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Gristmill Open Space

4.4 ★★★★☆ 29 Google reviews · Running trail in Shelton, Connecticut · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Gristmill Open Space's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyTrailhead parkingQuiet

What runners say about Gristmill Open Space

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (29 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful place for a scenic walk, and great fishing on the farm mill river which is stocked with trout.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“I love this place , very serene , and clean You can fish of course need a permit, beautiful”

We loved it. Theres a marked trail and a fisherman trail that parallels the river/brook. We heard many songbirds. If you love a short nature walk...1 mile or so...then just do it

★★★★★ — Curt , Jun 2021

Gristmill Open Space is a forest in Fairfield County. Gristmill Open Space is situated nearby to the hamlets Huntington and Oronoque Hills North.

★★★★☆ — M , Aug 2023

Beautiful place for a scenic walk, and great fishing on the farm mill river which is stocked with trout.

★★★★★ — Andrew , May 2019

My daughter and I took our dogs there for a little hike. It was really really nice, the dogs went swimming LOL. It wasn't that warm but they didn't mind. We had a lot of fun and it was relaxing and very enjoyable. I didn't have my phone with me so I don't have the photos my daughter does.

★★★★★ — Debra , Apr 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 29 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“Beautiful place for a scenic walk, and great fishing on the farm mill river which is stocked with trout.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Immediately ordered water shoes so I could wade into the stream with my dog.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“I love this place , very serene , and clean You can fish of course need a permit, beautiful”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Gristmill Open Space

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitesheltonconservation.org
  • Phone(203) 924-1555

Hours

Monday 7 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Thursday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Friday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Saturday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Sunday 7 AM–8:30 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Gristmill Open Space

54 Mill St, Shelton, CT 06484

Get directions

Running trails near Shelton

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Pumpkin Ground Trail Head

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Pine Lake Trailhead, Shelton, CT

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Boothe Memorial Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 780 reviews

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ScenicDog-friendly

Quirky complex of 1800s-era buildings & gardens, including an Americana museum & planetarium.

3.2 miles away

All running trails in Shelton, CT →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.