PEQUONNOCK RIVER TRAIL:
BRIDGEPORT-MONROE, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Letterbox Planted: September 4, 2002
Last Updated:
November 17, 2025
Length:
Seaside Park Trail; 2.3 miles
Berkshire Spur Trail; 2.1 miles
Pequonnock River Trail; 11.8 miles
Trumbull Memorial Walkway; 0.9 miles
Difficulty:
Berkshire Spur Trail; Easy. Paved trail and wide sidewalk.
Pequonnock River Trail;
Easy. Flat rail trail w/stone-dust, paved and hard packed gravel sections. Three
short
on-road sections.
Trumbull Memorial Walkway; Moderate. Narrow paved trail with a slight hill.
Directions:
To start from Seaside Park in Bridgeport
[Southwestern End]; From I-95 take exit
26 to Wordin Ave and travel south to Pine St. Head left and follow out to
Iranistan Ave and turn right. Take your first right on South Ave and follow to
Barnum Dyke. Turn right into the park along Barnum Blvd. Follow to the last
parking lot. Parking Fee.
To start from Glenwood Park in Bridgeport
[Southern End]; From Routes
8/25 take exit 2B to Chopsey Hill Rd and travel south over the river to Glenwood
Ave. Head left on Glenwood Ave and quickly turn left into the Park. [You may
also park in Beardsley Park, just up Glenwood Ave, however there is
a Fee]
To start Twin
Brooks Park in Trumbull [Southern
Section]; From Route 15 westbound (Merritt Pkwy) take exit 50
to Route 127 and head right. Travel 0.4 miles and turn right into Twin Brooks
Park. Follow to the first parking lot. Trail begins to your left. For Route 15
eastbound take exit 51, then get back on Route 15 westbound and follow
directions above. Parking for residents only.
To start from the Tait Road
parking lot in Trumbull [Central
Section]; Take exit 49 off of Route
15 (Merritt Parkway) to Route 25 north. Take exit 6 and go left on Daniels Farm
Rd
to Route 127. Take a right onto Route 127 and turn right again at the second
entrance onto Tait Rd. There is a long parking area along the right side. The
trail starts on the left.
To start from the Whitney
Avenue parking lot in Trumbull [Central
Section]; Take exit 49 off
of Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) to Route 25 north. Take this divided expressway to
a traffic light at the intersection of Route 111. Go left onto Route 111 south
for 0.7 miles and turn left onto Whitney Ave. The parking lot will be on your right less then ½ a mile down. The entrance
is directly across from a white sign that reads "Parlor Rock", on the
left side of the road.
To start from Old Mine
Park in Trumbull [Central
Section]; Take exit 49 off
of Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) to Route 25 north. When the expressway ends,
turn right on Route 111, then right on Old Mine Rd into the park. Parking
for residents only.
To start from Wolfe Park in Monroe
[Northern Section]; Take exit 49 off of Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) to Route 25 north.
Route 25 starts out as a divided highway until it crosses Route 111. Keep an eye
out for the Monroe town line. Past this point watch for a right turn onto Mill
St. Take this curving road to Maple Drive and then a right onto Hill Rd.
You'll see a sign for the park and the road on your left. There is a Park Gate
House at the entrance. NOTE: From Memorial Day to Labor Day there is an
entrance fee. You may park just down the entrance road on your right at the Great
Hollow Lake parking lot or if full, continue
on down to the parking lots near the beach. This is a pretty impressive park with a beach, pool,
playgrounds, athletic fields, tennis courts and hiking trails. Note; no bikes allowed on the park
trails.
To start from Cutlers Farm Road parking lot in
Monroe [Northern End];
Take exit 49 off of Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) to Route 25 north. Where the
divided highway ends, continue on Route 25 for 3 miles to the Village of Upper
Stepney. Turn right onto Green St, which then turns into Pepper St and go 1 mile to a right hand turn onto
Cutlers Farm Rd. The parking lot is on your left down a gravel road.
The Pequonnock River Trail
(formally known as the Housatonic Rail Trail) generally follows the path of the abandoned Housatonic Railway corridor
and runs parallel to the Pequonnock River. It starts in Downtown Bridgeport, although the plan is to extend the trail
South,
to the Seaside Park Trail,
along Long Island Sound. The trail starts out along the Berkshire
Spur Trail in Bridgeport before connecting to the Pequonnock River Trail at Beardsley Park. It
then travels North,
through Beardsley Park into
Trumbull, across
Route 15 (Merritt Parkway), into Twin Brooks Park, through the Pequonnock
River Valley and into Monroe, where it follows the old rail bed through Wolfe
Park to the Newtown town line. A
Gap currently exists in
Trumbull from Twin Brooks Park to Tait Rd. The trail then continues from Tait Rd
North,
through Wolfe Park in Monroe, to the Newton town
line. The Housatonic Rail Bed
was constructed in the early 1840's as the Berkshire Railroad from
Van Deusenville to West Stockbridge. In
1843 it was leased to the Housatonic Railroad, which was eventually taken
over by the New York, New Haven, & Hartford RR. Freight service
stopped in the 1950s. For more information visit; PEQUONNOCK
RIVER TRAIL & PEQUONNOCK
RIVER VALLEY .
SEASIDE PARK TRAIL SECTION:
Seaside Park
was laid out just after the Civil War by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted,
whose other efforts include Manhattan's Central Park and Prospect Park
in Brooklyn. At the Western End
of the park is Fayerweather Island. Walkers can visit this natural
wildlife preserve by crossing the breakwater rocks. The island's lighthouse
guided navigators into Black Rock Harbor from 1823 to 1932. Bridgeport's
most famous resident, the 19th century circus impresario P.T. Barnum is
largely responsible for the development of the park. The Eastern
End of the Seaside Park Trail
is part of the EAST
COAST GREENWAY , a planned biking & hiking route stretching 3,000
miles from Maine South,
to Florida. When complete it will traverse 15 states with a mostly
off-road path.
Starting from Barnum
Blvd East parking lot in Seaside
Park in Bridgeport
[Southwestern End];
Note; A rock
breakwater connects South, to Fayerweather Island,
where you can check out the Fayerweather Island Light
if hiking.
The Seaside Park Trail
travels Northeast, alongside the beach,
starting out as a narrow sidewalk for 0.1 miles, before you pick up a wide paved
trail. A sidewalk for pedestrians travels alongside the trail. Pass a parking
lot, picnic tables, playground & splash pad, before passing a beach pavilion
(restrooms). You then travel between two parking lot and pass by another
playground, before the trail utilizes a BIKE LANE through a
parking lot. The paved trail then passes by a fitness court, before turning inland,
traveling past Seaside Beach & volleyball court on your right and the
old grand Beach House (water fountain) on your left. You then pick up a 2-Way BIKE LANE along Soundview Dr
at 1 mile, which heads East. Sports fields along
your left. Pass by a statue of PT Barnum at a traffic circle and a Statue of
Elias Howe at the next traffic circle. Pass by a third traffic circle
and statue, where the road then turns North.
Come to an intersection for Soundview Dr & Main St.
Note; Here
a narrow paved trail travels between
Soundview Dr and Main St, however, this trail is in very bad condition.
Continue along Main St (one-way)
and exit the park to University Ave after 2.3 miles.
University of Bridgeport is along
your left.
Note; To
connect to the next section, requires an on-road detour.
Head left, to Broad St and travel North, on-road,
(low traffic), traveling through a tunnel underneath a rail line. Double-wide
sidewalk available here. Pass by the BE Chocolat at The Amphitheater
& Total Mortgage Arena on your right, before traveling
underneath I-95 to N Frontage Rd. Continue North,
following a BIKE LANE
through a business district to State St at 0.8 miles. Head right, East,
on-road (one-way) to
Water St and turn left, North, on-road
(double-wide sidewalk available). Pass by the train platform along your right,
followed by the Bridgeport Transportation Center. Pick up the Berkshire
Spur Trail after 1.2
miles.
BERKSHIRE SPUR TRAIL SECTION:
Starting from
Golden Hill & Water Streets in Bridgeport
[Southern End];
The
Berkshire
Spur Trail begins next to the Bridgeport Transportation Center. This urban trail travels
North, along
the Eastern Side of Water St as a widened sidewalk before becoming paved as it
travels alongside Housatonic Ave and out to North Ave & Lindley St at 1.2 miles.
Note; Several
options are under study for connecting the trail North,
through downtown, from here to Beardsley Park. I direct you along the shortest route with off
road options.
A cross-light takes you over
Lindley St (old Berkshire Spur continued straight, but is not accessible) and alongside North
Ave where the paved trail eventually changes to a wide sidewalk. Cross Island
Brook Ave at 1.5 miles and continue Northeast,
on-road (narrow sidewalk/no shoulder) before coming to Boston Ave. You'll need to head left, to access a
cross-light over to Glenwood Ave. Continue North,
on-road, along Glenwood Ave,
passing by the entrance to Glenwood Park parking lot at 1.9 miles. Spot a
dam on Pequonnock River creating Bunnells Pond on your left.
Here the road is residential with a slight hill. Come to the start of the paved Pequonnock River Trail after
2.1 miles.
PEQUONNOCK RIVER TRAIL:
Starting from Glenwood Road & Crown
Street at Beardsley Park [Southern End]; The
paved Pequonnock River Trail
travels North and enters the Southern border of Beardsley Park. Spot a stone
pedestrian bridge on your left next to the pond. The trail parallels the park
road passing by BEARDSLEY ZOO
at 2.3 miles. Nice promenade overlooking the pond. Head down a slight hill where
you come alongside the river. Travel past a play ground and ball fields before
exiting the park and traveling underneath Route 8 at 3.3 miles as you cross into
Trumbull. Pass by an out
of place stone castle feature before crossing a bridge over the river where
you'll find a Map Board. You then come to the Quarry Road parking lot at
3.6 miles. The trail then takes you up a slight hill alongside Quarry Rd, then
into the woods and underneath an on-ramp for Route 15. An old RR bridge takes
you over Route 15, followed by another tunnel underneath an off-ramp and out to Rocky
Hill Rd. Short on-road (residential) section out to Route 127 where the paved
trail continues left, to a cross-light over Route 127. This brings you to a small
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park.
Go around this memorial to a narrow wooden bridge/boardwalk across the Pequonnock
River to an intersection in Twin Brooks Park.
Note; Right leads to a
playground.
Head left along the paved trail. This leads
to another intersection at 5.1 miles.
Note; Right leads past some
restrooms to Twin Brooks Park parking
lot.
Head left crossing a
causeway with a pond on your right and come to a third intersection.
Note;
Right, Northeast, takes you along the paved Trumbull Memorial
Walkway past the pond and over a stone bridge to Twin Brooks Dr. Head
left along a narrow paved trail that passes by a parking lot a gazebo as it parallels
the road. Pass by a second parking lot where the trail winds through the woods
uphill. After 0.9 miles the trail ends at Old Dike Rd.
Head left up a slight hill where the trail winds through the
woods and alongside the Pequonnock
River. Travel West underneath Route 25 where the trail ends at Manor Drive at
5.5 miles.
Note; To connect to the next
section requires an 0.7 mile on-road (residential) detour. Follow Manor Drive West
and take your first right
on Gregory Pl. Turn left on Laurel St and follow to Daniels Farm Rd. Head left
(sidewalk available along with wide shoulders) out to Route 127. Cross Daniels
Farm Rd where a sidewalk quickly brings you to Tait Rd. Head right and you'll
come to the Tait Road parking area
after 6.2 miles.
From the Tait Road parking area in Trumbull
[Central
Section];
[Continuing Mileage] A short paved path leads up to a
Map Board where the hard
packed stone-dust trail begins. The trail starts off traveling North,
through
a residential corridor before heading into the woods. This section is well shaded as it follows a shelf of land along a steep slope of trap
rock to your left and the Pequonnock River below to your right. The river has some very scenic rocky chasms and small rapids.
You'll pass a wooden 0.5 Mile Marker on your right. There are also
Mile Markers
stamped on the back rest of the benches along the left side of the trail. You come to
a Map Board just before the
Whitney Avenue
parking lot at 4.6 miles. The trail then crosses Whitney Ave
where it is now paved. A sign indicates your entering Parlor Rock Park. This was the
site of a late-1800's amusement park built by the railroad to attract
passengers. There is a path just up the trail that will take you to a nice
overlook of a rock gorge on the river. An old dam was also here, which now
forms a small waterfall. Worth the quick side trip. The trail pulls away from
the original rail bed that got swallowed up by Route 25 and winds up through the
woods to a boardwalk alongside the river that will take you underneath Route 25.
Next you'll come to the Old Mine Park
parking lot at 5.5 miles. This is the site of an old tungsten mine that was operated by
the American Tungsten Mining & Milling Company from 1899-1906.
Remnants of the operation are still visible along the parks hiking trails. There
are picnic tables, a pavilion, Map Board and a small pond the river flows
through here. The trail continues straight
following the entrance road out to Route 111. Head right to access a cross-light
over
this busy road. At 6.1 miles the trail splits.
Note; Straight is just a
Spur Trail out
to Main St (Route 25).
Continue right up the small hill along the "Spring
Hill Road Trail Route" where you'll wind through the woods and out to
Spring Hill Rd. Continue straight across the road and past a gate where the
trail continues alongside the river. The trail turns to hard packed gravel at
6.6 miles and takes you around a small pond as you cross into Monroe. When you come to Victoria Dr turn left
and cross the bridge. The trail continues on your right. After crossing over a
wooden bridge follow a narrow dirt path out to Maple Dr at 7.3 miles.
Note; A
short on-road detour
is required. Turn right
along Maple Drive (low traffic residential road). You'll pass by the old Stepney
Depot, Circa 1850 on your right and head up a short hill to Purdy Hill Rd.
Turn right and travel down to the entrance for Wolfe Park on the left.
Note;
This section is under construction in 2025 and will build a stone-dust trail from Maple Dr North,
to the public works facility. The trail will continue across Purdy Hill Rd and
through portions of Wolfe Park, until it reaches the existing segment of
trail at the Northern End of the park
entrance drive. Project scheduled to be completed by Summer 2026.
Just past the gatehouse is the 0
Mile Marker for
this section of the trail at 7.6 miles. The trail follows the entrance road
North and brings
you to the Great Hollow Lake parking lot at 7.9 miles. Continue into the park along the entrance road until you come to the
brown gate on the left where you'll leave the entrance road. At the beginning of the trail are some benches that overlook the
beach at
Great Hollow Lake in the park. Mileage Markers dot the trail. This section of the trail
consists of a wide hard packed surface, as it travels through deep woods. After you pass by the 1.1 mile post on
your left (This post may be missing), you enter the Wind Gap, a railroad cut through a 150 foot
deep pass between two hills lined with steep slopes and ledges. You emerge into
an open area and pass by a bench on your left. Just past this bench will be a path that crosses the trail.
Follow this path left, as it runs
along a stone wall for 10 paces (1 pace = 2 steps). A Maple tree on your right
will be reaching out over the stone wall to grab your attention. At the base of
the tree, directly underneath the overhanging limb will be a square rock on top
of a flat rock on top of
the stone wall. Lift up these two rocks and reach up under the stone to find the Housatonic Rail
Trail North Letterbox.
Continuing along the trail you pass through a marshy
area and cross over Cutlers Farm Road to a parking lot at 9.4 miles. You
continue
North, by crossing over Pepper St at the cross walk. You'll come to a nice stone arched bridge
at 9.9 miles where the trail has to detour around a
housing development. Follow the trail right, out to a
cul-de-sac (Grant Rd) and travel on-road out to Pepper St.
A gravel path continues North, alongside alongside Pepper St.
The trail renters the woods at 10.5 miles. You ascend a small hill and turn right back on the original rail trail.
The trail crosses back over Pepper St at 11.1 miles. The maintained trail ends at the
Newtown town border after
11.8 miles.
Note; You may continue North, but the trail is narrow and
rough in parts and a mountain bike is recommended. You head down a straight, but
relatively smooth path. The original RR tracks appear alongside
the path, having never been pulled up. The path then winds roughly through the
woods before crossing over a double set of tracks and bearing right. You emerge
on old pavement among a lot of junk, but if you continue straight, you'll run
into an active rail line after 0.5 miles. If you look right along the fence line you can see
where the tracks used to merge into this line. You are now in the Botsford
section of Newtown. If you follow this old road left, you'll emerge onto Swamp
Rd.
Note;
Newtown is working on extending the trail,
as the Newtown Rail Trail. The Housatonic Railroad Company has given permission to utilize some of
their property for the trail to bypass a superfund site at the former Batchelder
industrial site. See; Map Below.
HH
CLICK
HERE FOR BRIDGEPORT-TRUMBULL SECTION MAP
CLICK
HERE FOR TRAILLINK PEQUONNOCK RIVER TRAIL MAP
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED
ON
NOVEMBER 17, 2025
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
bikeitorhikeitcontact@gmail.com
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SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY
AND DISCLAIMER
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