Salmon River State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
846 acres17.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Jerry Dougherty · CC BY 2.5AOutdoors
Outdoors in Hebron
Hebron has 76 miles of mapped trails, 2.1 for every square mile of land
24% of Hebron’s land is conserved, about 5,755 acres. 739 acres are parks and preserves, 81 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Salmon River State Forest (17.7 mi), Gay City State Park (13 mi), Meshomasic State Forest (5.9 mi).
Ahead of 92% of U.S. towns · #27 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
24%
5,755 acres · of 36.9 sq mi of land
Trails
76 mi
2.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
739 ac
81 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
52%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
6.4 mi
6.4 mi paths
Highest peak
751 ft
Burnt Hill
Lakes & rivers
33
2 beaches · 3 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Hebron?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Hebron have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Hebron is ahead of 92% of U.S. towns, #27 of 155 in Connecticut. Trail miles hold the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Hebron’s overall grade.
Conserved land24% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%ATrails2.1 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (76 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4APark land81 acres of park per 1,000 residents (739 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13AParks close to home52% of residents within a half mile of a park · CT 57% · U.S. 72%C+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 92%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 83%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Hebron’s 24% is ahead of 79% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 75% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to 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 Salmon River State Forest, with 17.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Gay City State Park
Nature preserve
1,454 acres13 mi of trail
Ridge Road to Holbrook PondOld Skinner Lane east
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Meshomasic State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
732 acres5.9 mi of trail
Gay City/Blackledge Falls Connector
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Burnt Hill Park
Managed by Town of Hebron
110 acres1.8 mi of trail
Old Skinner Lane west
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Old Hibbert Property
Managed by Town of Hebron
88 acres1.8 mi of trail
Mill Site PathRiver LoopRaymond Brook Overlook
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Old Bernstein Property
Nature preserve
200 acres1.7 mi of trail
Judd Brook Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Old Cardillo Property
Managed by Town of Hebron
53 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Chestnut Hollow Grist Mill Trails
Managed by Town of Hebron
23 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 53 parks & preserves
Salmon River State Forest846 acres · 17.7 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsGay City State Park1,454 acres · 13 mi of trail
DirectionsMeshomasic State Forest732 acres · 5.9 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsBurnt Hill Park110 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
DirectionsOld Hibbert Property88 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
DirectionsOld Bernstein Property200 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsOld Cardillo Property53 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Chestnut Hollow Grist Mill Trails23 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Chittenden Road Open Space North103 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Niles Road Open Space38 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Grayville Falls Town Park36 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
DirectionsJagger Lane Open Space32 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
DirectionsSaint Peter's Preserve20 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Saint Peter's Parish Episcopal Ecclesiological Society
Old Harasimowitz Property20 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Ridge Road Open Space49 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Veterans Memorial Park15 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Raymond Brook Wildlife Management Area195 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · State of Connecticut
DirectionsSerra Property12 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
DirectionsEaster Seals Camp153 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Easter Seals Connecticut, Inc.
Fawn Brook West Branch Open Space60 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
Airline State Park Trail (Southern Section)47 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · State of Connecticut
DirectionsBirch Hill Road Open Space East9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Hebron
DirectionsElla Bernstein Trust5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Mussman Open Space123 acres · Town of Hebron
Joshua Farms Open Space81 acres · Town of Hebron
Fawn Brook Open Space74 acres · Town of Hebron
Old Slocum Road Open Space64 acres · Town of Hebron
Elizabeth Heights29 acres · Town of Hebron
Robert's Ridge Parcel26 acres · Town of Hebron
Jennifer Drive Open Space26 acres · Town of Hebron
Old Yaps Property25 acres
Forest View Lane Open Space22 acres · Town of Hebron
Knollwood Drive Open Space19 acres · Town of Hebron
Martin Road Open Space17 acres · Town of Hebron
Hebron Sportsmen Club16 acres · Hebron Sportsmen Club, Inc.
DirectionsOld Alpert Property South16 acres · Town of Hebron
Hall Road Open Space16 acres · Town of Hebron
Colchester Spur Trail14 acres · Eversource; Town of Hebron; Town of Colchester
DirectionsGrayville Road Open Space14 acres · Town of Hebron
DirectionsChittenden Road Open Space South11 acres · Town of Hebron
Old Green Property10 acres · Town of Hebron
West Branch Drive Open Space10 acres · Town of Hebron
Birch Hill Road Open Space West7 acres · Town of Hebron
Salt Box Road Open Space5 acres · Town of Hebron
Old Alpert Property4 acres · Town of Hebron
Birch Hill Road Open Space North4 acres · Town of Hebron
DirectionsLittle League Baseball Park4 acres · Town of Hebron
DirectionsRHAM Road Open Space3 acres · Town of Hebron
Bishop Swamp Wildlife Management Area2 acres · State of Connecticut
Windrush Lane Open Space2 acres · Town of Andover
Marjorie Circle Open Space2 acres · Town of Hebron
Charles Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Hebron
CT Salmon River State Park1 acres
Who protects it
5,755 conserved acres
24% of Hebron’s land. Who manages Hebron’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Other state land740 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)413 ac
State conservation138 ac
Private owners52 ac
Town or city40 ac
Not recorded4,577 ac
State Resource Management Area · 2,294 acUnknown Easement · 815 acPrivate Conservation · 772 acLocal Other or Unknown · 634 acAgricultural Easement · 429 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1,140 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 105 of 125 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon River State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 1,028 | Unknown |
| Meshomasic State Forest and Gay City State Park State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 1,020 | Unknown |
| Unknown Private Conservation | Not recorded | 734 | Unknown |
| Salmon River State Forest - Holbrook Pond State Recreation Area | Not recorded | 355 | Unknown |
| Raymond Brook Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 197 | Unknown |
| Hemlocks Outdoor Center Private Conservation | Not recorded | 155 | Unknown |
| Salmon River State Forest (Old Forest Management Area) State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 144 | Unknown |
| Hidden Acres Open Space Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 110 | Unknown |
| Meshomasic State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 102 | Unknown |
| Hebron Fairgrounds Private Conservation | Not recorded | 99 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
21 places to go in Hebron
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Hebron
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Hebron
4 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Hebron
Holbrook Pond Boat LaunchIn Gay City State Park
DirectionsPlus 2 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Hebron
Grayville FallsIn Grayville Falls Town Park
DirectionsScenic views in Hebron
3 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Hebron
Burnt Hill751 ft elevation
DirectionsMack Hill650 ft elevation
DirectionsBurrows Hill571 ft elevation
DirectionsFrankel Hill479 ft elevation
DirectionsPlus 2 peaks without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Hebron
1 picnic area without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Campgrounds in Hebron
Camp ConnecticutIndependent Order of Odd Fellows
DirectionsTrails & water
12 named trails and 33 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 1.6 miHorses · 1.1 miUnpaved · 32.0 mi
Gay City/Blackledge Falls Connector1.9 mi
Ridge Road to Holbrook Pond0.7 mi
Mill Site Path0.5 mi
AHM Trail0.5 mi
Judd Brook Trail0.4 mi
Country Farms Loop0.4 mi
Parking Lots Link Path0.3 mi
River Loop0.3 mi
Old Skinner Lane east0.3 mi
Classroom Path0.3 mi
2 more trails
Old Skinner Lane west
0.2 miRaymond Brook Overlook
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Ahlbert PondAmston LakelakeBurrows Hill Road PondpondCelio PondClubhouse PondFoot Sawmill PondFoote Hill PondpondGambolati PondGay City PondreservoirGirl Scout PondpondGolf Course PondGolfers PondHolbrook PondHolman PondHope Valley Road PondJones Street PondreservoirLaking PondLandons PondlakeLittle PondLower Colchester Road PondLower Woods PondOstrager PondPagachs PondRobinson PondpondRoulston DamUpper Colchester Road PondpondUpper Foote PondWarner PondWellesway Club PondWest Street PondWhite PondWoods PondpondJeremy River
Biking & sports
6.4 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
6.4 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
8Baseball
7Tennis
2Soccer
2Multi-sport
1Football
1Softball
1Basketball
1Skate park
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →2 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 4 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Hebron: 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 | 59 | 70 | 78 | 83 | 81 | 74 | 63 | 51 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (2.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.8 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Hebron →
Next door
Hebron and its neighbors
Hebron has the most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebron | 24% | 2.1 | 81 | 52% | A |
| Colchester | 20% | 1.4 | 25 | 33% | A− |
| Marlborough | 27% | 1.2 | 33 | 71% | A |
| Andover | 23% | 1.0 | 23 | 21% | B+ |
| Columbia | 10% | 1.0 | 158 | 60% | A |
| Bolton | 12% | 2.6 | 115 | 47% | A |
| Lebanon | 27% | 1.2 | 149 | 36% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Hebron
Where can I hike in Hebron?
The longest trail networks: Salmon River State Forest, 17.7 miles; Gay City State Park, 13 miles; Meshomasic State Forest, 5.9 miles; Burnt Hill Park, 1.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Hebron is conserved land?
24% 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 Hebron’s trails?
Salmon River State Forest and Gay City State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Hebron?
6.4 miles of bike routes are on the map: 6.4 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Hebron?
13,810 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Hebron or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 784 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Hebron have?
Ahead of 92% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #27 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 Hebron 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 →