Air Line Trail

The Air Line State Park Trail is a 50-mile multi-use recreational trail extending across eastern Connecticut from Thompson near the Massachusetts border to Portland on the Connecticut River. This rail-trail follows the historic route of the Air Line Railroad, once a premier passenger route connecting New York City and Boston via the shortest possible path, hence the name suggesting a straight line through the air. The trail passes through 13 municipalities and diverse landscapes, including wetlands, forests, rock cuts, and historic villages. Two spectacular viaducts, the Lyman and Rapallo, stand as testament to the ambitious engineering of 19th-century railroad builders. Today, the trail serves walkers, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, cross-country skiers, and other recreational users, providing an accessible pathway through some of eastern Connecticut's most scenic terrain.