STANLEY LOOP TRAIL:
NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 26, 2026
Length: Stanley Park Loop Trail; 4.5 mile Loop
Stanley Park Loop Trail; Stanley Quarter Park Section; 1.5 miles
Stanley Park Loop Trail; AW Stanley Park Section; 0.5 mile Loop
Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail; 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Stanley Park Loop Trail; Stanley Quarter Park Section; Moderate. Hilly paved trail.
Stanley Park Loop Trail; AW Stanley Park Section; Easy. Paved trail with a slight hill.
Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail; Easy. Flat paved trail.
Directions:
To Start from AW Stanley Park [Northern Section]; From Route 9 take exit 39 to Hartford Rd and head south to Stanley St. Turn right up Stanley St and turn right into the parking lot.
To Start from Stanley Quarter Park [Southern End]; From Route 9 take exit 39 to Hartford Rd and head south to Stanley St. Continue straight to Stanley Quarter Park and continue south.
Just before Kilbourne Ave on your left, turn right into the Stanley Quarter Park East parking lot.
Continue south along Stanley St to Eddy Glover Blvd and turn right. The Stanley Quarter Park South parking lot will be on your right.
The Stanley Loop Trail connects Stanley Quarter Park North, to AW Stanley Park. Also, in Stanley Quarter Park you can access the Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail. This trail also includes an Exercise Loop.
Stanley Park Loop Trail:
Starting from either the intersection of *Stanley Road & Eddy Glover Blvd or Stanley Quarter Park East parking lot [Southern End];
Note; Both Starting points line up with the Mile Markers that are located every 0.1 miles along the trail.
Starting from the intersection of *Stanley Road & Eddy Glover Blvd [Southern End]; Map Board. 0 Mile Marker. Brown wooden Mile Markers every 0.1 miles.
Note; You can access the Eddy Glover Blvd BIKE LANE, which travels Southwest, 1.3 miles to Farmington Ave.
Note; You can access the Ella Grasso Blvd SEPARATED BIKE LANE, which travels Northeast, past Central CT State University, 0.8 miles to Barbour Rd & Iwo Jima Way. Right will quickly bring you to the National Iwo Jima Memorial.
Note; Heading Northeast, along Ella Grasso Blvd SEPARATED BIKE LANE, you'll pass by the Welte parking garage. If you turn right on Welte Dr it will take you to the wide, brick lined paths of Central CT State University, which travel East, through the center of campus.
The wide, paved Stanley Loop Trail travels underneath the large Stanley Quarter Park sign and across a pedestrian bridge over Bass Brook. You quickly pass by a Spur Trail on your right.
Note; This brings you to the Stanley Quarter Park East parking lot.
The trail continues West, to a small stone bridge over the Bass Brook spillway at 0.1 miles.
Note; On your right is the start of the narrow, paved Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail. See; Below.
Continue across the stone bridge.
Note; On your right is the narrow, paved Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail. See; Below.
Bare left up to the Stanley Quarter Park South parking lot. Basketball courts, picnic pavilion, Porto-Potty and playground. Continue West, along the wide paved trail, past the playground and across the Park entrance road.
Note; Left, a short, wide paved trail takes you out to the Eddy Glover Blvd BIKE LANE.
Cross another stone bridge over Bass Brook before traveling past a ball field & Skate Park. The trail enters the woods and travels up hill, coming to an intersection at 0.5 miles.
Note; A wide, paved trail travels South, 0.2 miles up through the woods out to Eddy Glover Blvd, across from Tunxis St, where you can access the Eddy Glover Blvd BIKE LANE.
The trail turns North and crosses Blake Rd at 0.8 miles. The trail then levels out before turning Northeast and traveling down hill past Holmes Elementary School. It then exits out to Stanley Rd after 1.5 miles. Cross the road into AW Stanley Park. The paved AW Stanley Park Loop Trail starts here. No Mile Markers located in this Park, as of 2026. The trail parallels AW Stanley Park Loop Rd, passing by a sports court, parking lot (Porto-Potty, pool located across the road) and ball field before the trail turns right, away from the road.
Note; Check out the old stone building to your left.
The trail briefly narrows as you cross a dam and spillway for Lower Pond and Bass Brook. The trail then winds North, through the woods with a couple of hills. Only brief views of the pond. Come to an intersection at 2.2 miles.
Note; A Spur Trail travels North, out to Village Square Dr.
The trail turns West, up a steep hill, before leveling out as it travels South, through a canopied picnic area out to a parking lot at 2.6 miles. Head right, East, along AW Stanley Park Loop Rd past a playground and more parking. Turn left, South, along an old road past some stone buildings where you'll pick up a stone-dust trail. Pass by a ball field, another parking lot and the swimming pool, staying straight out to and across AW Stanley Park Loop Rd. This returns you to the paved trail. Head right back out to Stanley Rd after 3 miles.
Note; You can return back to the *Stanley Road & Eddy Glover Blvd or Stanley Quarter Park East parking lot via the Stanley Loop Trail for a 4.5 mile Loop.
Note; If you wish to avoid the steep hill climb past Holmes Elementary School, along the Stanley Loop Trail, you can return via the Stanley Road BIKE LANE. Travel left, South, along Stanley Rd (all downhill) and continue straight along at the next intersection. This takes you past the Stanley Quarter Park East parking lot, before returning to the intersection of *Stanley Road & Eddy Glover Blvd for a 3.8 mile Loop.
Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail:
Starting from either the intersection of *Stanley Road & Eddy Glover Blvd or Stanley Quarter Park East parking lot [Southern End]; Follow the paved Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail to Stanley Quarter Park Pond, where you'll find a small stone bridge over the Bass Brook spillway after 0.1miles. This is the start of the narrow, paved Stanley Quarter Pond Loop Trail as it travels North, alongside the pond. Fitness Circuit along this Loop. Travel around the Northern End of the pond, past some sports courts to an intersection at 0.4 miles.
Note; Right, North, a paved trail takes you up to Stanley St & Park Road A.
Continue left, South, passing by a small dock, then swing benches up on your right, before crossing a small stone bridge over a brook. Head left, West, along the Southern End of the pond, crossing the small stone bridge over the Bass Brook spillway and completing your Loop [Loop 0.5 miles]. Return to the intersection of *Stanley Road & Eddy Glover Blvd or Stanley Quarter Park East parking lot after a 0.7 mile Loop.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR STANLEY LOOP TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR CENTRAL CT STATE UNIVERSITY MAP
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT