Stewart B. Mckinney National Wildlife Refuge
Stewart B. Mckinney National Wildlife Refuge
Stewart B. Mckinney National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area encompassing over 1,000 acres across eleven distinct units along 70 miles of Connecticut's coastline. This wildlife refuge features diverse landscapes, including tidal saltmarshes, barrier beaches, islands, forests, shrublands, and meadows. Its position within the Atlantic Flyway makes it a vital habitat for numerous bird species. The varied terrain provides opportunities for several sports like hiking, jogging, road cycling, touring cycling, and more.
54
Routes
4.9
(46)
Average rating
448
People visited

1
hikers
4.42km
01:11
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
5.15km
01:22
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
2.70km
00:44
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
2.19km
00:35
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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20
runners
8.29km
00:56
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

24
runners
9.84km
01:01
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

26
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

36
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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18
riders
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(2)
14
riders
46.6km
02:39
120m
120m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

24
riders
64.3km
02:53
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
13
riders
92.5km
04:28
740m
740m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(13)
17
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
12
riders
34.8km
02:01
120m
120m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
6
riders
48.8km
02:47
150m
150m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
33.0km
01:55
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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12
riders
18.0km
01:37
210m
210m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
23.0km
01:57
270m
270m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
33.4km
02:14
390m
390m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area encompassing over 1,000 acres across eleven distinct units along 70 miles of Connecticut's coastline. It features diverse habitats including tidal saltmarshes, barrier beaches, islands, forests, shrublands, and meadows. The refuge serves as a vital resting, feeding, and nesting area for numerous migratory birds within the Atlantic Flyway.
The refuge offers opportunities for various outdoor activities. These include hiking, jogging, road cycling, touring cycling, and mountain biking. Visitors can explore diverse landscapes and observe wildlife across its units.
Yes, hiking trails are available, providing access to diverse habitats. The Salt Meadow Unit features 2.5 miles (4 km) of trails through salt marshes, forests, and grasslands. The Great Meadows Unit offers an easy 1-mile (1.6 km) Marsh Trail with birding opportunities. More information can be found in the Hiking in Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge guide.
Easy hiking options are available within the refuge. The Great Meadows Unit features an easy 1-mile (1.6 km) Marsh Trail. The Salt Meadow Unit also offers accessible trails through its varied environments. For more details, consult the Easy hikes in Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge guide.
The refuge provides trails suitable for families. These paths allow for exploration of diverse habitats and wildlife observation in a gentle setting. Specific family-friendly routes are detailed in the Family-friendly hikes in Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge guide.
Road cycling is an activity enjoyed in and around the refuge's units. Accessible roads and pathways connect various sections along the coastline. Information on routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes in Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge guide.
Mountain biking is an activity that can be pursued in the refuge area. Visitors are encouraged to remain on established trails and public areas. For specific routes, refer to the MTB Trails in Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge guide.
The refuge is home to diverse wildlife, particularly birds. Over 270 bird species, including wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and terns like the endangered roseate tern, utilize the refuge. Other wildlife includes woodcock, bluebirds, butterflies, and dragonflies.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for the refuge. These include guides for Hiking, Easy hikes, Family-friendly hikes, Running Trails, Road Cycling Routes, Cycling, and MTB Trails.
The refuge is a popular destination among komoot users. More than 1,000 visitors have shared their experiences, resulting in an average rating of 4.89 out of 5 stars. There are 2 routes currently available on komoot for this region.
The official website for the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is fws.gov/refuge/stewart_b_mckinney/. This site provides comprehensive information about the refuge, its units, and visitor guidelines.
The phone number for the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is (860) 399-2513. This contact can be used for inquiries regarding visitor information, regulations, or specific unit details.

