Planted:                 November 18, 2001

Length:                  Farmington to Collinsville; 8 1/4 miles

                                 Meadow Road Trail; 1.7 miles

                                 Routes 4 & 179 Junction parking lot to Letterbox; Drive-by

Difficulty:              Easy. Flat, paved surface.

                                 Moderate; Flat, gravel-hard packed dirt-old pavement along unfinished section. Mt bike recommended.

Directions:

To start from Collinsville: From Route 44, take Route 179 south towards Collinsville Center. Look for Old River Rd on your right. This will bring you to the northern start of the Collinsville section from Old River Road parking area. Continuing on to Collinsville, parking is available at the Canton Town Offices, next to the Canton Historical Museum. You will see a large mill complex on your left just before you cross over the Farmington River. If you continue south on Route 179, you'll come to the Route 179 parking lot located along the left. Continue further south to the junction of Routes 4 & 179 for the Routes 4 & 179 Junction parking lot, also along the left side.

To start from the New Britain Ave parking lot: From I-84, take exit 39 and follow Route 4 east. Turn left off of Route 4 onto Route 10 south. Less then a mile on your right will be Meadow Road. Follow Meadow Rd to Red Oak Hill Rd to New Britain Ave. Take a right on New Britain Ave and the parking lot will be on your left. 

To start along the Meadow Road Trail; From I-84, take exit 39 and follow Route 4 east. Turn left off of Route 4 onto Route 10 south. Less then a mile on your right will be Meadow Road. Go a short distance down Meadow Road where an unpaved parking lot will be on your right just after crossing over a small river. This is the Conklin Nature Trail parking lot. There are two other parking lots further along if you wish to start closer to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.

The Farmington River Rail Trail will eventually take you smoothly from Farmington in the south, through Unionville, Collinsville and connect to the Farmington Valley Greenway in Simsbury up north. As of August 2009, one section in Collinsville remains undeveloped and the section from Collinsville to the Stratton Brook Trail is undeveloped. The section through Stratton Brook State Park is smooth stone dust. One other Letterbox is located in the area. See; Nepaug Reservoir North Letterbox. For more information See;  FARMINGTON VALLEY GREENWAY and EAST COAST GREENWAY .

The Meadow Road Trail travels alongside Meadow Road and Red Oak Hill Road for 1.7 miles and connects to the start of both the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and Farmington River Trail. Its a good place to start if you wish to extend your trip along the Farmington River Trail. There are three parking areas along the Meadow Road Trail, one just a 1/2  mile shy of the Farmington River Trail and one near its beginning at the Conklin Nature Trail. 

Starting from the Conklin Nature Trail parking lot; The parking lot is next to the Pequabuck River, which flows into the Farmington River. I suggest you take a quick detour along the nature trail to where the rivers meet and check out the house up a small knoll across the river. Fabulous. Next, take another quick detour by heading left out of the parking lot along the Meadow Road Trail to where the trail crosses over an old stone arch bridge with views overlooking a marsh. We saw the biggest turtle I've ever seen outside of a zoo. If you were to continue east the trail narrows and ends at Garden Street (Route 10). Heading right from the parking lot the trail is flat and soon travels along open farmland. At 0.4 miles you come to the Farmington Community Gardens and across the road is a second parking lot next to where they fly radio controlled airplanes. Kids will love this. Meadow Road veers left as the trail continues alongside Red Oak Hill Road. After passing by a third parking lot and then the entrance to Tunxis Mead Park at 1.1 miles, the trail narrows and travels uphill. 

Note; A 1/4 mile paved trail travels into Tunxis Mead Park.

You'll come to the start of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail after 1.4 miles. See; Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Letterbox . If you continue straight along Red Oak Hill Road, then turn right at New Britain Avenue, you can then cross over to the start of the Farmington River Rail Trail after 0.1 miles. 

Starting in Farmington from New Britain Ave; The 0 Mile marker starts here. Mile markers are located all along the trail. The paved trail travels into the woods through a residential area along the former rail bed. Quickly you'll come to the New Britain Ave parking lot along the right. At 0.8 miles spot an old RR track holder along the right. You then cross over a high berm with a pond below. After crossing Oakridge Rd look to your left at the top of the incline to spot an old granite RR Mile marker. After 2.3 miles you'll pass by the old Unionville Train Station and come to South Main Street (Route 177).  The trail continues across the road, but you need to head right to access a cross-walk across this busy road. After crossing Hunters Ridge Rd look for a couple of benches overlooking the Farmington River below. Just before some wood fencing will be a gravel trail on your right at 2.5 miles. This will bring you down to a promenade that overlooks the river. Be sure to check out the stone arched culvert that runs under the old rail line. A parking lot is located next to where you cross River Rd at 3.1 miles. Here the trail pulls away from the river, travels  alongside River Rd and brings you to a tunnel underneath Route 4. Great murals. You come to the Route 4 parking lot where you'll find a map board and the paved trail currently ends at 3.6 miles. The next 1.5 miles has not been paved as of August 2009, but is ridable. A Mt bike is recommended. This unfinished section consists of gravel and hard packed dirt, as well as, some old road pavement. The trail starts out narrow as it travels along the Farmington River. At around 4.4 miles the trail splits. Left brings you along the old road, however, continue straight along the old rail bed for a smoother ride. The trail then joins the old paved road at 4.8 miles. You'll rejoin the paved trail again at 5.1 miles at the Routes 4 & 179 Junction parking lot. The trail passes between some split rail fencing. From the first fence post on your left, take 8 paces (2 steps = 1 pace) back along the trail. This should put you next to a large, flat mica rock with a large tree behind it on your right side. Keep going back another 3 paces along the trail as it straightens out and this should put you next to another large, flat mica rock along the right side of the trail. This rock has a small tree behind it and a small Maple tree on its left. Between the mica rock and Maple tree will be a small stone leaning against the rock. Behind this stone and under the lip of the rock, remove two more small stones to reveal the Farmington River Rail Trail Letterbox. Please replace all stones as you found them to help protect the box. Continue along the parking lot and you'll come to another map board as the paved trail travels alongside the river. There are informational sign boards scattered along this section. An old RR bridge over Burlington Brook affords a great spot for wading along the brook and river. This next section has some serious issues with tree root intrusion. You pass by the  Route 179 parking lot at 6.1 miles and come to an old power generating dam which creates a small waterfall in the river at 6.5 miles. A small path dissects some boulders and leads down to the dam. The paved trail ends at 6.8 miles. Turn right for an on-road section along Arch St (low traffic). You'll come to a ramp on your right that will take you up and over the river via an old RR trestle bridge. You also cross over an old "power canal" which was used by the Collins Company to derive power from the Farmington River. The Collins Company was world famous for its ax and machete blades. Many of its original buildings are still intact and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More informational signs along here. The Canton Historical Museum will be on your right as you approach the old Collinsville Train Station, which now houses the Crown & Hammer Pub, at 7.4 miles. The Collinsville parking lot is located on your right with access to the historic downtown area which includes the LaSalle Market & Deli. A great place to grab a bite before the return trip. The paved trail then come to Bridge St (Route 179) where it crosses.

Note; Be sure to take a short detour by turning left along Bridge St after crossing it (if biking) and crossing over the bridge. You'll see the gates for the power canal on the right for diverting water from the Farmington River, as well as, the dam holding back the Farmington River Reservoir . After crossing the bridge, cross back over Bridge St and head back along the other side of the bridge. Here you'll see a small power canal, then the river and the major power canal. A small path on your right leads down to a small gate house with some very scenic views. Return to the paved trail and cross back over Bridge St.

The paved trail continues right, passing by some quaint shops and a canoe & kayak outlet (rentals available). See; COLLINSVILLE CANOE & KAYAK . A small park has benches overlooking the Farmington River Reservoir and if you look across the road you'll spot an old cannon at a war memorial. A boardwalk takes the trail left between the river and Route 179 and contains information on the local wildlife. Hold your nose after crossing over Rattlesnake Brook as you pass by the sewage treatment plant. You'll come to a picnic shelter and the current end of the trail after 8.2 miles. The Old River Road parking area is here. Future plans call for continuing the trail up to Route 44. Funds are available and are awaiting town approval as of July 2009.