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Upper Three Mile River Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 9 Google reviews · Running trail in Old Lyme, Connecticut · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface: Not reported
Loop distance: 2.5 mi
Shape: Loop
Shade: Not reported
Access: Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Upper Three Mile River Preserve'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.

Upper Three Mile River Preserve — running trail in Old Lyme, CT, photo 1

Upper Three Mile River Preserve — running trail in Old Lyme, CT, photo 2

Upper Three Mile River Preserve — running trail in Old Lyme, CT, photo 3

Upper Three Mile River Preserve — running trail in Old Lyme, CT, photo 4

Upper Three Mile River Preserve — running trail in Old Lyme, CT, photo 5

2.5 miLoopOpen 24hScenicTrailhead parkingMile markers

What runners say about Upper Three Mile River Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (9 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“It was like a secret gnome village with beautiful green moss everywhere”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“Great hike well marked trails options to go shorter or longer hikes easy parking”

What a beautiful place to hike! The mountain Laurel will look beautiful when it's in bloom. Rocks, hills, and stone walls make the scenery interesting every step of the way.

★★★★★ — Kathy , Mar 2022

Nice, short hike on well marked trails. Easy access via roadside parking. There are a number of small steam crossings that look like they would be especially nice in the summer.

★★★★☆ — Kevin , Mar 2023

Great hike well marked trails options to go shorter or longer hikes easy parking

★★★★★ — Patricia , Mar 2023

Great place for a short hike. Lovely streams, not crowded at all! A hidden gem.

★★★★★ — Sharon , Jun 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 9 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 
“It was like a secret gnome village with beautiful green moss everywhere”
More trails like this →
 🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions 
“Great hike well marked trails options to go shorter or longer hikes easy parking”
More trails like this →
 📏 Mile markers 2 mentions 
“Great hike well marked trails options to go shorter or longer hikes easy parking”
More trails like this →
 🔁 Loop trail  
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Plan your run at Upper Three Mile River Preserve

The practical stuff

AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
Loop distance2.5 mi back to where you parked
ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
Websiteoldlymelandtrust.org

Hours

Monday	Open 24 hours
Tuesday	Open 24 hours
Wednesday	Open 24 hours
Thursday	Open 24 hours
Friday	Open 24 hours
Saturday	Open 24 hours
Sunday	Open 24 hours

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 Upper Three Mile River Preserve

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Get directions

Running trails near Old Lyme

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

Lay Preserve Trailhead

5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

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1.8 miles away

Lay Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

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Natural surface

1.9 miles away

McCulloch Family Open Space

4.6 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

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2.1 miles away

Ravenswood Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

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2.2 miles away

Mile Creek Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Old Lyme, CT

1 miLoopNatural surface

2.3 miles away

The George & Woodward H. Griswold Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Old Lyme, CT

3.1 miles away

All running trails in Old Lyme, CT →

Nearby towns

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Running trails in East Lyme, CT (2 trails)
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Running trails in East Haddam, CT (1 trail)
Running trails in Quaker Hill, CT (1 trail)

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.