Nehantic SF

Date: June 2 and June 6, 2014
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Nehantic SF
Town: Lyme, East Lyme
Trail Conditions: Ready to ride
Observations/Information: This was my first set of mountain bike trips through the Nehantic State Forests, and I plan to return next week for further exploration. In both areas, trail surfaces were in good condition in most areas with a bit of erosion in spots. On June 2, I rode through the forest in East Lyme on the unmarked trails and the main woods road which is blazed White (not indicated on the map as blazed). It is easy to get lost on the web of trails north of the parking lot on Holmes Road in East Lyme. I understand these trails also connect to Hartman Park, which I did not attempt to find. On June 6, I rode through the forest in Lyme on the main road, which is hard packed dirt and open to cars and also rode on the various woods roads. One woods road led to Sterling Hill Road, so I chose to finish on the road, rather than backtrack and try to find the woods roads to connect back within the forest. Both areas were lots of fun because I could ride fast over mostly non-technical trails. The elevation changes were moderate in most areas. The woods roads in Lyme were often grassy, as high as a foot. I explored a few side trails in Lyme, but they did not go very far. GPX link and map: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2780733. State maps:
The first link and the first map is an overview of the entire forest:
http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/maps/maps_hunting_area/map334.pdf. The second link is the part of the forest in East Lyme and a bit in Salem (Map 2 on the hunting map.). I recommend parking at the Holmes Road parking area, off Salem Turnpike. http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/stateparks/maps/nehanticrt11.pdf
The third link is the forest in Lyme. Keep in mind that you can't bike on the Blue Trails there.
http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/stateparks/maps/neha.pdf (Map 3 on the hunting map.)

Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak123 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Various woods roads and trails
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 4
Approximate Distance (Miles): 20

Nehantic SF

  

Date: April 14, 2013
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Nehantic SF
Town: Lyme
Trail Conditions: good, some dead fall
Observations/Information: after a quick walk from the Town of Lyme's New Chestnut hill trail that leads to Nehantic State Forest (Lyme Block) Decided to get a few guys and go for a ride there. started at Uncus Lake and rode over to the Chestnut ttrail.. took it down then hit he little forest access back into Nehantic. Was cool and much more ridable in that direction then when I walked up it. some cool little fun spots. There are couple of stream/swamp crossings that need a bridge or something but no real biggy to cross.

Nehantic was in better shape than I thought and we bounced around trails and started heading up to Nickerson hill when we ended up with a new High Mounted Derailleur ;)

we got it basically working and rode out.
Trail Ambassador Name: Cory Stiff, Steve Eldridge, Thom Lamourine, and (soon to talk into being a CT NEMBA ambass) Andy Bennett

Nehantic SF

Date: Nov 27, 2011
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Nehantic SF
Town: East Lyme
Trail Conditions: leafy
Observations/Information: So, hooked up with Steve and Cory last night and we decided to do a little exploring back in the Nehantic State Forest. After the last few time I metioned it might be better to just park where the trails-road crosses Grassy Hill Rd. Glad we did as it cut off a few miles of boring-ish nasty fire road riding. We basically rode all the way down to the end of Nehantic and rode more on the Yale property. there are a good amount of trees down from the storm[s] and many a wet spot. I think We hike-a-biked as much as we actually rode but we had a good time.. plenty of exercise that's for sure!
there is some really nice sections, and some really nasty mud bogs, but the place has real potential!!

Lewis and Clark-ing Nehantic  at EveryTrail

EveryTrail - Find the best biking in Connecticut

Trail Ambassador Name: thom Lamourine
Trail Ambassador E-mail: thom1{at}ctnemba{dot}com
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: unknown heaaaahaahaaa

Nehantic SF (upper - East Lyme Section)

Date: Aug 5th 2011
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Nehantic SF
Town: East Lyme
Trail Conditions: decent
Observations/Information: just tooled around the fire road mostly running the GPS.

Exploring Nihantic State Forest at EveryTrail

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking and MTB, Connecticut

Scooted a little way up side trails that looked promising just to mark them for future exploration. Road is open to vehicles, though I never saw any be careful if you want to blast down it. Obvious ATV and/or motorcycle tracks around. there is some pretty sweet single track in the lower area down by the Powers lake end. looks like someone did a sweet job. not torn up like Motor bike trails so I'm guessing it's a local with a MT bike. Roads are way washed out on the hills which there are a lot of. big ass loose rock in sections and one ends in a sandy banked corner... insta stop!! Found a marker in a nowhere section of the woods. One just like it at the crossing of Grassy Hill Rd...

Trail Ambassador Name: Dan Gianfagna, Thom Lamourine

TA Report: Hartman Park/ Nehantic State Forest

Fire Place Chimney

Date of Activity: 6/6/2010
Trail Ambassador Name: Thomas Lamourine
Condition of Trails(s): Good, great, eroded but fun
Observations: - Well, started out at the usual Hartman Park in Lyme, just plowed up the fire road to get the the summit of the place at the power lines and figured I'd take select single track back down. Was SUCH a nice day and after shoulder and finger injuries I changed my mind and figured I just stay on Fire Roads and go out and explore the adjoining Nehantic State Forest. Never really went off into the area much in the past. Was kinda fun. Lots of hills to climb up. Eroded, loose rocky, (golf ball size to bowling ball size) stuff so watching my line was a little nerve racking on some of the speedie down hills. but was a blast. Found a few foundations and such that I'd never seen before. Going to have to go back when I can go allll day :)

Big Tree in Trail