Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region

East Brooklyn

Putnam River Trail – Cargill Falls Reservoir loop from East Brooklyn

Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region

East Brooklyn

Putnam River Trail – Cargill Falls Reservoir loop from East Brooklyn

Moderate

4.7

(5153)

18,638

riders

Putnam River Trail – Cargill Falls Reservoir loop from East Brooklyn

03:36

80.1km

530m

Road cycling

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 19, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

3.21 km

Danielson Main Street & Broad Street Historic District

Highlight • Historical Site

Danielson is a beautiful borough in the town of Killingly, and it has two historic districts to its name. The Danielson Main Street Historic District and Broad Street-Davis Park Historic District. In total, there are about 135 historic buildings in one form or another, all built in Colonial Revival, Italianate, or Queen Anne style. Some of the most striking-looking buildings are the Westfield Congregational Church, Bugbee Memorial Library, and Brooklyn Savings Bank. So this is a great place for you to take a break, have a coffee, and enjoy the historic ambience you find yourself surrounded by.

Tip by

16.4 km

Putnam River Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Putnam River Trail is a 1.8 mile long paved trail. It is part of the East Coast Greenway Trail. As the name suggests, it follows along the Putnam River and gives you great views of the water.

Tip by

17.8 km

Cargill Falls Reservoir

Highlight • River

At Cargill Falls, you'll find a dam and cascades right in the heart of the city. From the Pomfret Bridge on US-44, you can see the wide dam and several flowing channels clearly. An island splits the Quinebaug River and the dam, creating a beautiful display of cascades below as the river rushes to reconnect.

Tip by

21.6 km

West Thompson Dam Recreation Area

Highlight • Structure

24.4 km

Grosvenordale Mills

Highlight • Monument

As you make your way across the bridge you will see Grosvenordale Mills located on the banks of the French River. It's a nice place for a stop!

Tip by

30.6 km

Langers Pond

Lake

45.5 km

Quaddick Reservoir

Highlight • Lake

The Quaddick Reservoir, once frequented by the Nipmuck Indians for fishing, is the main attraction of this park. Today, the area is popular with its sandy beach, ball fields, and the trails that run throughout the park.

Tip by

48.7 km

Munyan Road Open Space

Nature Reserve

50.7 km

Chapman Pond

Lake

56.1 km

Abandoned Stone House at Daniel's Village Archaeological Site

Highlight • Historical Site

The area is home to one of the earliest textile mills in Connecticut. Unfortunately, in 1861, the mill burned down, and it was never reconstructed. Numerous remnants of the mill, including a stone house situated on the corner, can still be found at the site.

Tip by

56.2 km

Old Daniels Dam

Highlight • Monument

The stone dam from the early 19th century provides a picturesque view of the Five Mile River and carries a rich history, once serving as part of a textile mill. This bridge point offers an excellent spot to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings.

Tip by

80.1 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

56.5 km

15.8 km

5.79 km

1.87 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

59.5 km

20.5 km

169 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (180 m)

Lowest point (60 m)

Weather

Today

Friday 26 June

27°C

16°C

79 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Description

If you're looking for a road cycling route that blends scenic beauty with a touch of history, the Putnam River Trail – Cargill Falls Reservoir loop from East Brooklyn is definitely worth your time. This moderate 49.8-mile (80.1 km) ride, featuring 1731 feet (527 metres) of elevation gain and taking about 3 hours and 35 minutes, offers a diverse experience for cyclists with good fitness. It's an excellent choice for those who appreciate rolling hills, varied terrain, and a journey through Northeastern Connecticut's charming landscapes.

What to expect on Putnam River Trail – Cargill Falls Reservoir loop from East Brooklyn

This route takes you on a journey through changing scenery, starting with the paved Putnam River Trail section that runs along the Quinebaug River. Here, you'll enjoy continuous river views, including the impressive Cargill Falls, a dam with cascades that's a true highlight. The trail also winds past revitalized historic mills, offering glimpses into Putnam's railroad and textile industry history, complete with interpretive signs. Beyond the river trail, the loop transitions to local roads through rolling hills, open landscapes, and forested areas. While much of the route is well-paved, be prepared for varying road conditions, as some longer routes in the area can include unpaved sections that might challenge narrower road bike tires. It's a ride that suits confident road cyclists ready for a moderate workout.

Planning your visit

The Putnam River Trail portion of this loop is part of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway, providing a smooth and accessible stretch. Along this section, you'll find convenient community amenities like picnic tables and even a bike repair station. While the overall route is rated moderate and requires good fitness due to the rolling hills, the paved river trail itself is generally flat and easy, making it suitable for a wider range of users. Always be mindful of varying road conditions on the broader loop, especially if you're on a road bike with narrow tires.

Trail details

Distance: 49.8 miles (80.1 km)
Elevation gain: 1731 feet (527 metres)
Difficulty: moderate
Estimated time: 3 hours and 35 minutes

Nearby routes

Easy

Washington Secondary Rail Trail

01:23h

32.6km

180m

Moderate

Scituate Reservoir Ride

02:35h

51.7km

540m

Moderate

Beaudoin Conservation Area Ledge Road to Sawmill Hill Road Pond No 2 loop

02:31h

48.7km

450m

Moderate

5.0

Occum to North Windham loop

02:46h

54.0km

590m

Moderate

Gortons Corner to Tillinghast Pond loop

01:39h

31.4km

350m

Moderate

Sterling to Tillinghast Pond loop via Waterman Hill Conservation Area

02:40h

53.8km

570m

Moderate

George B Parker Woodland to Scituate Reservoir Protection Area loop

02:09h

41.5km

420m

Moderate

4.9

Bridge on the Rail Trail – Trestle Trail loop from Janice L. Sullivan Conservation Area

02:38h

53.8km

260m

Easy

Trestle Trail loop from Coventry

01:24h

32.7km

170m

Moderate

5.0

Wallum Pond Hill – Wallum Pond Hill loop from Webster

01:52h

41.8km

390m

Moderate

5.0

Wallum Pond Hill – Wallum Pond Hill loop from Quaddick State Forest

02:32h

43.6km

400m

Moderate

Mansfield Hollow Lake – Mansfield Hollow State Park loop from University of Connecticut

01:38h

34.3km

410m

Putnam River Trail – Cargill Falls Reservoir loop from East Brooklyn

Danielson Main Street & Broad Street Historic District

Putnam River Trail

Cargill Falls Reservoir

West Thompson Dam Recreation Area

Grosvenordale Mills

Quaddick Reservoir

Abandoned Stone House at Daniel's Village Archaeological Site

Old Daniels Dam

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️