Thanksgiving is all about the food, family and football, and eating the turkey and all the fixings could easily send you into a food coma.
If a nap on the couch in front of the television isn’t really your speed, and you’d rather get a head start on burning off those calories, consider taking a walk after dinner.
There are plenty of trails in eastern Connecticut to explore and perhaps make your New Year’s Resolution less daunting. They also give you a chance to learn about local history and take in the natural beauty around eastern Connecticut, from ponds and streams, to the last few leaves of fall before winter closes in.
Walk Norwich
If you want to go for a long walk after Thanksgiving dinner, but don’t want to make a trek through the woods, the Walk Norwich program is for you. It features several self-guided tours through the history of Norwich.
There are a total of six trails in the system. While some routes, like the Uncas Leap Walking Trail, feature the natural wonders hidden in the city, others, like the Millionaires Triangle Trial, look at the architecture and stories of people that have made an impact on Norwich.
The falls at Uncas Leap Heritage Park.
Pequot Trail, Preston and Ledyard
The Pequot Trail passes through Lincoln Park in Preston and the southern trailhead is in walking distance of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Museum and Research Center. This trail features views of the Thames River, and gradual climbs. This trail also includes plenty of the area’s Native American history.
Note that a section of the trail on private property, 1.3 miles south of Rte. 165 and 2.2 miles north of Rte. 2, has been closed since November 2023.
Ross Pond State Park and the Old Furnace Trail, Killingly
The Old Furnace Trail is located in Ross Pond State Park, to the west of the pond. It’s a total of 2.2 miles, and of moderate difficulty. The trail features forests, meadows, streams, wild plants and animals, and the remains of the Bog Furnace building, which supplied horseshoes during the American Revolution, and Ross Ledge.
Quinebaug River Trail, Killingly
With a lot near 39 Wauregan Road, the Quinebaug River Trail has multiple features along its two miles. These include outdoor exercise equipment for a fitness trail, a little library, and a dog park. The trail is close to the river, and provides opportunities to view animals and wild plants.
Moosup Valley State Park Trail, Sterling and Plainfield
The Moosup Valley State Park Trail starts in the center of the Moosup village of Plainfield, goes for 2.2 miles, and then continues into Sterling for 3.6 miles, connecting to the Coventry Greenway on the Rhode Island border. Trail access points in Plainfield include Main Street by Rte. 14, Barber Hill Road, River Street, and Brunswick Avenue.
As this trail was once railroad, it include bridges, pavement and old railroad ballast, while providing views of wetlands, rivers and ponds.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Trails in eastern Connecticut for your post-Thanksgiving dinner walk