Our Favorite Rides: Central Connecticut Gravel Loop
Central Connecticut has an abundance of multi-use paths, rail trails, hiking paths, and nature preserves. I grew up riding on the Farmington Canal Trail, a paved path on the former Central New England Railway running past river views, old water mills, rundown factories, waterfalls, and dams.
While I appreciate the well-maintained trails, I have been on the hunt for off-the-path gravel routes to mix it up and see new views.
The Barkhamstead Reservoir, Lake McDonough, Nepaug Reservoir, Tunxis State Forest, and Satan's Kingdom Recreational Area create a perfect loop of gravel paths, access roads, and single-track trails. This area combines isolated and quiet roads of hard-packed dirt & stone dust with beautiful views of the Farmington River and local forests.
Highs from the Central Connecticut Gravel Loop:
The Goose Green Road segment had beautiful water access points. Countless spots to sit in the shade and watch the boats and kayaks.
A mix of terrain types - sand and gravel mixture, hard-packed gravel, asphalt, and dirt roads. A perfect mixture of everything
Navigation is relatively easy since for the most part you just follow the reservoir boundaries
Isolated routes away from the busy rail trails in the area
Lows from the Central Connecticut Gravel Loop
Bear Crossing warnings to keep you on your toes and alert
Certain "paved" paths are crumbling and cause inconsistent terrain
A few unexpected hike-a-bike sections due to newly fallen trees
The trail in Tunxis State Forest reached a 13-14% grade with very chunky, loose gravel -making it nearly impossible to have traction
