Salmon River State Forest

Date: 9/6/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Salmon River State Forest
Town: East Hampton
Trail Conditions: Buff
Observations/Information: Took a spin at the Salmon River trails (the ones along the rail trail) w/ the bro on Sunday the 6th. The trails were in great shape. Really nothing for us to do TA-wise except comment on the awesomeness of the trails. These are some of the best flow trails I've ridden in Connecticut. Well-built, fun and sustainable. Speed up and slow down by gravity (obviously you will need to pedal too). No fall line or hard braking turns (there are some older, poorly designed moto trails and woods roads in the area as well). The soil was dry but not dusty, the streams were running but low.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Various
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 2
Approximate Distance (Miles): 12

Salmon River S.F.

Date: January 18, 2013
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Salmon River S.F.
Town: East Hampton
Trail Conditions: 1-2" of crusty snow.
Observations/Information: My brother and I ride Salmon River, specifically the trails off the Airline Trail in East Hampton, on Friday. Brother was looking very 1993 in his pink/yellow/green Pearl Izumi fleece. It was freezing cold in the parking lot on Smith Street but once on the trail we got overheated, and had to shed layers.

The Airline Trail was a mess with hard, pockmarked snow and ice near the parking lot. Once on the singletrack we laid down first tracks in most places. Pushing through 1-2 inches of hard crusted snow is strenuous work that warmed us up fast. Every climb is an all-out sprint leading to exhaustion at the top, easy trails becoming difficult. In spite of this we found the trails to be surprisingly rideable, only the steepest climbs needing to be walked. Once first tracks were down it became easier. Our chubby-tire 29ers performed well.

Overall a great ride and an awesome workout. If you're dithering about riding in the snow I'd get out and do it.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes

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: Salmon River State Forest (Greyville)

Date of Activity: 3/7/2010
Condition of Trails(s): dry for the most part with mud only in usual spots

Trail Ambassador Name: John Czaja and William Czaja
Trail Ambassador Email: mountainbiker9109@yahoo.com

Town: Hebron
Location: Salmon River State Forest (Grayville)
Trail(s) Ridden: Various (north and south loops)
How did you use the trail?: Riding and Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day?: 2:30-5:00 PM
Duration (Hours): 2.5
Distance (Miles): 6

Observations: Having determined that the trails were in good riding condition after doing work yesterday we headed out to do an afternoon ride with some anticipated after winter trail work. We came across one rider who passed us by and then later on we met up with him again where we talked for awhile about riding and gave him directions to some trails and loops as well as the way out to where he parked. Saw one other rider out by himself and then on our way back we ran into a father and son (probably around 7 years old) out riding. We stopped to talk to them for a little. In our conversation the man asked where a bridge was which we gave him directions to for another days ride. We stopped many times throughout our ride to remove deadfall, some requiring the use of our saw. Our large trail clearing was of a tree that had fallen across the trail.

TA Report: Salmon River State Forest (Greyville)

Date of Activity: 3/6/2010
Condition of Trails(s): decently dry with mud in the normal large areas

Trail Ambassador Name: John Czaja and William Czaja
Trail Ambassador Email: mountainbiker9109@yahoo.com
Town: Hebron
Location: Salmon River State Forest (Grayville)
Trail(s) Ridden: N/A
How did you use the trail?: Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day?: 12:00-2:00 PM
Duration (Hours): 2
Distance (Miles): N/A

Observations: We headed in with the intention of doing maintenance in multiple locations but ended up spending our whole time in one area. This section is on the main grayville road running across the state forest. This area has always been a spot with mud all season long. We had done small work to this area before, but we decided to do a large full scale armoring of the area as it is a very have traffic section. During our work three riders passed through, two in one group and one solo, each stopping to chat for a few minutes.

This is partly into armoring. We had forgotten to take picture before we started work.

TM Report: Salmon River State Forest (Greyville)

Date of Activity: 2/28/10
Condition of Trails(s): light snow
Trail Ambassador Name: John Czaja
Trail Ambassador Email: mountainbiker9109@yahoo.com
Town: Hebron

Location: Salmon River State Forest (Grayville)
Trail(s) Ridden: N/A
How did you use the trail?: Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day?: 12:00-2:00 PM
Duration (Hours): 2
Distance (Miles): 3

Observations: Hiked around the trail south of old Grayville Road. There was still a light snow on trails. Only one bike track seen. Removed many sticks and cut deadfall cut away from the trail. I covered over a section of trail that had been braided. The original trail is on the left hand side of the photo. This small bridge crossing sides were substantially washed away from extreme heavy rains. After a bit of wet work the sides were armored with stones in the immediate area.

Before:



After:

TA Report: Salmon River State Forest (Grayville)

Date of Activity: November 29, 2009

Trail Ambassador Names: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33athotmaildotcom
Town: Hebron
Location: Grayville Falls Park/Salmon River State Forest.
Trail(s) Ridden: Many, all unmarked.
How did you use the trail? Mountain Bike
What was the time of day? Afternoon

Duration (Hours): 2.5

Distance (Miles): 12ish

Condition of Trail(s): Dry.


Observations: Grayville was busy on this sunny but chilly Sunday morning. We saw several other riding groups and a few hikers/dog walkers as well. We rode the mellow trail by the river, the plank bridge trail, the slickrock trail, and others. We gave a group of young riders directions to the stunts.

There are a lot of great trails in here, and a few not-so-great. Some of the trails don't seem to go anywhere. It's best to ride with someone who knows their way around so you don't waste time on the less satisfying stuff.

Very few sticks and branches, and no trees, had blown down after the high winds of the day before. Maybe everything that can blow down already has.

Trails were dry and in good shape- no problems besides a few muddy areas that could use bridging or armoring.

TA Report: Salmon River State Forest (Greyville)

Trail Ambassador Glen

Date of Activity:11/11/09
Condition of Trails(s): Dry, leafy
Trail Ambassador Name(s): Al Tinti, Glen Vernes, Mark Lurie, Ryan Tucker, Joe Tinti
Trail Ambassador Email:
Town: Hebron
Location: Grayville Falls / Salmon River State Forest
Trail(s) Ridden: Quite a few
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Biking
What was the time of day?: Midday
Duration (Hours): 2.75
Distance (Miles): 9 and change

Observations: Very leafy yet quite easy to follow the trails that have a really sweet flow.

Trail Ambassador Ryan

TA Report: Salmon River State Forest (Greyville)

Date of Activity:
Condition of Trail(s): South Loop muddy in spots. New bridges have been added over a couple of the wet areas, but one more is needed (possible TM opportunity). North Loop in great shape.

Trail Ambassador Name: Al Tinti
Trail Ambassador Email: alanrtinti@cox.net
Town: Hebron
Location: Grayville Road
Trail(s) Ridden: Grayville section of Salmon River SF
How did you use the trail?: Trail ride
What was the time of day?: 5:30 PM
Duration (Hours): 2
Distance (Miles): 10

Observations: Lots of riders out on one of the few dry days we've had lately. Probably 15-20 cars in town park lot. People still parking illegally in cul-de-sac (4 cars where there are only 2 legal slots). I warned some of those folks that there were likely to be complaints from the
local homeowners.