The River Trail

Officially recognized by the Connecticut Greenways Council as New Milford River Trail Greenway in May, 2017

Phase I: Sega Meadows Park to Gaylordsville (the northern end)

How To Find Us:
If you’re traveling from the south, head north on Rt 7, go past the Veterans Bridge (which leads to downtown New Milford), then after about 2 miles turn right on Boardman Road and look for the trail head on the left just across the Bridge.

The New Milford River trail currently extends for 5 miles from the Boardman Road entrance to Gaylordsville.  It runs for 1½ miles on a crushed, gravel surface through Sega Meadows Park, where it joins the unpaved and lightly-trafficked River Road, and  continues for another 3½ miles to the center of Gaylordsville.

This is just Phase 1 of a proposed 13-mile trail that we hope will follow the Housatonic River south through downtown New Milford all the way to the town border with Brookfield.

Parking:
Limited parking is available at the southern trailhead (next to Boardman Bridge).  Another lot is located across the river, on Route 7 between the modern Boardman Bridge and the parking lot for The River Bistro.

There is a much larger parking lot at the northern entrance to Sega Meadows Park on River Rd.

Directions to Sega Meadows’ North Entrance: From Boardman Bridge turn onto River Rd, continue onto dirt section of road. Parking lot is just ahead on left.

Other Useful Information:

• The trail itself is relatively flat, with only a couple of small hills.  It is well-suited to walking, running, or bicycling (with anything other than a road-racing bike). The 10-mile round trip to Gaylordsville is an easy ride for most families.

Phase II: The Downtown New Milford section at Young’s Field’s new riverside park

Young’s Field Riverwalk 

In the fall of 2016, the town started another segment of the New Milford River Trail  along the riverfront at Young’s Field Park that was completed in the spring of 2017.  With  $180,000 in funding from the Housatonic River Natural Resources Restoration Settlement Fund (GE Settlement Fund), Landfill Settlement Fund (Waste Management Funds), and our generous supporters, this riverfront recapture project stabilized the embankment at Young’s Field,  allowed for invasive overgrowth and dead trees to be removed, native species plantings to be added, along with a fishing dock and benches to take in the new, beautiful view of the Housatonic River, and a 1/4 mile, environmentally-friendly, paved surface to be installed that allows for bikers, walkers, runners, wheelchairs and strollers.

Western New England Greenway
Both of our trails are integral parts of the Western New England Greenway, a multi-segment, multi-state network of mostly on road bike routes that aims to follow the Route 7 Corridor from Long Island Sound to the Canadian Border, now known and designated by AASHTO as US Bike Route 7.  Partners of the Western New England Greenway include: Merritt Parkway Trail Alliance, East Coast Greenway, Norwalk River Valley Trail, Still River Greenway, New Milford River Trail, Hou Bike Walk Trail, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Lake Champlain Bikeway, Burlington Bike Path, Island Line Trail, and La Route Verte. More information, including “Ride It Now Maps”, is available at http://wnegreenway.org/.

Downtown-Riverfront Loop:

For those looking to extend their walk, consider doing the “Downtown-Riverfront Loop”.  Starting at Town Hall on the Village Green, walk towards Bridge Street, then along the sidewalks on Bridge Street to Young’s Field Road.  Use the crosswalk to enter the new riverside park.  At the far end cross over to Patriot’s Way.  When you reach the Railroad Station building use crosswalks to Bank Street.  Walk up Bank Street where there are shops and restaurants.  Cross the historic Village Green back to Town Hall.  The loop is approx. one mile.