UConn Forest Fenton Tract
Managed by University of Connecticut
575 acres11.1 mi of trail
Nipmuck Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Storrs
Few parks or trails are on the map in Storrs
The biggest trail networks: UConn Forest Fenton Tract (11.1 mi), Hillside Environmental Education Park (3.1 mi), Albert E. Moss Sanctuary (2.2 mi). 33% of Storrs’ land is conserved, about 1,568 acres. 54 acres are parks and preserves, 3.5 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
33%
1,568 acres · of 7.5 sq mi of land
Trails
32 mi
4.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
54 ac
3.5 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
38%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
9.3 mi
1.6 mi lanes · 5.9 mi paths
Highest peak
702 ft
Horsebarn Hill
Lakes & rivers
6
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 UConn Forest Fenton Tract, with 11.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Hillside Environmental Education Park
Managed by University of Connecticut
150 acres3.1 mi of trail
Water Line Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Albert E. Moss Sanctuary
Managed by Town of Mansfield
137 acres2.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
UConn Forest North Eagleville Tract
Managed by University of Connecticut
80 acres1.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Torrey Preserve
Managed by Town of Mansfield
31 acres1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Shelter Falls Park
Managed by Town of Mansfield
69 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Nate and Theora Whetten Woods
Managed by Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
36 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
UConn Forest Spring Hill Tract
Managed by University of Connecticut
155 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 21 parks & preserves
UConn Forest Fenton Tract575 acres · 11.1 mi of trail · University of Connecticut
DirectionsHillside Environmental Education Park150 acres · 3.1 mi of trail · University of Connecticut
DirectionsAlbert E. Moss Sanctuary137 acres · 2.2 mi of trail · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsUConn Forest North Eagleville Tract80 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · University of Connecticut
DirectionsTorrey Preserve31 acres · 1 mi of trail · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsShelter Falls Park69 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsNate and Theora Whetten Woods36 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
DirectionsUConn Forest Spring Hill Tract155 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · University of Connecticut
Dunham Woods Preserve18 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
DirectionsWhetten Woods Protected Open Space25 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsDunhamtown Forest4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsOwen's Mere8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
DirectionsNorth Eagleville Road Open Space8 acres · Town of Mansfield
Jerauld A. Manter Tract2 acres · Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
DirectionsFarmstead Road Open Space2 acres · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsHillyndale Road Open Space2 acres · Town of Mansfield
Little Lane Open Space2 acres · Town of Mansfield
Hanks Corner Preserve1 acres · Town of Mansfield
Cheney Drive Open Space1 acres · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsGurleyville Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Mansfield
DirectionsCostello Circle Open Space1 acres · Town of Mansfield
Who protects it
1,568 conserved acres
33% of Storrs’ land. Who manages Storrs’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city183 ac
Other state land1 ac
Not recorded1,412 ac
State Other or Unknown · 1,186 acLocal Other or Unknown · 147 acConservation Easement · 134 acPrivate Conservation · 53 acLocal Conservation Area · 50 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 134 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 27 of 32 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Unknown | Not recorded | 1,410 | Unknown |
| Town Open Space (Gurleyville Road) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 40 | Open |
| Town Open Space (Dunham Road) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 7 | Open |
| Shelter Falls Park Local Park | Not recorded | 2 | Unknown |
| Town Open Space (Holly Drive) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 2 | Open |
| State Of Connecticut State Resource Management Area | Other state land | 1 | Open |
| Town Open Space (Birchwood Heights) Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 1 | Open |
Things to do
14 places to go in Storrs
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Storrs
4 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Fishing spots in Storrs
1 fishing spot without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Waterfalls in Storrs
CascadesIn Shelter Falls Park
DirectionsPlus 2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Storrs
4 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Storrs
Horsebarn Hill702 ft elevation
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Storrs
Mansfield Community Garden
DirectionsTrails & water
3 named trails and 6 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 8.9 mi
Nipmuck Trail0.7 mi
Water Line Trail0.7 mi
Owen's Mere Trail0.2 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
9.3 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.6 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
5.9 mi
off-road bike paths
1.9 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
9Beach volleyball
9Tracks
8Tennis
8Basketball
6Pickleball
5Baseball
4Football
4Soccer
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Storrs: May 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 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 36 | 39 | 46 | 59 | 70 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 74 | 62 | 51 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
February is the driest month (2.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.7 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Storrs →
Questions about parks and trails in Storrs
Where can I hike in Storrs?
The longest trail networks: UConn Forest Fenton Tract, 11.1 miles; Hillside Environmental Education Park, 3.1 miles; Albert E. Moss Sanctuary, 2.2 miles; UConn Forest North Eagleville Tract, 1.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Storrs’ trails?
UConn Forest Fenton Tract and Hillside Environmental Education Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Storrs?
9.3 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.6 of painted or protected lanes, 5.9 of off-road paths and 1.9 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Storrs?
6,099 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Storrs or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 55 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Storrs 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 →