rumrunn6

looking for info like what sections to ride and where to park. got pics to share?

EDIT: tapped into the SNETT from Douglas State Forest via Wallum Lake Rd. & connected with the Air Line Trail in CT which appeared to be rough large gravel. would have liked to kept going west & south but wasn't sure how much big gravel there was to deal with. more pleasant miles east & north of the MA/CT border. I would later find out that this section of large course gravel is short, just a few 10ths of a mile, or 1/2 mile tops

Monza_dh

I just did the southern portion of the Northern Rail trail in NH this past weekend from Boscowan to Andover. Relatively flat and straight (read: not that challenging or exciting) stonedust/gravel trail with almost no road crossings. will look to do the northern portion later this month.

rumrunn6

really nice picture tho! what tires & pressure did you use? how do you like riding on stone dust?

rumrunn6

I think I have a 13 mile stretch from about the end of the Airline State Park Rail Trail at 368 Sand Dam Rd Thompson CT to 1 Elmwood Ave Uxbridge MA. Here are some but not all of the road crossings most of which appear to have small dirt parking areas. the big parking area in Douglas is by far the best. from west to east these are the addresses I could find

368 Sand Dam Rd Thompson CT
608 East Thompson Rd Thompson CT
Wallum Lake Rd Douglas MA (this is the overpass in the Douglas State Forest)
69 Martin Rd Douglas MA
133 Monroe St Douglas MA
499 West St Uxbridge MA
125 Chocolog Rd Uxbridge MA
1 Elmwood Rd Uxbridge MA

east of this you have to cross under Rt 495 using a regular rd but on the other side of the highway there doesn't look like an easy path to the continuation of the trail, so me being lazy, would turn around here

interesting trivia about the Airline State Park Rail Trail
The Great East Thompson Train Wreck was a large rail disaster which occurred in East Thompson, Connecticut, on December 4, 1891. It was one of the most extensive train wrecks in American history, and the only one to involve four trains. It happened on the New York and New England Railroad, which provided a shortcut from New York City to Boston by making a diagonal across Connecticut. The railroad is now abandoned, and most of its tracks removed. https://www.ctmq.org/site-of-the-grea...n-train-wreck/

rumrunn6

ran back to try the trail East toward Franklin. I made it about 10 miles to Uxbridge before the trail deteriorated too much to be fun

gps showed my location where I turned around, near Yankees way, Uxbridge MA

someone left this out on a rock. wonder how old it is

9.8 miles instead of making what I thought would be a 13 mile ride. but 19.6 round trip took longer than I could have predicted

I would go back & do this ride again. maybe with a cpl inches of snow would be fun

rumrunn6

got in 6 miles in a raging snowstorm. not quite a blizzard but close. temps in the teens. lots of stops for pics & slow going due to deep snow. wanted to try the SNETT from Douglas State Forest to the Airline in Thompson but stopped at the trailhead to the Tristate Marker. this was close to the Arline sign but not quite there. cudda used a fatbike for sure. When I 1st got there I saw 1 fatbike track. By time I left there were 2 more fatbike tracks

the studded tires worked. I let some air out of the tires which helped too. but with the inches piling up quickly I could tell this was better handled with a fatbike. a 6" wide track would have kept me from breaking thru one section which lead to losing control enough to dump the bike. I didn't fall but I let the bike go down

met a couple walking in the storm & they questioned my overall wisdom. there was no convincing them on my storm biking plan. the guy was all like: feh I have a better bike with wider tires so you're a fool. Not his words but I could tell

had a great time. the guys in the offroad side-by-side may have had a better time. they had big smiles on their faces

rumrunn6

it was work but it was fun

rumrunn6

with January temps in the mid 50s it was hard to resist the urge to check the trail again. the snow was long gone but February is coming ...

09box

Those are some good looking trails!

rumrunn6

I know, right!? & no cars!!!!

berner

That trail with 6" of snow on it would be make a great x-country ski tour.

autonomy

And yet he was just walking while you got out and rode. Great pictures!

2metalhips

Airline/SNETT trail conditions Feb 2, Rt 12 Thompson Ct to arch bridge at Wallum Lake Rd Douglas SF. 1-3" snow, better riding at CT end. MTB w/2.35 tires was a good choice. Conditions should hold up for the weekend, cold temps coming.

rumrunn6

ice? ruts? studs?

2metalhips

There were a few icy spots and ruts at the DSF section. I debated whether to go with studs but the big tires were fine. If you are going with narrow tires studs would be helpful.

rumrunn6

thanks

was thinking about doing a section a little further South Saturday:

running from the Corleones Cafe 103 Union St Wllimantic CT, North to James Goodwin State Forest Hampton CT. it's about 9.2 miles & uphill. then the return trip South would be downhill. the 1st 3rd? going North looks paved from Google street view road crossings

based on Marioval's info about what direction the grade runs in the Air Line State Park Trail CT thread

2metalhips

Yes, the first and last sections are paved, not too scenic. You are correct about the grade, the section before and at Goodwin can be a little rough, but the snow will help smooth that out. Willimantic Brewing Company is a great place and check out the Frog Bridge, classic. I would recommend studs, the section in Willi will be packed down, rutted, frozen footprints and icy.

rumrunn6

re: ruts - lovely hahaha, re: the food places, thanks! one fun aspect of exploring new trails is when I'm done, I've been using the car GPS to find a random rest, usually Italian for a sub for the drive home. I'm off meat now so it will have to be a eggplant parm sub. weird I'm looking for veggie entrees now. but getting tired of everyone's veggie burger

my other option for tomorrow is a state park in MA I did a recon on this fall. same long drive from home (80) miles. what I will do for an interesting new ride ...

rumrunn6

the trail I got the Riddlers for after riding 1/21/17 ... can I make it back it back there today & home in time for the Sip & Stroll w friends in our town?

EDIT - yup got 'er done

saw the first ice of the season


looking North but I went south to CT


lots of water along the way


the turnaround at this parking area approx 10 miles from where I started. took a cpl minutes to install toe warmers between my sock liners & thicker socks. also ate a PB&J sandwich. too bad I forgot both water bottles w lemon at home. glad I had the one water bottle in my car to bring. absolute minimum for 2 hrs of riding


good trail, lots of variety


would be fun to try this trail with a drop bar bike, if I can find one that accepts these 45mm tires


I knew the gravel would find me


lots of good hard dirt tho


& a few softer sections


don't think Santa had any egg nog but I rewarded myself with a walk downtown & dinner w friends, a glass of tequila & a 20 oz beer

Ghazmh

that looks like a great spot to ride. Is there a place to park? how long of a drive from Metro Boston?

rumrunn6

oh yeah, Douglas State Forest @ 107 Wallum Lake Rd, Douglas, MA 01516. park by the boat ramp, there's a year 'round self contained outhouse.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Do...2!4d-71.766225

find your way down to the rail trail & you can either go North or South

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Do...2!4d-71.766225

takes me about an hour from approx Stow, MA

you can also park at approx. 121 Riverside Drive Thompson, CT

rumrunn6

this parking area in CT approx 10 miles from where I started in Douglas MA is approx 121 Riverside Drive Thompson, CT

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9400...7i13312!8i6656

rumrunn6

also see:

https://www.bikeforums.net/northeast...-trail-ct.html

2metalhips

I rode the SNETT section from Millville to Frankllin and back. 22 miles total, Millville and Blackstone is paved, there is a short section in Blackstone on streets, after that the trail becomes fair to poor, dirt, rocks flooded, blocked, impassable. If it wasn't for illegal ATV trails it would not have been rideable. A section at the Franklin end was good, stone dust surface.. I have now completed the Airline SNETT from end to end. .

rumrunn6

congrats! sometimes a little bushwhacking is fun, sometimes not so much