Shelton Greenway

Date: 11/22/12
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Shelton Greenway
Town: Shelton
Trail Conditions: Good, leaf covered, some blow downs
Observations/Information: Good day for a ride, trails in good shape, converted two blow down to easy ride overs (white trail).
I haven't been to this area for quite a while and was dismayed to see former single track now widened and covered with stone dust and gravel. I was told that this was in an attempt to make the trails into "multiuse", however, I don't get it.Luckly there is still some single track left. Beautiful day for a bike ride, met several dog walkers, some hikers, and lots of people attending the Thanksgiving football game at Shelton High School where we parked. Upon arrival, no trouble finding parking, upon departure, the lots were packed, cars everywhere they could park.
Met 2.5 other Mountain Bikers on the trail in the form of Dave Plain and Joanna Brooks with their baby in tow.
Trail Ambassador Name: Ed Perten

TA Report: Shelton Greenway

Date: 2/12/2012
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Shelton Greenway
Town: Shelton
Trail Conditions: Awesome, for a greeway


Observations/Information: Looking for something easy to ride but not out in the open like a rail trail would be I decided to check out the B2B trail after hearing that it's nearly completed.  It was around 20 deg when I got to the parking lot at Pine Lake but the wind made it feel more like 10 degrees.

As far as greenway trails go, this one is a lot more challenging due to the fact that there are some hills that you have to climb in both directions.

Cold temps meant there were few people on the trail.  Nice Shared Use Trail reminders.  With a dog park neighboring the trail and the fact that all I encountered were Dog Walkers today.  I wonder if all the signage might be due to some Dogger vs other user group issues?  Ed Perten forwarded me an interesting piece from the The New York Times about the Dogger issues at Trout Brook Valley that might be spilling over to here?

The trail is great and would be perfect to take the family on or if you want to get a little two wheeled exercise.  With the exception of bit that runs under the powerlines you could even ride the whole trail with road bike.  Under the powerlines, it's soft and muddy at times where skinny tires would be easily mired.  Fortunately for me, I was riding my Monster Cross with 29x2.1 tires that ate the soft stuff for breakfast.

I did find a new trail off of Oak Valley Road that looks like it may be the final section of the trail. However, what I rode was pretty narrow and very soft.

Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie

Shelton Greenway

   

Date: January 1, 2012
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Shelton Greenway
Town: Shelton
Trail Conditions: Pretty good.
Observations/Information: Paula and I rode the Shelton Greenway trails on Sunday the 1st. The trails were in good shape, and dry enough to ride without guilt. We saw two or three other biker groups and numerous hikers. The area gets a lot of use but the trails seem to be holding up pretty well in most places. I had been here once before and came away unimpressed but that was a premature assessment- this is a pretty cool place. We parked at the power line at Rt. 108 and warmed up on the white blazed "Turkey Trot" loop to the north. This is a fun, fairly flat and easy loop that is mostly single track with a little power line and gravel path thrown in. Then we crossed to the south of Rt. 108 and rode the Oak Valley (blazed white), blue, and Nell's Rock trails (also blazed white- someone got a deal on white paint). These trails alternate between pretty easy and pretty hard, on the same trail, and traverse some wet spots, but are fun enough overall. We continued south to Huntington on the Shelton Rec Path and found that almost all of it had been converted from single track to a smooth, wide gravel path. This was not the best trail to start with, so we didn't lose much, but the huge pile of gravel we spotted suggests that further conversion is in the works. If you ride this path, prepare to deal with a lot of walkers, dogs, etc., especially on weekends.

So while most of the trails on the south side of the area have been sissified, there is still enough single track on the north side to keep one busy for 1 to 1 ½ hours. The blue trail along Hope Lake is the best in my opinion. It's a long stretch of narrow, twisty, rooty and in places rocky lakeside trail, and is the trail of choice for those seeking challenge.

Trail Ambassador Name: Paula Burton, Glenn Vernes

Shelton Greenway

Date: 12/26/11
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Shelton Greenway
Town: Shelton
Trail Conditions: Good, some crusty, frozen ground, thin icy crust on the puddles, some blowdowns, everything rideable
Observations/Information: Parked at the Shelton High School parking lot instead of where I usually park on Rt 108 at the powerlines. Rode with a different group who showed me new trails and we rode some trails that I usually ride in one direction, in the other direction. Some blowdowns, crusty ground, icy puddles, everything rideable. Unfortunately, some of the trails have been covered with a rock and sand mixture which has been packed down. Although it is rideable, this section of the trail is no longer challenging. On a positive note, there is still plenty of single track available, hopefully they, whoever they are, will not cover more trails.

TA Report: Shelton Greenway

Date: 4/14/11
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Shelton Greenway
Town: Shelton
Trail Conditions: Good
Observations/Information: Met Joanna for a mellow ride on the new double track section of Shelton Lakes. Trails in good shape.
Trail Ambassador Name: Paula Burton