DETAILS OF RIDE

I will be at the Bridge Street trailhead a little before 1 pm on May 21st. I would like to get underway at 1 pm sharp. If it rains on the 21st the ride will be on the 22nd…same time and place. If it rains both days the ride is canceled. Cancellation or postponement will be posted on this site.

If you plan to join me, please let me know by email: geminibev@cox.net. I will give you my cell phone number so you can let me know, on the day of the ride, if you changed your mind or are running late.

I will probably do a round trip of about 10 miles. Others can do as many or as few miles as they wish. AND if you don’t want to ride, it’s a great trail for walking.

MY INVESTIGATION OF THE TRAIL

On Sunday, April 17, I took my bike to Willimantic to investigate this new trail segment firsthand. Glad I did!

The trailhead at Mackey’s is not what I consider safe for a bike. The trail goes down hill and makes a sweeping left turn to go under Route 66. A rider has no view of what is coming in the opposite direction under that bridge. An out of control rider will wind up in the Willimantic River. Not recommended.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

This is the trailhead at Mackey's. That sign is not kidding!

The best place to access the trail is off of Bridge Street. Here is a map showing directions.

Click to enlarge. Shows you how to get there from wherever you are coming from.

How ever you get yourself to where you are going, aim for 55 Bridge St., Willimantic, CT. That is the address of the Railroad Museum. As you turn onto Bridge St., you will see this sign as you cross the railroad tracks.

Sign for the Railroad Museum

Turn right, immediately after the tracks, onto what looks like a dirt road. It's kind of paved…kind of dirt. Follow this road to the paved parking area on the left. If all the spaces are taken, go just a little further for more parking.

This is the beginning of my ride.

The trail starts out paved

Beginning of the trail.

And will go cross the new bridge over the Willimantic River. It’s worth stopping here for the view.

New bridge over the Willimantic River.

The view looking east

The view looking west.

Once over the bridge you are on the Airline Trail and the surface becomes hard packed dirt. Very smooth.

Surface of the Airline Trail.

As you approach roads to be crossed you will be faced with a steep incline with a gate at the top. There are narrow openings on either end of the gate so you can get around. On the other side of the road, you are faced with a steep down hill to another gate. I recommend walking your bike across the road and down to the next gate. The surface in the gate areas has small rocks that could toss your bike and you.

What a crossing looks like.

Along the way, you will come upon this kiosk. The airline trail is presented here. See that red arrow at the top right? You are there!

You are here!

I didn’t ride too much farther before I turned around. I think I did a round trip of about 6 miles. This is what I came to discover and I am excited!

This is where I turned around and headed back.

On the way back to the parking lot this is a view of the river.

This trail is good for any bike.