Parks Near Windsor, CT

During my trip to the Windsor area of Connecticut back in August 2025, I visited several historical places including: Connecticut Trolley Museum, East Windsor Historical Society, Northwest Park, Vintage Radio & Communications Museum, Windsor Historical Society, quick history stops in Windsor, CT, and New England Air Museum (Part 1, Part 2). Throughout the trip, I stopped at parks in the region, including Scantic River State Park, Windsor Center River Trail, and Windsor Locks State Park.

A red painted tobacco barn with open doors to dry the tobacco A long red tobacco barn in a mostly empty field. A small, shallow river with small trees and a man-made stone embankment

Before I discuss the parks, I want to note the high number of operational tobacco barns in the area. As previously mentioned while describing the Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum at Northwest Park, the area is known for growing and harvesting the plant. The bright red buildings against the green and yellow fields made for great pictures, and the drying tobacco gave off very little scent from a safe distance away. If you want to get a picture of a tobacco barn, be sure to remain close to the road, and do not go inside the private buildings.

A stone foundation built into the side of a riverbank, now covered with young trees. A shallow river flows over little rapids. A paved trail leading to a wood and metal pedestrian bridge.

Scantic River State Park covers parts of Enfield, East Windsor, and Somers, a total of 784 acres of preserved land. According to the Scantic River Watershed Association (SRWA), this portion of the river was home to a shipyard in 1728. East Windsor resident Ebenezer Grant allegedly built his boats where the Scantic and Connecticut Rivers came together. The area known as “Powder Hollow” was once home to a powder mill founded by Allen Loomis in 1836 and bought by Augustus George Hazard in 1843, who renamed the company to Hazard Powder Company. The work was extremely dangerous, and small accidents were common. The worse came on January 14, 1913, when a series of four blasts were heard over twenty-five miles away. Most Enfield buildings lost their windows, and two workers died, prompting the factory to close for good. Today, Hazardville Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Looking through the metal slats of a pedestrian bridge to the lush marsh below. A white wooden sign with text reading Town of Windsor Brian T. Griffith River Trail A long, low bridge spans a shallow river

Windsor Center River Trail, also known as Brian T. Griffith River Trail, is a pleasant paved loop from down to Farmington River. While the informational signage could use a good clean, the path is straightforward enough that one is unlikely to get lost even without the map. My favorite parts of this path were the pedestrian bridge and the “Fit Trail”, stations for additional physical activities like pull-ups and calf stretches. The trail was named for a lifelong Windsor resident, Brian Thomas Griffith, who was highly active in the town, his last position being the Judge of Probate at Greater Windsor Probate Court. Like many young people who grew up in the area during the 1950s through 1970s, he worked in tobacco fields, a difficult job that he remembered fondly and contributed to his lifelong work ethic.

A faded map in a case showing a loop from the parking lot down to the river and back. Red bricks line the side of the riverbank with a path going over the bricks. Wider view of the red bricks lining the riverbank

Windsor Locks Canal State Park was the final stop on my trip. The historic towpath stretches for four-and-a-half miles along the canal. The construction reminded me of the Blackstone River and Canal State Park near my own home. However, the preserved section in Windsor Locks is much longer. It is important to note that while BRCSP is open all year, WLCSP is open from April to mid-November, which means no snowshoeing allowed. Actually, the closure is to protect endangered birds of prey; I did spot bald eagles on the walk. The park is maintained through a partnership between Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Ahlstrom, a company specializing in creating sustainable fiber-based materials with a factory in Windsor Locks.

A shallow river with green trees on both banks and sandbars in the middle. A pole with four signs reading Enfield, Suffield, Windsor Locks State Park, and Closed at Sunset Except for Parking A small metal sign explaining the need to close the park in winter and early sprint to protect birds of prey

Wrapping up my trip, I cannot emphasize enough what a nice area this is to visit. Between outdoor venues, delightful museums, a relaxed culture, and ease of access from I-91, this is a great place to relax for a long weekend in southern New England. If you are a history buff wanting to celebrate America250 but hoping to avoid crowds, this is an excellent location.

Location: Windsor, CT, USA