After my Big River super hot and humid ride on Sunday, I was anxious to return and explore more of the trails. I tried to follow the IMBA recommended ride (MTB Project Map and Info) but with the huge amount of trail choices and no signage and very minimal blazing, I ended up just "following my fancy". Needles to say, no matter which trail you choose, it is all awesome here!
This map is my ride layered on top of the Open Street Map. It really shows how many trails exist here - it's mind boggling!
Open Street Map (layered)
This topo version helps understand the elevation changes.
Topo
Elevation Charts (I GPS'd the ride in three Sections)
The slow ascent on the Red Trail has many short rocky sections. Tough to stay on the bike for a first timer here!
The Red trail has lots of short tricky rock gardens
It gets more and more scenic as you climb: big rocky cliffs and boulders all around.
As you climb higher, more and more "big granite"
Every which way you turn - there are trails and more trails. Without my cell phone GPS tracing and having the OpenStreet map as a reference, I would be completely lost. As it was, I only had vague idea where I was most of the time and I had to check my compass more than once for additional guidance. Yikes!
There are a myriad of trails everywhere
This section had a roller
Once I descended from the hilly area, the trails were super fun and fast to ride.
One of a million choices!
Marsh/Pond on the left
Mammoth glacial erratic
I kinda got my bearings again when I reached the New London Turnpike (which by the way is just a dirt road!) and headed north on a wonderful twisty trail primarily under conifer cover - it was magic!
This is paradise for mountain bikers of ALL skills levels.
I first went to Browning Mill Pond thinking I could start my trek on the Arcadia Trail but I didn't see a decent place to pick up the trail although I discovered a cute little foot bridge.
Browning Mill Pond and the Arcadia Trail
Where to Park?
Considering that setback, I then was set on starting from the trailhead right off Rt 165--which was the start of the JB Hudson Trail--but a huge tractor trailer was barreling down the hill behind me and I couldn't make the turn--BUMMER! So I turned right onto Frosty Hollow Road and parked at the lot by the small fishing pond.
Trailheads
Trailhead at the Frosty Hollow parking lot
The Small Fishing Pond
The Loop
I opted to ride the Yellow Loop counter clockwise but ended up riding on the dirt roads on the last section because I wasn't sure where to find single track- BUMMER!
Topo Version
Elevation
My Ride
I rode in on an uphill dirt road for a bit and got to the JB Hudson Trail only to discover it was a dirt road as well! I rode north on it for a while and finally I took a single track off to the left and my smile returned. It was uphill for a bit and then a fast and tight downhill to Breakout Pond.
Finally - Single Track!
Once out of the cover of trees, I felt the rain and was debating if I should forget the ride but decided to forge on. Good choice since the sprinkles subsided-- although it was overcast.
The ride along the pond was fairly flat and easy and for a stretch after that, the trail followed a stream and was kinda picturesque. Then it was a long uphill AND a never ending rock garden. I was on and off the bike for that stretch! :-(
At the top of the hill, the trail was blocked by a very recent fallen tree but I was able to carry the bike over it without an issue.
Then the downhill started--lots of rock obstacles but most of it was manageable (altho' a little scary!).
It was nasty humid and my GPS (cell phone) battery was getting low, so I decided to opt out of the park when I got to the intersection with the Shelter Trail (rather than continue to the Mt. Tom section). I made a left turn here and most of the Shelter trail was fun - you could bomb it pretty fast...
Shelter Trail (mostly flat and FAST!)
I came across an unexpected sight when I rode through an old abandoned lumber camp. There were about a dozen or so buildings rotting away...
Some makeshift paper plate signs guided me out of the section - there were some nice downhill bombs along the way. Once I got to the dirt road, I was looking for the single track short cut but wasn't sure where it was so I just rode out on the dirt road - boring yes but safe and sure.
The main NEMBA website gave erroneous directions to the starting point. I drove as indicated to the campsite but was told to go to the picnic area instead if I was there to mountain bike. Fortunately it was a short drive to the picnic area and the lady at the gate even gave me a couple of trail maps to assist in my ride.
I opted to take the yellow loop clockwise. Some of this yellow loop trail is blazed blue as well. Its a little strange as the loop consists of a dirt road, single track, paved roads thru the campsite and riding on the street.
The Loop (Yellow and Blue Blazed)
The tougher rocky and rooty section is in the north and there are lot of other trails up in that section as well. (see Open Street Map link at the end of this post)
Section (Type of trail)
1 - Dirt Road out of Parking lot
2 - Single track (easy but nice and narrow) Cut thru Campsite (paved)
3 - Flat with occasional rock but lots of boardwalks)
4 - Very Rocky
5 - Good Flow You have to ride on the road for a bit
6 - This is the toughest section Watch Out!
7- Climbing but great stretches to bomb, etc.
8 - Yep its downhill but this is the road - Not single track :-(
The Ride
On the dirt road by the lake
Singletrack finally (section 2)
Thru the marsh...
Lots of boardwalks on section 3
Turning north...
This stretch was very rocky (section 4)
Fun stretch
"section 5" was fun - much of it you could bomb fast
This was the turn off at the road that begins section 6. Parts of this trail was pretty gnarly. Rock gardens, unexpected sudden descents and ascents, mucho granite outcroppings all around. Tough going for sure...
Right at the turn off the road
It's starting to get a lot tougher
The next section (#7) gets a little easier. Although there is a lot of steady climbing, there is more flow and you are often rewarded with slick rock areas.
Ah... about 2/3rds of the way on section #7 there's the perfect natural rock berm. Sweet!
Slick rock - nice!
There are more trails to explore - not only in the north but in the south as well. If time permits while I am here this week. I will try to return and check out the other trails...
I arrived here around 10 am and it was already freakin' hot and humid. Despite the brutal weather I enjoyed the ride and hope to return to check out more of the park. The trails are great - fast and flowy and there is a lot of twists and turns and ups and downs (but no extreme climbing) that keep it interesting.
As you can see from the maps, I only did a small section of the park. There are a myriad of trails - all great but not really blazed and there is no signage. I used MapMyRide to try and keep track of where I was. I got a little nervous of getting lost plus the heat and humidity were not making it easy so I turned around after 75 minutes and made it out in 45 minutes. Two hours was not enough time to really explore the vast network.
My ride (I went in and out the same way...)
Elevation changes
At the Start
Great trail flow
This is fun riding!
Boardwalk
A few glacial erratics
Hot, sweaty and ready to head home
(it was like a hot sauna!)
New London Turnpike - In 1821, the New London Turnpike toll road opened shortening the trip from Providence to New York by taking passengers on a more diagonal overland route connecting with the New York steamships at New London, Connecticut. Developed late in the turnpike era, the introduction of railroad and steamboat service soon rendered the Turnpike obsolete and its owners were forced to abandon it. More Info >
Hell's Acre - Along the New London Turnpike, small village and taverns sprung up to cater to travelers. One particularly notorious area was known Hell's Half Acre, a place where murder, gambling, and prostitution were rampant. More Info >
Big River Reservoir - The Big River Reservoir was acquired by Water Resources Board to build a reservoir many years ago. Through eminent domain 8,600 acres of land was condemned by the state and 351 owners evicted. In 1990, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded that the land was too sandy and porous to support a reservoir and during the same year the project was blocked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More Info >
It was a beautiful day to ride in the Valley. The brutal humidity from yesterday was finally gone and the morning sunlight was perfect for a few photos and a video!
Off the Blue Trail
Tall Pines Area
The "Green Monster" Tallest Roller in Connecticut (30ft +)
