Trails

Linear trails have become immensely popular places for people to be active and enjoy the outdoors. See the map for additional information.

Trail associations in the towns of Meriden, Wallingford and North Haven have a shared vision to develop a linear trail connecting the three towns, providing continuous pedestrian passage along the Quinnipiac for at least 15 miles. Over the last decade, each town has made strides in making this vision a reality and in the process, created trails that can be enjoyed today.

Wallingford

Quinnipiac Linear Trail
Trail access: Lakeside Park: Hall Ave. and River Rd. 
Trail Map

Despite its proximity to the Wilbur Cross Parkway, Wallingford’s Quinnipiac Linear Trail offers more than a mile of scenic serenity…and will soon have even more. A fully-funded trail extension, slated to begin by the spring of 2015, will add another 1 ¼ mile for pedestrian recreation and travel and reconnect downtown Wallingford and Yalesville, which were separated by the Wilbur Cross Parkway.

Wallingford’s current trail begins at Community Lake and runs north along the Quinnipiac River. Predominantly paved, the trail passes through cedar junipers and red maples, by one of the state's largest red oaks, and ends after crossing under the parkway. Visitors can also visit a labyrinth nestled in manicured gardens or explore the unmarked trails of the Emerson Leonard Wildlife Area, which encompasses the land between the linear path and the river. 

Meriden

Quinnipiac River Gorge Trail 
Trail access: Red Bridge at Lions Club Park: Oregon Road and Route 70 
Trail Map

The 1.3-mile Quinnipiac River Gorge Trail begins at the Red Bridge near Hanover Pond and travels north to the Cheshire/Meriden border, providing nearly uninterrupted river views and access to stocked fishing. Informational kiosks provide histories for the Red Bridge, Oregon Dam, Toboggan Bridge, Boy Scout Island, and the Meriden-Cromwell Connecticut River railroad bed (circa 1890), on which the trail is built. 

In 2013, Meriden added another .9 mile to its pedestrian trail system, with the construction of a paved path following Hanover Pond and Sodom Brook, which feeds the pond and river.  

North Haven

Quinnipiac River State Park Trail

This trail runs along the Q River near the Merritt Parkway service area north of Exit 63. The trail head is accessed by turning into Banton St. from State Street  just north of Route 22. Maintained by the North Haven Trail Associaion.

New Haven

Quinnipiac Avenue and Front Street

In New Haven, a 1.5 mile loop traverses the nationally and locally recognized Quinnipiac River Historic District. The walkway provides panoramic views of the river and the historic buildings along its shores. The route passes over two historic bridges and through the Quinnipiac River Park.