June 5 – 7, 2026
Connecticut Trails Day is Saturday, June 6. It’s also National Trails Day, which is an annual celebration of trails, forests, public lands, and outdoor recreation throughout the country on the first Saturday of June. In Connecticut, it is sponsored by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and is part of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day program.
Participants from coast to coast are encouraged to explore the places that define their communities by getting outside and experiencing local landscapes, trails, and historic sites. Thousands of hikers, bikers, paddlers, and other outdoor enthusiasts celebrate by participating in guided walks, educational programs, stewardship projects, and outdoor adventures.
But the list of opportunities in southeastern Connecticut go far beyond hiking trails. You can follow the paths of Revolutionary War battlefields, stroll through hundreds of years of local history, discover New London’s Black history or relax in one of our region’s most picturesque forests and natural areas. Whether you’re looking to take an easy stroll through history or logging a few miles on a wooded trail, there are opportunities for everyone to celebrate one of the biggest outdoor days of the year.
CT FPA Trails Day 2026: Black Heritage Trail
Saturday, June 6 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
This walking tour focuses on over two hundred years of Black history in New London. Local historians Tom Schuch and Nicole Thomas guide you to places related to enslavement, abolitionists, education, the Amistad, the Great Migration, the Green Book, the Civil Rights Movement, and more, ending in downtown New London for First Saturday celebrations.
CT FPA Trails Day 2026: Hike The Historic Pequot Trail In Mystic
Saturday, June 6 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hosted by Mystic River Historical Society. Three-mile hike along wooded trails, streams, ponds, and bridges of Pequot Woods Park. Learn about Mystic’s involvement in the 1637 war known as the Mystic Massacre as you hike through one of Mystic’s most beautiful natural settings.
CT FPA Trails Day 2026: Tour Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
Saturday, June 6 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Visit one of Connecticut’s significant Revolutionary War sites on a tour of Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. Visits to the Monument House Museum and the battlefield are included. Learn about the impact of the Battle of Groton Heights on Connecticut.
CT FPA Trails Day 2026: A Walk Through Time: Historic Groton Heights
Saturday, June 6 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Guided by Thames River Heritage Park, this walking tour will take you down the historic streets of Groton Heights and lead you to discover over 250 years of history. Learn about the patriots, whaling captains, civic leaders, and founders of towns who once lived in the homes you will visit. See how the Thames River played a vital role in their lives.
CT FPA Trails Day 2026: Historic Starr Burying Ground Walking Tour
Sunday, June 7 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
On this cemetery tour, visitors will learn about the Revolutionary War-era citizens who are buried in Starr Burying Ground. Several Revolutionary War soldiers killed during the Battle of Groton Heights are buried here. Local historians will tell tales of bravery, loss, and perseverance during one of Connecticut’s most tumultuous times.
Sheets Family Forest Guided Hike
Sunday, June 7 | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Visit bogs, vernal pools, the Green Fall River, and wooded hills during this hike in Sheets Family Forest. Hikers will see stone walls, old foundations, and remains of an old mill during this guided walk through approximately three miles of moderate terrain in one of eastern Connecticut’s beautiful natural areas.
National Trails Day is about much more than just enjoying the outdoors. It’s about remembering that many of our region’s best stories unfold along a trail, by a river, or tucked inside our historic landscapes and crumbling stone walls. Love history, nature, fitness, or just finding something new – take time this weekend to look at southeastern Connecticut a little differently.
Last modified: June 4, 2026
