Mianus River Park
Nature preserve
101 acres3.5 mi of trail
Meander TrailNortheast PassageWest River TrailHill Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Stamford
11% of Stamford’s land is conserved: 2,599 acres
31 miles of mapped trail cross Stamford, 0.8 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Mianus River Park (3.5 mi), Stamford Museum & Nature Center (3.2 mi), Mianus Glen (3 mi). 87% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 78% of U.S. towns · #89 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
11%
2,599 acres · of 37.6 sq mi of land
Trails
31 mi
0.8 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,445 ac
11 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
87%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
30 mi
9.3 mi lanes · 2.7 mi paths
Highest peak
371 ft
Wren Knolls
Lakes & rivers
56
17 beaches · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Stamford?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Stamford have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Stamford is ahead of 78% of U.S. towns, #89 of 155 in Connecticut. Conserved land holds the grade up; park acres per resident pull it down.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Stamford’s overall grade.
Conserved land11% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%A−Trails0.8 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (31 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land11 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,445 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13B−Parks close to home87% 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 78%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 43%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Stamford ranks #210 on Outdoors.
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Stamford’s 11% is ahead of 23% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 23% of them.
Water is 28% of Stamford’s area (14 of 52 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 8%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ 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 Mianus River Park, with 3.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Stamford Museum & Nature Center
Park
95 acres3.2 mi of trail
BGWheels in the Woods #7R+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Mianus Glen
Nature preserve
77 acres3 mi of trail
Swingset TrailSecond Loop TrailFisherman's Loop TrailPoplar Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
Bartlett Arboretum Historic Preserve
Park
75 acres2.8 mi of trail
Tulip Tree LoopBlack Birch TrailPond TrailBrook Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Cove Island Park
Park
94 acres1.1 mi of trail
Bird Sanctuary Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Mianus River State Park Scenic Reserve
Nature preserve
321 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 59 parks & preserves
Mianus River Park101 acres · 3.5 mi of trail
DirectionsStamford Museum & Nature Center95 acres · 3.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMianus Glen77 acres · 3 mi of trail
DirectionsBartlett Arboretum Historic Preserve75 acres · 2.8 mi of trail
DirectionsCove Island Park94 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsScalzi Park45 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsCummings Park75 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsMianus River State Park Scenic Reserve321 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
West Beach Park26 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsKosciuszko Park24 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMianus River State Park19 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMill River Park16 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsLione Park7 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsWoodley Road Bird Sanctuary19 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsCzescik Park13 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Stamford
DirectionsVeterans Memorial Park2 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsChestnut Hill Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Stamford Government Center Roof Park1 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsRosa Hartman Park10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsAltschul Preserve167 acres · The Nature Conservancy
Sleepy Hollow Park24 acres
Scofieldtown Park19 acres
DirectionsSquirrel Run17 acres · The Nature Conservancy
Dorothy Heroy Park14 acres
Woodway Park13 acres
John J. Boccuzzi Park10 acres
DirectionsGan Katan Preserve10 acres · The Nature Conservancy
Newman Mills Park10 acres
Meadow Park Avenue Open Space8 acres
Finch Flood Plain7 acres
Sporn Property7 acres · Stamford Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
Fort Stamford6 acres
George T. Barrett Park6 acres
DirectionsChestnut Hill Bird Sancuary6 acres
Edward Hunt Recreation Area5 acres
DirectionsMichael J. Drotar Park5 acres
DirectionsHarbor Point Commons Park4 acres
DirectionsHemingway Property4 acres · Stamford Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
Gene Wilder Preserve4 acres
DirectionsSergt. Vincent M. Horan Park3 acres
DirectionsWashington Boulevard Park - Gateway Park2 acres
DirectionsScalzi Riverwalk Nature Preserve2 acres · SRNP Stewardship Committee
DirectionsWoods End Preserve2 acres
Rotary Park2 acres
DirectionsDr. Jacob Nemoitin Park2 acres
DirectionsHatch Field2 acres
DirectionsScalzi Riverwalk1 acres
DirectionsFriendship Park1 acres
Town Hall Park1 acres
DirectionsHomer Lee Wise Memorial Park1 acres
DirectionsSt. John's Park1 acres
DirectionsGus Edson Park1 acres
Daskham Park1 acres
DirectionsCarwin Park1 acres
DirectionsGerli Park1 acres
DirectionsWaterside Park1 acres
DirectionsLatham Park1 acres
DirectionsWeed Circle Park1 acres
Columbus Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
2,599 conserved acres
11% of Stamford’s land. Water is left out: Stamford has 37.6 square miles of land and 14.4 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Stamford’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city561 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government85 ac
Regional Water Districts28 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits7 ac
Private owners3 ac
State conservation1 ac
Not recorded1,948 ac
Watershed Protection Area · 698 acLocal Other or Unknown · 470 acLocal Park · 274 acState Other or Unknown · 268 acState Park · 263 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 187 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 165 of 209 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 | 1,138 | Unknown |
| Mianus River State Park Scenic Reserve State Park | Not recorded | 263 | Unknown |
| Sterling Farms Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 133 | Open |
| Mianus River Park Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 94 | Unknown |
| Cove Island Park Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 90 | Unknown |
| City of Stamford Local Park Local Park | Town or city | 84 | Open |
| E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 83 | Open |
| Mianus Glen Park Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 76 | Unknown |
| Stamford Museum/Nature Center Local Other or Unknown | Other or Unknown Local Government | 76 | Unknown |
| Sidney Lanier State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 58 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
91 places to go in Stamford
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Stamford
Cummings Park BeachIn Cummings Park
DirectionsWest BeachIn West Beach Park
DirectionsWoodway Beach Club
DirectionsPlus 14 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Stamford
Postmark Swimming Pool
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Stamford
Barrett PlaygroundIn George T. Barrett Park
DirectionsSMNC Nature's PlaygroundIn Stamford Museum & Nature Center
DirectionsSue McGraw Friendship PlaygroundIn Mill River Park
Directions57 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Stamford
Courtland Dog ParkIn Edward Hunt Recreation Area
DirectionsPlus 3 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Stamford
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Waterfalls in Stamford
Farms Falls
DirectionsPeaks in Stamford
Wren Knolls371 ft elevation
DirectionsWebbs Hill331 ft elevation
DirectionsPalmer Hill203 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Stamford
The MeadowIn Stamford Museum & Nature Center
DirectionsPlus 5 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Stamford
Laguardia Community Garden
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 53 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 4.0 miUnpaved · 5.6 mi
Swingset Trail0.8 mi
Second Loop Trail0.6 mi
Fisherman's Loop Trail0.5 mi
Riverwalk Trail0.4 mi
B0.4 mi
G0.3 mi
R0.3 mi
Black Birch Trail0.3 mi
Tulip Tree Loop0.3 mi
Meander Trail0.3 mi
15 more trails
Northeast Passage
0.3 miWest River Trail
0.2 miBird Sanctuary Trail
0.2 miPond Trail
0.2 miBrook Trail
0.2 miHill Trail
0.2 miRock Rimmon to Fishing Trail Path
0.2 miField Trail
0.2 miWheels in the Woods #7
0.2 miRidge Run
0.2 miRed Oak Trail
0.2 miPoplar Trail
0.2 miHigh-Point Trail
0.2 miSwizzle Trail
0.2 miO
0.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Acre PondAttschul PondBank PondreservoirBear Rock PondreservoirBendel's PondpondBorder PondlakeBrae PondpondBriar PondpondBrush PondCascade PondChestnut PondConcrete PondlakeCoopers PondpondDoral PondpondDoughnut PondpondDrive PondEarth PondEast PondlakeErskine PondFivefoot PondFlat PondpondFoot PondForsyth PondlakeGarfield PondGrass PondGrays PondreservoirHolts Ice PondHunting PondIncrease PondIngleside PondpondJune PondLake SusanLive PondMayapple PondpondMcManus LakeMianus ReservoirreservoirNorth Stamford ReservoirreservoirOrient Lodge LakeOrient Lodge PondPicture PondPoor PondpondPound PondpondRaymonds PondRidge PondRidge Tree PondpondRiverbank PondSaddle PondreservoirSoundview PondTributary PondUnder PondMill RiverNoroton RiverRippowam River
Biking & sports
30 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
9.3 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
2.7 mi
off-road bike paths
18 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
102Tennis
28Baseball
15Basketball
9Softball
9Beach volleyball
8Soccer
8Pickleball
3Multi-sport
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →33 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 11 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Hoyt-Barnum HouseBuilding · listed 1969
About itOld Town HallBuilding · listed 1972
About itBenjamin Hait HouseBuilding · listed 1978
About itJohn Knap HouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itCove Island HousesBuilding · listed 1979
About itOctagon HouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itC. J. Starr Barn and Carriage HouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itDeacon John Davenport HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itMarion Castle, Terre BonneBuilding · listed 1982
About itLinden ApartmentsBuilding · listed 1983
About itDowntown Stamford Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1983
About it21 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Stamford: 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 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 40 | 42 | 49 | 61 | 70 | 80 | 85 | 83 | 76 | 65 | 54 | 44 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
February is the driest month (2.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 4.5 inches fall in September, the wettest month. The climate in Stamford →
Next door
Stamford and its neighbors
Stamford has the second most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Greenwich48 miStamford31 miNorth Castle29 miNew Canaan11 miDarien8.7 miOld Greenwich5.9 miNoroton0.7 miNoroton Heights0.5 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamford | 11% | 0.8 | 11 | 87% | A− |
| Darien | 5% | 0.7 | 9 | 89% | B+ |
| New Canaan | 6% | 0.5 | 20 | 54% | B |
| Greenwich | 13% | 1.0 | 15 | 81% | A− |
| Old Greenwich | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Noroton | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Noroton Heights | — 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 Stamford
Where can I hike in Stamford?
The longest trail networks: Mianus River Park, 3.5 miles; Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 3.2 miles; Mianus Glen, 3 miles; Bartlett Arboretum Historic Preserve, 2.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Stamford is conserved land?
11% 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 Stamford’s trails?
Mianus River Park and Stamford Museum & Nature Center don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Stamford?
30 miles of bike routes are on the map: 9.3 of painted or protected lanes, 2.7 of off-road paths and 18 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Stamford?
26,333 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Stamford or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,445 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Stamford have?
Ahead of 78% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #89 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 Stamford 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 →