TA Report: Shelton Lakes

Date of Activity: 7/5/2010
Condition of Trails: Dry

Observations: With it heating up, I decided to trade in my rodie for a spin in the cooler temps of tree cover. It was my first time in the Shelton Lakes. Outside of two guys fishing and a couple doing some trail running I had the trails to myself. I entered the trail network from the Hope Lake Picnic Area and rode the Bridge-to-Bridge (recently changed from the Orange Trail to the Blue Trail) south across Oak Valley Road and into Eklund Garden. There's a nice bypass around the deer fencing protecting the Eklund Garden area. As Mark Lurie mentioned in an earlier update there is a new bypass being built by local scouts that will make for a much easier decent/climb around a very steep rocky portion of the trail. Work on this new bypass is expected to commence in August. The trail runs into the Nell's Rock Trail (White). Other than a few fallen branches along the Nell's Rock Loop the route was relatively free and clear. Again as previously reported by Mark, I also ran into the fallen tree along the trail and did not have a saw to clear it. Overall a very enjoyable ride. Good to be back on my knobbies!

TA Report: Shelton Lakes

Date of Activity: 6/30/10
Condition of Trails(s): Dry
Observations: Not many trail users except for a few dog walkers but there were knobbies hear and there in the dirt. Trails are nice and surprisingly flat. There was a tree down on the white trail/Nels Rock Trail but I didn't have my saw with me to take care of it. With the neighboring rock store it would make a nice up-and-over.

My suggestion from last year to create a bypass around the hike-a-bike to the Nels Rock area seems to be gaining traction but the development of the trail appears surprisingly slow, unless the builders just started it. It was taped off with a little sign saying if you wanted to help build it contact the Shelton Conservation Commission. Can't wait for the bypass to be completed because it will really make riding over to the Nels Rock trails much more flowy.

Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie
Trail Ambassador Email: eatsleepfish[at]gmail[dot]com
Town: Shelton
Location: Shelton Lakes
Trail(s) Ridden: White, Blue, Yellow

How did you use the trail?: Mountain Biking
What was the time of day?: 6pm
Duration (Hours): 1.5
Distance (Miles): 7

TA Report: Shelton Lakes

Date of Activity: 4/28/10 Trail Ambassador Name: Ed Perten Trail Ambassador Email: edperten@sbcglobal.net Town: Shelton Location: Shelton Recreation Path/Greenway Trail(s) Ridden: A bunch How did you use the trail?: Mountain bike riding What was the time of day?: Evening Duration (Hours): 2-3 Distance (Miles): A bunch Condition of Trail(s): Nice, beautiful, fantastic Observations: Nice area, haven't been there for a while. There have been trail improvements, a native garden has been established with a trail re route and bridge reconstruction.

TA Report: Shelton Lakes

Date: December 8, 2009
Condition of Trails: Good,mostly dry except for the usual wet spots

Trail Ambassador Name: Paula Burton
Trail Ambassador Email: peburton@aol.com
Town: Shelton
Location: Shelton Lakes
Trails Ridden: White, Orange, part of Bridge to Bridge, road part way around the lake, some other trails on the other side of 108,
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Biking
What was the time of day? Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 2 Hours

Observations: There has been some recent trail work going on. A new path goes from the corner of 108 and the nearest cross road. Also there are some new bridges. It was a perfect calm before the storm ride, clear skies, no wind. A few spots still had snow and ice from the last storm. The bridges especially the new ones were very slippery.

Trail Ambassador Report for Shelton Lakes

Date of Activity: 9/24/2009
Condition of Trail(s): Bone Dry, smooth, and fast!

Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie
Town: Shelton
Location: Shelton
Trail(s) Ridden: White & Orange
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Biking
What was the time of day?: Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 1.5
Distance (Miles): 7.5

Observations & Encounters: First time riding here and the trails are really nice. A Full Suspension bike is overkill. Tried to ride as much as possible to see what's going on with these trails and frankly they are in pretty good shape. I found two locations that should use some armoring but what struck me was when the trail hit a slope most times it went straight up the fall line. In the map below I have identified three sections of trails that could use re-routing.