UConn Forest Moss Tract
Managed by University of Connecticut
438 acres5.7 mi of trail
Nipmuck TrailPink BlazesWhite Blazes
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Willington
Willington has 427 acres of parks, 77 for every 1,000 residents
35 miles of mapped trail cross Willington, 1.1 per square mile of land. 11% of Willington’s land is conserved, about 2,361 acres. The biggest trail networks: UConn Forest Moss Tract (5.7 mi), Fenton–Ruby Park and Wildlife Preserve (4.9 mi), Nipmuck State Forest Laurel Sanctuary (2.3 mi).
Ahead of 78% of U.S. towns · #90 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Conserved land
11%
2,361 acres · of 33.3 sq mi of land
Trails
35 mi
1.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
427 ac
77 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
29%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
955 ft
Whifford Hill
Lakes & rivers
37
2 beaches
What kind of outdoors town is Willington?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Willington have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Willington is ahead of 78% of U.S. towns, #90 of 155 in Connecticut. Park acres per resident hold the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Willington’s overall grade.
Conserved land11% of the land · typical CT town 15% · U.S. 4%A−Trails1.1 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (35 mi) · CT 1.4 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land77 acres of park per 1,000 residents (427 acres) · CT 22 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home29% 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 78%
LessMore
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 42%
Connecticut towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 15%; the U.S., 4%), so Willington’s 11% is ahead of 27% of Connecticut towns, while its trails per square mile lead 38% of them.
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 UConn Forest Moss Tract, with 5.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Fenton–Ruby Park and Wildlife Preserve
Managed by Town of Willington
337 acres4.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Nipmuck State Forest Laurel Sanctuary
Nature preserve
469 acres2.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Chenes Roches Preserve
Managed by Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
57 acres1.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Nipmuck State Forest
Managed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
803 acres1.5 mi of trail
West Murray TrailEast Murray Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Royal Knowlton Preserve
Managed by Town of Willington
138 acres1.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Daniel W. Talmadge Conservation Tract
Managed by Town of Willington
27 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
River Road Park
Managed by Town of Willington
8 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 33 parks & preserves
UConn Forest Moss Tract438 acres · 5.7 mi of trail · University of Connecticut
DirectionsFenton–Ruby Park and Wildlife Preserve337 acres · 4.9 mi of trail · Town of Willington
DirectionsNipmuck State Forest Laurel Sanctuary469 acres · 2.3 mi of trail
Chenes Roches Preserve57 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
Nipmuck State Forest803 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsRoyal Knowlton Preserve138 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Town of Willington
DirectionsDaniel W. Talmadge Conservation Tract27 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Town of Willington
DirectionsRiver Road Park8 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Town of Willington
DirectionsTinkerville Brook Preserve2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
Ruby Road Open Space54 acres · Town of Willington
First Naturalist Church Wildlife Sanctuary29 acres · First Naturalist Church and Wildlife Sanctuary
Hancock Road Open Space25 acres · Town of Willington
River Road Open Space18 acres · Town of Willington
DirectionsMeadow Lane Open Space16 acres · Town of Willington
Jared Sparks Road Open Space15 acres · Town of Willington
Daleville School Road Open Space12 acres · Town of Willington
Mihaliak Road Open Space11 acres · Town of Willington
Willimantic Water Access Area11 acres · State of Connecticut
Pinecrest Road Open Space9 acres · Town of Willington
Turnpike Road Open Space8 acres · Town of Willington
DirectionsBalazs Road Open Space7 acres · Town of Willington
Angela Lane Open Space6 acres · Town of Willington
Lohse Road4 acres · Town of Willington
Moose Meadow Road Open Space4 acres · Town of Willington
Laurel Drive Open Space3 acres · Town of Willington
Luchon Road Open Space3 acres · Town of Willington
Halls Pond Swim Area3 acres
DirectionsKollar Wildlife Management Area2 acres · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DirectionsKing Conservation Area2 acres · Town of Tolland
Bob White Farm2 acres · Northern Connecticut Land Trust
River Park1 acres · Town of Tolland
South River Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Tolland
DirectionsFermier Road Open Space1 acres · Town of Willington
Who protects it
2,361 conserved acres
11% of Willington’s land. Who manages Willington’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation356 ac
Private owners126 ac
Town or city7 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)2 ac
Not recorded2,229 ac
State Resource Management Area · 1,352 acLocal Other or Unknown · 711 acUnknown Easement · 260 acPrivate Conservation · 241 acConservation Easement · 127 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 127 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 62 of 68 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nipmuck State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 711 | Unknown |
| Unknown Conservation Easement | Not recorded | 503 | Unknown |
| Uconn Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 341 | Unknown |
| Fenton - Ruby Park and Wildlife Preserve Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 244 | Unknown |
| Nye Holman State Forest State Resource Management Area | State conservation | 127 | Open |
| Nye Holman State Forest (Old Forest Management Area) State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 102 | Unknown |
| Fenton - Ruby Park and Wildlike Preserve Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 93 | Unknown |
| Nipmuck State Forest (Old Forest Management Area) State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 71 | Unknown |
| Bissonnette Pond Private Conservation | Not recorded | 57 | Unknown |
| Chenes Roches Preserve Private Conservation | Not recorded | 53 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
13 places to go in Willington
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Willington
Halls Pond BeachIn Halls Pond Swim Area
DirectionsPlus 1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Willington
1 playground without a name on the map.
Dog parks in Willington
1 dog park without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Willington
1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Peaks in Willington
Whifford Hill955 ft elevation
DirectionsParker Mountain902 ft elevation
DirectionsWenberg Hill804 ft elevation
DirectionsHolt Mountain712 ft elevation
DirectionsBrackett Hill640 ft elevation
DirectionsPinney Hill509 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Willington
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Willington
Wilderness Lake Campground
DirectionsTrails & water
5 named trails and 37 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 5.8 mi
Nipmuck Trail1.2 mi
West Murray Trail0.8 mi
Pink Blazes0.8 mi
East Murray Trail0.7 mi
White Blazes0.2 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Bissonnette PondreservoirBugbee PondlakeCushmans PondDeversky PondreservoirDrobney DamDrobney PondEldridge PondlakeFarra PondGaines PondreservoirHalchek PondreservoirHalls PondreservoirHocklas PondJohn Wittenzellner DamKalbac PondreservoirKravanec PondreservoirLowrys PondMs.Sour's PondParizek F PondlakeParizek PondreservoirParizek Pond No 2Parizek Pond No 3pondPelican PondPetrowich PondPilchers PondReulter DamRittek DamRomananskay PondRuby LakereservoirService PondSharps Mill PondlakeSparks PondTaylor PondreservoirUpper Wasilewski PondVonasek PondWasilewski PondFenton RiverWillimantic River
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
4Tennis
3Basketball
2Baseball
1Soccer
1Beach volleyball
1Volleyball
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 3 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Willington: 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) | 9.4 | 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 | 38 | 46 | 58 | 69 | 77 | 82 | 80 | 74 | 62 | 51 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
February is the driest month (3.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.8 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Willington →
Next door
Willington and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Mansfield127 miStafford74 miTolland59 miAshford55 miEllington43 miWillington35 miCrystal Lake15 miStafford Springs3.3 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willington | 11% | 1.1 | 77 | 29% | A− |
| Tolland | 18% | 1.5 | 46 | 41% | A− |
| Stafford | 26% | 1.3 | 14 | 40% | A− |
| Crystal Lake | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Ellington | 18% | 1.2 | 5 | 34% | B |
| Ashford | 32% | 1.4 | 21 | 18% | A− |
| Mansfield | 29% | 2.8 | 26 | 47% | A |
| Stafford Springs | — 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 Willington
Where can I hike in Willington?
The longest trail networks: UConn Forest Moss Tract, 5.7 miles; Fenton–Ruby Park and Wildlife Preserve, 4.9 miles; Nipmuck State Forest Laurel Sanctuary, 2.3 miles; Chenes Roches Preserve, 1.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Willington 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 Willington’s trails?
UConn Forest Moss Tract and Fenton–Ruby Park and Wildlife Preserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Willington?
17,771 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Willington or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 427 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Willington have?
Ahead of 78% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #90 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 Willington 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 →