Airline Trail

Date: June 11, 2016

Report Type: TA Report

Trail Name: Airline Trail

Town: Colchester to Willimantic

Trail Conditions: Generally good

Observations/Information: I led a group ride on the Airline Trail with 8 people from the Route 2 parking lot east into Willimantic. We rode over the recently-decked bridge. The trail continues for another 1 mile past the bridge where it is paved (the rest of the trail is stone dust) and ends at a kiosk about 0.2 miles from Rt. 32. We also rode on the half-mile paved section of the Hop River Trail (its only paved section) out to Route 66. The trail is generally in good shape, although some of the gates are tight to get around and often have a sandy surface underneath. Two people joined me for a second loop west that included a loop through the Salmon River State Forest. The forest road is in good condition; last year it was a kidney buster. The section between Route 149 and River Road always seems to be a sandy mess. My GPX track, which includes a map:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1219097004

Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold

Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak123[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

How did you use the trail? MT Biking

Trails Ridden: Airline Trail

Time of day: Morning

Time/Duration (hours): 5

Approximate Distance (Miles): 35

Image 1: Airline Trail start, Willimantic, 6-16.jpg 
Image 2: Airline Trail bridge over Willimantic River from trail, 6-16.JPG 
Image 3: Airline Trail bridge, view to Lebanon, 6-16.jpg Image 
Description(s)/Instructions: The Airline Trail Bridge over the Willimantic River and a view from the bridge toward the Hop River Trail.

Airline Trail

Date: July 19, 2014
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Airline Trail
Town: East Hampton to Lebanon
Trail Conditions: Good
Observations/Information: The trail is generally in good shape with only a couple of small sections with ruts due to water running over the trail. My hybrid bicycle did fine. I reported these areas to the state with the hopes they will deepen the drainage ditches to keep the water off the trail. The section east of Village Hill Road is marked with a sign saying that the trail is closed due to overhead powerline work. If you go past the sign, which everyone is doing, there is a gate under the powerlines which is designed so people can pass through it. At the gate, it simply says Construction Site. Northeast Utilities has put up new towers and is in the process of stringing them with wires. The trail ends at the Willimantic River at a bridge that needs decking.
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak123 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Airline Trail
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 4
Approximate Distance (Miles): 39

Airline Trail

   

Date: 06/13/2012
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Airline Trail
Town: East Hampton to Lebanon
Trail Conditions: Damp, but very good
Observations/Information: I was all jazzed up to make the NEMBA CT Chapter meeting and River Highlands SP TM, but it was cancelled. Since I had nothing planned, a wet-weather riding I went...

My go-to wet-conditions location never lets me down. The Airline Trail drains as well as a Cape Cod beach!

I rode my SKS fendered Trek Portland in and out of light drizzle after today's moderately heavy rains. Trail traffic was light. A few dog walkers and runners, as well as two very interesting guys hiking carrying 40's in brown bags in Colchester or Hebron were my only company. The ultimate trail hydration has got to be a cold 40!

There's a tree down that will require a chain saw between Rt. 2 and Grayville Rd.

Something cool I noted was that it rained behind me on my outbound ride, erasing my tracks, so I rode in both directions with zero tire prints.

All and all, a nice night to be out.
Trail Ambassador Name: Barry Burke

TA Report: Airline Trail

Date: 5/23/12
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Airline Trail
Town: East Hampton / Marlborough / Colchester / Hebron
Trail Conditions: Just a few puddles, and one very large pile of dog poop
Observations/Information: It's been raining hard all week, so I took my Trek Portland to my go-to wet place. The trail was solid, the vegetation green, the woods cool, and most other cyclists helmetless. I tossed a few sticks off the trail that had fallen during the recent rains.
Trail Ambassador Name: Barry Burke
Trail Ambassador E-mail: barry at bburke dot com
How did you use the trail? Other Biking
Trails Ridden: EH Cranberry Bog to Grayville Rd, with the spur into East Hampton, R/T
Time of day: Evening
Time/Duration (hours): ~ 2:00
Approximate Distance (Miles): ~ 20 miles

TA Report: Airline Trail

Date: 5/15/2012
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Airline Trail
Town: East Hampton, Marlboro, and Colchester
Trail Conditions: Some light mud and puddles

Observations/Information: I rode right after the skies cleared from a storm. The Airline drains very well, so there were only a few puddles to avoid. A good number of cars were parked at the Cranberry Bog, and many walkers and cyclists were passed.

Trail Ambassador Name: Barry Burke Jr

TA Report: Airline Trail

Date: 5/12/2012
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Airline Trail
Town: East Hampton / Marlborugh / Colchester
Trail Conditions: Perfect
Observations/Information: A busy day on the Airline is still a nice ride. One thing that I really like about this trail is that the users tend to be more considerate of others than other multi-use trails. Maybe it's the lack of pavement... This would have been a great day to go all the way to Willimantic and back, had I brought the correct shoes!
Trail Ambassador Name: Barry Burke
Trail Ambassador E-mail: barry @ bburke dort com
How did you use the trail? Other Biking
Trails Ridden: Airline
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 1:30
Approximate Distance (Miles): 12 miles

TM Report: Airline Trail

Date: 11/24/11
Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: Airline Trail
Town: Wilton
Trail Conditions: Damp
Observations/Information: Continued trail clearing of trees and branches
Trail Ambassador Name: David Francefort

Airline Trail

Date: July 17, 2011
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Airline Trail
Town: Hebron to East Hampton
Trail Conditions: Very good with some rough spots
Observations/Information: Started from the RT 85 Lumber lot and headed towards Grayville Falls Park. Some light trail traffic (bikes & joggers). Very good riding conditions to this point. The River Rd. & Bull Hill Rd. areas have some "water carvings" in the trails that sneak up on you fast. The thick tree cover and rays of sunlight play tricks with the eyes....be cautious with your speeds! Assistance was offered to a couple with low tire pressure. I did notice DEP patrolling near RT 149. I turned around at the Cranberry Bog and made the loop back. Traffic along the trail increased, great ride!
Trail Ambassador Name: Peter Blume

TA Report: Airline Trail North

Condition of Trail: Varied
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold

Town: Windham
Location: Airline Trail North
Trail(s) Ridden: Airline Trail North
How did you use the trail: mountain bike
Encounters and Observations: I was interested in exploring the Airline Trail North, starting from downtown Windam. The trail is called the Veteran's Greenway for the first two miles where it is paved. The trail in this location has lots of grafitti. As I rode up the trail, four teens on pocket rockets buzzed by me and turned off about 1 mile into the trail. At about the 2 mile mark, the trail crosses Rt. 66 and changes to stone dust, which was bumpy due to erosion. After 2 miles of stone dust, the trail abruptly changes to a sandpit. I rode for another mile through an average depth of 3 to 4 inches of sand and it took much effort just to maintain forward motion and not fall off. Since the trail is not maintained, I could not even find a firmer side on which to ride. I finally gave up my plan to ride to Goodwin State Forest and turned off onto the road and headed back. Until the trail is upgraded, I certainly would not attempt to bike it again. On the way home, I drove by the Airline Trail iSouth in Lebanon near the Windham border and saw grading equipment and a freshly graded trail that looked like it was waiting for stone dust as the final step.

TA Report: Airline Trail South and Salmon River State Forest

Date of Activity: June 2, 2010
Town: East Hampton and Colchester
Condition of Trail: Good/Fair
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Email: bikehikekayak123@sbcglobal.net
Encounters and Observations:
The Airline Trail between the trailhead on Smith Street in East Hampton to Rt. 149 in Colchester is generally in good condition. There are a series of ruts between Smith Street and Bull Hill Rd. that are created by water flowing out of the drainage ditch (which needs to be dug deeper). The half-mile section between River Rd. and Rt. 149 has loose dirt and some sandy patches.
This trip also included River Rd., a woods road through Salmon River State Forest. The dirt road is rough and rocky and was not especially comfortable to ride, even with front suspension.
The Airline Trail has been recently extended from the Smith Street trailhead in East Hampton a half-mile west to Watrous Street. The trail has been cleared and leveled but is still uneven and has standing water. The trail ends at the back of an industrial building. There is a fence blocking access to a bridge over a creek at that point.

Location: Airline Trail South
Trail(s) Ridden: Airline Trail South and River Rd. in Salmon River State Forest
How did you use the trail: Ride
What was the time of day: 5 p.m.
Hours: 2
Distance: 12 miles

TA Report: Airline Trail, Colchester Spur

Date of Activity: 4/13/2009
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes and Al Tinti
Trail Ambassador Email: alanrtinti@cox.net
Town: Colchester
Location: Windham Ave.
Trail(s) Ridden: Earl Weller's network
How did you use the trail?: Trail ride with Earl Tinti and Charlie Beristain
What was the time of day?: 0930
Duration (Hours): 2.5
Distance (Miles): 12
Condition of Trail(s): Trails in VG overall shape, just a little mud and a few deadfalls. Nice swoopy network with some added rock features and obligatory abandoned car (we decided it was a Ford Fairmont). One woods road accessable to vehicles was apparently used as a dumping ground for old office equipment

Observations: We cleared some deadfall, nothing requiring cutting. Helped Charlie repair 2 front flats. Glenn seemed to enjoy his new rigid singlespeed 29er.