Friday, July 25, 2025

Big River never disappoints!

I rode a different section of the park today. The weather was really hot and there was "nary a breeze" but--as always--its magic in there...

Trails I rode:

  • Teeter Totter
  • Burnt Sawmill Road
  • Burnt Sawmill IN
  • Logs (gret flow!)
  • Sizzler (lotsa berms - it was like a mini Kitchel)
  • Archie 
  • Sizzler Extension



Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Woody Hill - 2025

I took a nice morning ride at Woody Hill today, This year I ventured further south and discovered a few relics from yesteryear.

These were the trails I rode:

  • XC Up
  • Fern Drive
  • Driving Miss Hazy (fun)
  • Fern Drive
  • Wahaneeta Link
  • Wahaneeta (some very tough rocky sections)
  • White Black Dot
  • White
  • Wahaneeta Blue
  • PBR (abandoned quarries!)
  • Woody Hill Road
  • Hansel & Gretel (fun)
  • XC Down

Hard to see but this is an old foundation
 Quarry #1

Quarry #2
Old Cemetery

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Back at Big River - Finally!

Back ages ago I rode Big River and fell in love with the trails. Last year I tried riding it but it was a disaster - there was 2-4 inches of water on every trail. Ah... but today the weather was perfect (mid 70s) and it was dry and sunny.

Big River is magical--these photo;s barely capture how awesome riding here is! Out of all the places I've ridden, this is still one of my favorites.

Its a huge place. As you can see from the map, I only rode a small section of it. These were the trails I rode today:
  • DNA (awesome!!)
  • Lego
  • Run In
  • Run On
  • Arrow
  • Pump House (harder than I thought)
  • Dead Shed 
  • Tarbucket (some tricky rock sections)
  • New London Turnpike
  • Bottle Extension
  • Bottle
A few highlights

Monday, July 21, 2025

Grills Preserve - Rhode Island

After a road bike ride around the Misquamicut Beach area, I headed north to check out Grills Preserve in Bradford. Although I passed by Woody Hill and was tempted to ride there instead, I told myself "stick to your plan -- you'll get to Woody Hill later in the week!"

I basically rode the periphery of the park.


The Railroad Tracks trail either didn't exist anymore of I was confused, but I did get over to see the tracks!
This was a huge glacial erratic
A charming curved footbridge
The dot on map shows where the trail was completely blocked by a fallen tree, so I turned around and headed the up hill on the Blue Trail to check out the Overlook. THe Blue Trail up to the Overlook spur was really steeep - I am glad I had pedal assist!
The Overlook was nice.

Much of the park is wildly overgrown... Flying back down on the Yellow was a little crazy at times!
But once I got to the River Loop it was great!
Yep - that's a beaver lodge!

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Wadsworth Falls

I had some time off and although it was freakin' hot, I headed down to Wadsworth Falls to ride - it has been ages since I rode there...


I rode most of the park in this order:
  1. Bridge Trail (Purple) 
  2. Cedar Loop (Red)
  3. Little Falls Trail (Blue)
  4. Laurel Grove Brook (Yellow)
  5. Forest Trail (White)
  6. Little Falls Trail (Blue)
  7. Vortex Trail
  8. Main Trail (Orange)
  9. Ridge Ride
  10. Main Trail (Orange)
  11. Descent to Little Falls
  12. Ascent from Little Falls
  13. Little Falls Trail (Blue)
  14. Main Trail (Orange)

In the back by Laurel Grove Brook 

On my descent on Little Falls Trail (Blue) to get to Vortex, the Little Falls Trail was unkempt and had some nasty pricklers!
The Ridge Trail was my favorite (Laurel Grove Brook was another fave!)
The short trail that leads to the descent to the Falls)
The Falls (kinda dry today!)
It was freakin' hot!