Join the East Coast Greenway for Ride the State: Connecticut

The Farmington Valley Trails Council, Farmington Canal Rail to Trail Association and the East Coast Greenway Alliance are teaming up to host Ride the State: Connecticut, a 56-mile bike ride to highlight the need to close the remaining gaps in the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail segment of the East Coast Greenway on Saturday, June 24.

Registration is now open.

The majority of the ride, from New Haven, Connecticut, to Southwick, Massachusetts, is on the extensive, flat Farmington Canal Heritage Trail system with only a few sections on carefully selected local roads. There will be two rest stops, a support vehicle and a police escort on Route 10.

"Annually, Ride the State: Connecticut brings together many local partners and supporters of the East Coast Greenway for a fun-filled, 56-mile ride. After selling out last year, we anticipate a full ride again in 2023 and encourage early registration," said Bruce Donald, Southern New England Manager for the East Coast Greenway Alliance. "This event is a tremendous celebration of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, while also highlighting the need to complete this important active transportation corridor." 

Early ride registration is open now for $50 until May 1, a savings of $20 off the full-price registration fee of $70. Proceeds from the ride will help go toward completion of this marquee segment of the East Coast Greenway.

Lunch is included in the registration fee for all participants, and the first 100 individuals registered can also gain access to a bus ride back to New Haven for an additional $30 per person. The ride is capped at 150 participants and sold out in prior years. 

On-site registration will start at 7:30 a.m., and the ride will begin at 8 a.m. at the southwest corner of New Haven Green Corner of Chapel and College Streets at the Pierre Lallement Memorial Stone. The ride is scheduled to end at 3 p.m. in Southwick, Massachusetts. 

The ride begins at the New Haven Green and passes through 11 Connecticut towns before it reaches Southwick, Massachusetts. Most of the trail features off-road travel providing a safe system of linear parks that can be accessed at multiple points. The trails serve multiple positive purposes for their communities and the surrounding region. Only two gaps remain – in New Haven and the Plainville area.

Lunch will take place in Avon, showcasing the brand-new Avon Village Center Project at Climax Road and the intersection of the trail just past Route 44.   

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail passes through the following towns: New Haven, Hamden, Cheshire, Southington, Plainville, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, East Granby, Granby and Suffield. Connecticut DEEP and the Connecticut Department of Transportation are working together to expand the trail system making use of trails more attractive for residents and visitors to Connecticut.