What is a trailside service?

A trailside service is a local business or service that is tied to a trail or trails. Trailside services are grouped into the following categories.

• Attractions - museums, galleries, arboretums, historic sites
• Camping/Lodges - campgrounds, wilderness lodges, hostels near trails
• Food/Drink - restaurants, food stands, coffee shops, ice cream shops, bars, breweries, wineries
• Gear/Retail/Rentals - bike shops, bike rental, canoe/kayak rental, outdoor gear stores, outdoor outfitters
• Hotels/Motels/B&Bs - nearby places to spend the night
• Non-profits/Trail Clubs - trail and conservation organizations like CT Forest and Parks, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Audubon Centers, outdoor schools
• Outdoor Activities - ropes courses, frisbee golf courses, canoe/kayak areas, ski slopes or courses
• Visitor services - medical centers, hospitals, pet/animal services

Unsure if a service is appropriate for CT Trail Finder? Send us an email trails@uconn.edu. 

It can be hard to decide what is or isn't a trailside service given different variables. We feel that, in Connecticut, people aren't generally using the items listed below as way of choosing and planning an outdoor outing. If you have thoughts on the matter, feel free to let us know at trails@uconn.edu.

Not included as a trailside service on CT Trail Finder

• gas stations and convenience stores
• grocery stores, especially large ones
• big box stores

Services that aren't considered related to trails or outdoor activities

• spas and salons
• jewelry stores
• clothing stores
• package stores
• law offices

Trailside services are points on a map. CT Trail Finder trail posts also have points on the map. What is the difference?

CT Trail Finder Trail Post Points

Every trail post on CT Trail Finder includes points of interest (POIs) - parking and a trailhead at a minimum. Many posts include other types of POIs like bridges, benches, restrooms, junctions, and more. See the CTTF Documentation Guide for a complete list of points (almost complete, three new points have been added that are not on the guide: EV charging station, junction, and public transit stop) that can be added to CT Trail Finder Trail Posts. 

A Point of Interest (POI) is included with a trail post when it is intimately connected to that trail (restrooms, picnic area, playground, etc.). POIs can belong to more than one trail and trail post (such as shared parking). POIs do not include businesses of any kind.
Users cannot edit trail maps on CT Trail Finder and therefore cannot change POIs on a trail post. To report an addition or change, email us at trails@uconn.edu. 

Trailside Service Point

A point should be a  trailside service when it represents a service that has a wider range and attraction beyond an individual trail.  See service categories at the beginning of this page.  

A CT Trail Finder post is one “entry” on CT Trail Finder. A post

• has one point on the overview map,
• has one narrative (description, uses, etc.),
• has one map often with multiple trails.

A CT Trail Finder post is

• usually is a property, like Upper Bantam River Preserve, Litchfield Land Trust, or Machimoodus State Park
• can be several properties, for example, they connect and share parking, like Bloch and Monica’s Woods Preserve, East Haddam Land Trust, and
• can be a trail, like the Woodbridge Greenway, Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, or Nipmuck Trail.