Lock 12 Historical Park / Farmington Canal Linear Trail
South-Central Connecticut / Cheshire, Connecticut
Activity
Historic Outdoor Experience / Canal
Distance
2.9 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~50 ft
Route
Out & back
The adventure
Walk beside a restored 1820s canal lock and follow the old transportation corridor through Cheshire. Walk a preserved piece of Connecticut's canal era and stand beside the restored stone chamber of historic Lock 12.
Start at Lock 12 Historical Park, walk down to the restored canal lock and inspect the stone chamber that once raised and lowered boats on the Farmington Canal. Continue onto the paved canal trail for a proper stretch of the old transportation corridor, return to Lock 12, find the lockkeeper area.
What to expect
- Walk a preserved piece of Connecticut's canal era and stand beside the restored stone chamber of historic Lock 12.
- Turn into Lock 12 Historical Park from North Brooksvale Road and use the public parking area. Follow the park drive/path toward the pavilion and restored canal lock. Explore the outdoor lock complex, then join the paved Farmington Canal trail beside the park and follow it for roughly 1.4 miles before turning around. Return on the same trail to Lock 12 and the parking area. The museum is not required for completion.
Good to know
- CANAL ERA
- Lock 12 is a restored remnant of the Farmington Canal, the ambitious water route built through Connecticut in the 1820s.
- HISTORY OUTSIDE
- The park includes the lock, a lockkeeper's building, pavilion, picnic area and direct access to the paved canal trail.
- PAVED ROUTE
- The Cheshire section of the canal trail is paved and accessible, making this one of the gentler Challenges in the state.
- TRAIL AMENITIES
- Restrooms and drinking water are available at the North Brooksvale trail access seasonally.
- FIND THE SPIRAL BRIDGE
- Look around the Lock 12 complex for the unusual helicoidal—or spiral—bridge. Canal engineers apparently weren't satisfied with merely moving boats uphill.
- Fee
- Free — no required entrance or parking fee.
- Dogs
- allowed-on-leash.
- Season
- Outdoor park and trail access is normally year-round; snow and ice can affect the paved trail in winter.
Photos
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