Mono Pond State Park, which has expanded by hundreds of acres, is expected to get Connecticut’s first dedicated mountain biking trail, as part of a massive 400-acre expansion to boost recreational opportunities in the eastern part of the state.
Located approximately 25 miles east of Hartford, Mono Pond State Park sits within the towns of Columbia and Lebanon and was once a 218-acre reserve. The state park underwent a massive expansion in 2020, bringing the area to 650-acres total, according to officials.
Trust for Public Land, state officials and community leaders from the towns of Columbia and Lebanon were able to secure and permanently protect more than 400 additional acres of forest at risk of development.
The additional acreage more than tripled the size of the park.
Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit that works to help people enjoy the outdoors, along with the state’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and International Mountain Biking Association Trail Solutions, announced the release of a trails master plan for the state park this week.
“The new Trails Master Plan outlines a vision for approximately 13 miles of thoughtfully designed new trails, along with selective decommissioning of unsustainable routes and the creation of three distinct recreation zones to enhance visitor experience while protecting natural resources,” said Rebecca Bullis, Trust for Public Land spokesperson.
The expanded park trails are also planned to connect directly to the Air Line State Park Trail, a designated Connecticut Greenway, that spans more than 50 miles and supports various recreational uses.
“Thank you to Trust for Public Land for bringing together DEEP, local communities, trail organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to balance conservation and recreation to develop a thoughtful vision for the future of Mono Pond State Park,” said DEEP Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino.
“Through careful planning and meaningful community engagement, this plan lays the foundation for a sustainable trail system that will serve visitors for generations.”
According to the trails master plan, the park will be unique in the state, with a trail network that will be organized into three distinct zones.
The park will be split into a hiking-focused zone “with trails designed to highlight Mono Pond’s scenic views, natural features, and interpretive opportunities,” a shared-use zone which will feature a “central network accommodating hikers, runners, and mountain bikers,” and a mountain bike-focused zone which will be a “purpose-built single-track designed for riders of all skill levels, incorporating natural terrain features and opportunities for skill progression.”
“We couldn’t be more grateful to our partners at IMBA, the Trust for Public Land, and CT DEEP for making the Mono Pond project a reality,” said Mick Ferraro, director of Communications & Outreach for the New England Mountain Bike Association. “This is the kind of collaboration NEMBA strives for, one where mountain biking and conservation go hand in hand, and where the whole community and all user groups win.”
According to the Mountain Bike Association, this will be the first dedicated mountain bike trail in the state, with hopes that it will become a regional draw. The nearest IMBA created mountain bike trails are in Vermont, according to the group.
“In Vermont, the Kingdom Trails network has transformed a remote region into a premier biking destination, attracting 94,000 annual visitors and generating $10.3 million in economic impact each year. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, mountain biking trails support an estimated $7.4 million in local economic activity, benefiting restaurants, hotels, and outdoor recreation businesses. Meanwhile, Oakridge, Oregon, a former logging town revitalized its economy by investing in mountain biking, leading to increased tourism and new job opportunities,” according to the Trust for Public Land.
A recent report the nonprofit conducted on the benefits of adding dedicated mountain bike trails to an outdoor recreation area said mountain bikers will travel to destination areas to seek out new trails.
The report found that mountain biking tourists “spend an average of $416 per visit, contributing to local businesses, lodging, and dining establishments.” Visitor spending also supports local employment, with the trail networks in the study generating up to 1,626 jobs and $54.1 million in labor income annually.
“The outcome at Mono Pond stands as a great example of what can be achieved through planning and collaboration between state and local agencies alongside advocacy organizations,” said Ama Koenigshof, IMBA Trail Solutions Director of Planning & Design.
“It triples the acreage and creates a regional outdoor destination accessible by thousands of local residents. This project also exemplifies the balance needed in many places, particularly where population density is high, of striking an equilibrium between preserving natural resources and creating recreation access. We’re proud of the outcome and especially the connectivity with nearby, existing parks and trails,” she said.
Planning on the project began in September 2024, when the IMBA Trail Solutions team conducted an initial site visit to assess conditions, according to a spokesperson with Land for Public Trust. In 2025, the team returned to begin detailed trail design.
“We’re still waiting on some grant funding before beginning trail work. We’re waiting on a Recreation Trails grant submission which, along with a TPL match, would cover building up to the first four miles of trail” Bullis said.
Trust for Public Land hopes to begin trail construction work later this year.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at [email protected]