trust
DirectionsSalmon Brook Park165 acres · 2.7 mi of trail · Town of Granby
DirectionsGranby Land Trust Preserves407 acres · 2.6 mi of trail · Granby Land Trust
DirectionsGodard Preserve119 acres · 2.2 mi of trail · Granby Land Trust
DirectionsTown of Granby property48 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Frances B. Petersen Preserve86 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Granby Land Trust
DirectionsAnn Pelka32 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Granby Land Trust
DirectionsA. W. Mason Preserve79 acres
Granby Open Space60 acres
Town of Granby Preserve60 acres · Town of Granby
Loomis Pines Preserve31 acres · Granby Land Trust
Mooney Preserve24 acres · Granby Land Trust
Grace Kellogg Preserve23 acres · Granby Land Trust
Town of Granby Open Space17 acres · Town of Granby
Town Open Space (18 Heather Lane)16 acres
Town Open Space (Round Hill Road Parcel B)9 acres
Town Open Space (Round Hill Road Parcel A)9 acres
Kendall Stevens Preserve8 acres · Granby Land Trust
Town Open Space (465 Meadow Brook Road,Rear)6 acres
Town Open Space (10 Sakrison Road)5 acres
DirectionsTown Open Space (55 Canal Road, Rear)5 acres
Town Open Space (6 Hampton Village Drive)4 acres
Town Open Space (West Granby Road)3 acres
Town Open Space2 acres
Tunxis State Forest1 acres · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Town Open Space (Case Road)1 acres
Town Open Space (30 Zimmer Road)1 acres
Town Open Space (8 Old Simsbury Road)1 acres
Town Open Space (76 East Granby Road)1 acres
Who protects it
7,617 conserved acres
29% of Granby’s land. Who manages Granby’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Other state land1,600 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits817 ac
Town or city403 ac
State conservation337 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)134 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government65 ac
Not recorded4,769 ac
Private Conservation · 3,528 acState Resource Management Area · 1,723 acOther Easement · 817 acLocal Other or Unknown · 741 acLocal Conservation Area · 397 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 980 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 93 of 143 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mclean Game Refuge Private Conservation | Not recorded | 3,247 | Unknown |
| Enders State Forest State Resource Management Area | Other state land | 1,584 | Unknown |
| Unknown Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 1,374 | Unknown |
| Tunxis State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 138 | Unknown |
| Salmon Brook Park (W. Grandy Rd & Salmon Bk St) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 131 | Open |
| Godard Preserve Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 117 | Open |
| Open Space Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 61 | Open |
| Town Open Space (Ceamery Hill Road) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 27 | Open |
| Town Open Space (Three Corner Pond) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 14 | Open |
| Camp Mary Dean Vreeland Private Conservation | Not recorded | 10 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
45 places to go in Granby
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Granby
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Granby
3 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks in Granby
1 dog park without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Fishing spots in Granby
1 fishing spot without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Granby
Beach Brook FallsIn McLean Game Refuge
DirectionsCarpenter's FallsIn McLean Game Refuge
DirectionsEnders FallsIn Enders State Forest
DirectionsEnders FallsIn Enders State Forest
DirectionsEnders FallsIn Enders State Forest
DirectionsEnders FallsIn Enders State Forest
DirectionsEnders FallsIn Enders State Forest
DirectionsLost Acres Falls
DirectionsPlus 4 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Granby
Diamond Ledge CliffIn Frances B. Petersen Preserve
DirectionsMary's RockIn Mary Edwards Mountain Property
DirectionsScarlet Tanager OutlookIn Granby Land Trust Preserves
DirectionsPlus 12 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Granby
Pine Cone1,060 ft elevation · In McLean Game Refuge
DirectionsWeed Hill791 ft elevation · In McLean Game Refuge
DirectionsBroad Hill781 ft elevation
DirectionsCrag Mountain600 ft elevation
DirectionsBushy Hill486 ft elevation
DirectionsDuncaster Hill446 ft elevation
DirectionsManitook Mountain390 ft elevation
DirectionsStony Hill338 ft elevation · In McLean Game Refuge
Directions2 more peaks
Eastern Barndoor HillIn McLean Game Refuge
DirectionsWestern Barndoor Hill
DirectionsPicnic areas in Granby
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Trails & water
13 lakes & rivers
Biking & sports
1.4 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.4 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
11Tennis
7Baseball
4Pickleball
4Soccer
2Basketball
1Football
1Softball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →8 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 5 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Rowe and Weed HousesBuilding · listed 1978
About itNathaniel Holcomb III HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itGranby Center Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1985
About itJudah Holcomb HouseBuilding · listed 1988
About itCossitt, Frederick H., LibraryBuilding · listed 1988
About itSamuel II Hayes HouseBuilding · listed 1992
About itAllen's Cider MillBuilding · listed 1992
About itWest Granby Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1992
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Granby: 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) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 35 | 39 | 47 | 60 | 72 | 80 | 85 | 83 | 75 | 63 | 51 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (3.2 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 5.1 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Granby →
Next door
Granby and its neighbors
Granby has the second most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Simsbury103 miGranby68 miBarkhamsted54 miEast Granby39 miSuffield37 miHartland34 miSouthwick33 miNorth Granby15 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granby | 29% | 1.7 | 36 | 63% | A |
| Hartland | 49% | 1.0 | 226 | 34% | A |
| North Granby | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| East Granby | 21% | 2.2 | 32 | 29% | A− |
| Barkhamsted | 24% | 1.5 | under 1 | 4% | B− |
| Simsbury | 29% | 3.0 | 81 | 72% | A+ |
| Suffield | 14% | 0.9 | 39 | 26% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Granby
Where can I hike in Granby?
The longest trail networks: McLean Game Refuge, 25 miles; Holcomb Farm, 10.2 miles; Enders State Forest, 5.7 miles; Mary Edwards Mountain Property, 3.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Granby 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 Granby’s trails?
McLean Game Refuge and Holcomb Farm don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Granby?
1.4 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.4 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Granby?
24,395 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Granby or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 407 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Granby have?
Ahead of 91% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #29 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 Granby 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 →