(click for larger map)

The New England Trail (NET) invites you to explore the beautiful places and changing seasons that inspired America's first landscape painters and reflect the essence of the New England landscape today. Stretching 235 miles through 39 communities from Long Island Sound in Connecticut to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, the NET features open fields, deep forests, mountain peaks, waterfalls, small streams and the region's unique traprock ridges. Whether you're out for an afternoon walk with friends or a multi-day backpacking adventure, this four-season recreation trail is easy to access and has something for everyone. Consider the NET as your open invitation to experience forests, fields, mountains and river valleys in New England.

Partners for Success

The principal stewards and maintainers of the NET are the staff and volunteers of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) in Connecticut and the Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) in Massachusetts. CFPA and AMC work closely with the National Park Service to manage, protect, restore and care for this New England treasure. Maintained by dedicated volunteers, the NET is truly a trail built by and for the people.

A Trail of Trails

Designated a national scenic trail in 2009, the NET includes portions of four largely contiguous trails: sections of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts, and the Metacomet, Mattabasett, and Menunkatuck Trails in Connecticut. Trail markings or "blazes" painted on trees signify the trail's route. Marked with blue blazes in Connecticut and white blazes in Massachusetts, the NET is an easy pathway to follow.

Source: NPS Brochure (2013)

Establishment New England National Scenic Trail — March 30, 2009

For More Information Please Visit The OFFICIAL NPS WEBSITE

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

2013

A Land Protection Strategy for the New England National Scenic Trail in Massachusetts: Final Report (Donald J. Owen, May 25, 2022)

An Action Plan for Conserving Connecticut Forest & Park Association's Blue-Blazed Trails (Donald J. Owen, August 15, 2018)

Annual Reports: 2011 Accomplishments/2012 Goals • 2012 Accomplishments/2013 Goals • 2013 Accomplishments/2014 Goals • 2014 Accomplishments/2015 Initiatives • 2015 Accomplishments/2016 Goals • 2018 Accomplishments/2019 Goals • 2019 Accomplishments/2020 Goals • 2020 Accomplishments/2021 Goals • 2021 Accomplishments/2022 Goals • 2022 Accomplishments/2023 Goals

Land Protection Plan: New England National Scenic Trail (January 2023)

Metacomet Monadnock Mattabesett Trail System: National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study & Environmental Assessment (Spring 2006)