Home2021-08-11T20:02:30+00:00

Welcome to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail

Are You Wearing a Helmet?
Did you know? Helmets are required by law for children on skates and scooters too!

“Conor’s Law” was passed in 2018, requiring children under 16 to wear a helmet when skateboarding, scootering, roller skating and in-line skating. The new statute adds on to the existing law requiring that children under age 16 wear protective headgear when riding a bicycle on a public road or in a park.

This law was championed by Ledyard mother Holly Irwin in memory of her son Conor, an accomplished student-athlete who died at the age of 14 following an accidental fall from his skateboard in 2016.

This law is important because it reminds us all that a crash can be just as devastating from skates as it is from a bicycle. Everyone should wear a helmet, but especially our most vulnerable, our children. Make sure your child has a helmet, and be a good example by wearing one yourself. The smart thing to do is always protect your head with a helmet, no matter your age or which wheels you’re rockin’!

A Reminder from the Connecticut Greenways Council About Social Distancing on Trails
The Connecticut Greenways Council, a legislatively appointed advisory board working through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, is pleased to see that many Connecticut residents have discovered the pleasures of exploring the numerous trails that crisscross state, town and land trust properties.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Please Be Parking Lot Smart and Secure
Cars have been broken into in Trail parking lots. Please leave nothing visible in your car to tempt thieves.

Have you ever wondered if your bike helmet fits properly? Click here and be sure.

Be a Safe Trail User
Trail users have reported encounters with coyotes, bears and other wildlife on the trail. Following the rules of the trail, including keeping your pet leashed and close to your person, will help you avoid unwelcome attention from wild animals, whose presence in our midst we respect, at a distance.

Click on each animal’s name for information specifically relating to coyotes and black bears.

FEATURED NEWS

Our mission is to build, maintain, beautify and connect off-road multi-use trails throughout central Connecticut communities.
The trail is a linear park or greenway that begins in New Haven and wends its way 54 miles north to the Massachusetts border and beyond. It is championed by two groups: the Farmington Valley Trails Council, based in the Farmington Valley, and the Farmington Canal Rail-to-Trail Association, based in Hamden. This website represents both groups. Generally, the FVTC advocates for the northern half, and FCRTTA for the southern section in the state. The gaps in the trail have shrunk to the point that the trail is truly a single entity and so it seems fitting to merge our websites as our groups increasingly work together.

If you are not a member, please consider becoming one.
The Farmington Canal Rail-to-Trail Association and the Farmington Valley Trails Council. Inc. are CT 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations advocating for multi-use “rails-to-trails” in central Connecticut. We work tirelessly to “close the gaps” in the 81-mile Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, the 18-mile Farmington River Trail, and the designated CT East Coast Greenway system. We help area towns fund trail construction, enhancements and ongoing maintenance. We also provide educational materials, 20,000 folding maps a year, and events that promote safety and proper etiquette on the trail system. We are only as strong as our members and volunteers…please get in touch and join us out on the trails!

Go to Top