Sunday, April 19, 2009

Trail Report: River Highlands State Park

Date of Activity: 4/19/09
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33atcotmaildotcom
Town: Cromwell
Location: River Highlands State Park (aka Cromwell Creek)
Trail(s) Ridden: Various
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Bike
What was the time of day?: Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 1.5
Distance (Miles): 7.5

Condition of Trail(s): Good. Leafy and dry.

Observations: This is a new state park and is a popular place for hikers and dog walkers. It also gets a lot of ATV use, although it is posted off limits. I saw two ATVs on my visit and saw both ATV and dirt bike tracks. They were so bold as to ride right through the main parking lot full of people.

There is some good, twisty, relatively smooth singletrack here, a little too tight for a 29er, with few roots and even fewer rocks. There is also a lot of double track which has been bermed by the ATVs. ATVs seem to be staying off the singletrack. There are some new and well-built bridges over wet areas. The trails lead to several high bluffs overlooking the CT river

I also found some old, poorly built stunts, rotting and dangerous, which I dismantled.

This is a good place for a quick ride of 1-2 hours, preferably on a single speed and/or rigid bike, or to introduce new riders to the sport.

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