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Maps & DirectionsAmethyst Brook (Amherst)From anywhere in the boston area, get on rt 2 and head west. You will be on rt 2 for about 1:15. Your will take the exit for rt 202 towards Amherst (its the second exit with the 202 markings). Upon getting off of the highway, take a right off of the exit ramp and you're on 202 towards Amherst, stay on this windy road for about 25 minutes. Take Amherst road on your right at the second set of blinking yellow lights - It turns into Pelham rd. once your in Amherst, and out of Pelham. Follow this road for about 20 minutes. Your getting close once you pass a small resovoir on your left and then a small church on your right. After about another mile and a half after the church, there will be a hard-to-see little parking lot on the right at the bottom of the hill your coming down. Thats our meeting place, the Main parking lot for Amethyst brook. We rode the Robert Frost trail from Amethyst Brook up to the Rock Garden and across the range on the Robert Frost trail till we met up with the Mt Orient trail where we ascended some more (this whole first 4 miles were uphill) where we descended a little bit to the MT Orient lookout. We took lunch and descended into Buffum Falls cons. Area which we sprinted through to the foot of mt Lincoln. We ascended the Light Side trail of Mt lincoln and then flew down the DARK SIDE trail. We bounced out onto Pelham rd. and then took a mile or so rode descent right back to the parking lot. The official rage onboard computer said our total trip distance was 12 miles. Our time was about 3 hours, and our total vertical gain was about 2000ft (roughly). Bear BrookComing from the south, take Exit 9N from Interstate 93 and follow Route 28 north for 11 miles to Deerfield Road, marked by a large brown sign for Bear Brook state park. the toll booth is 1 mile ahead on Deerfield Road, and Podunk Road is 2 miles beyond on the right, after a small cemetary. I got these directions out of the book Mt. Biking New Hampshire by Stuart Johnstone. It is a decent book with nice maps and descriptions about places. The book says that an entrance fee is charged during the peak seasons, Spring/Summer. There is parking at Podunk Rd, which looks to be in the center of the park. There are about 10,000 acres, and about 30 miles of trails, i think a map would be recommended. Good luck! and have fun! Alternate: From Boston take Rte 93 North (staying right at the Rte 93/Rte 293 split in NH). Take Exit #9 for Rte 28/Rte 3 (Hookset). The ramp goes right at the end putting you on Rte 28/Rte 3. Stay on this road for 7.5 miles and take a right, remaining on Rte 28 (this is where Rte's 3 and 28 split off - also, there's a small brown sign for the park). Go about 2.5 miles down Rte 28 and the entrance to Bear Brook State Park will be on your right (just past the Bear Brook trailer park). About one mile down as you drive into the park you'll have to pay a fee at the ranger station (small, outhouse-sized building on your right). After the ranger station, you'll continue on down that road for about another two miles. When you pass the cemetery get ready to take a right onto Podunk road (I think there's one of those tiny center-islands at this turn with a flower pot on it). Then take a quick right (150 yards from the turn on to Podunk) into the mountain biker/hiker/winter parking lot. If you start going up a hill on a dirt road you missed the turn into the parking lot. Just to set the record straight, there's way more than 30 miles of trails at Bear Brook. And you should definitely have a map if you're unfamiliar with the park. If you like a good mix of fast and somewhat technical singletrack, then this is a great place to ride. Actually, this is a great place to ride. Period. BelmontThe riding in Belmont is made up of 3 parcels of property: MacLean
Hospital, Rock Meadow Conservation Area, and the former state mental
hospital. It not very big (about 800 acres) and takes about 1-1.5
hrs to cover the whole trail network., but there are some areas
to stop and play - like the whoop-de-doos and dirt jumps built by
moto-x'ers. The terrain is fairly hilly but not very technical...so
it makes for great training rides. The trails are a mix of fireroad
and beautiful twisty singletrack. There are 3 Getting there: It's right in the center of Belmont - park at the big empty parking lot next to Belmont Springs and Star Market on Route 60 near where it meets Trapelo Road. The trailhead is just across the street. From Somerville, take Rt. 16 west to Rte 2 west. Take the first exit (Exit 60) and turn left at the end of the ramp under the highway onto Lake Street. Take lake street to the first stoplight and turn left onto Rt. 60. Follow Rt. 60 through a few sets of lights...Then the road will get kinda narrowing and twisty, and you will see a Dominoes Pizza and the Colonial Jeep dealership, then an abandoned car dealership and the empty lot before Belmont Springs. Park there - but no guarantees - we haven't been hassled there, but it does say no trespassing. From Woburn,Take Rt. 3 South towards Arlington. In Arlington Center - go straight over Mass. Ave, following Rt. 60 West towards Belmont (instead of staying on Rt. 3) Follow Rt. 60 over Rt. 2 and through a few sets of lights...and see directions above. From Boston/Western Cambridge/Watertown, Take Rt. 2 West to the
Mt. Auburn Hospital and bear left at the fork onto Rt.16/Mt. Auburn
St. Go about 1 mile and bear right after the Star Market at the
fork onto Belmont Street (Trapelo Road). Follow into Belmont ((turns
into Trapelo at the Oakley CC) and continue down the hill past Belmont
Wheelworks on your left and the Sar market on your right. take the
next right onto Rt. 60 and go 300-400 yards to the parking lot on
the right. Trails Riders... carry on a bit further down Trapelo Road, North out of Belmont - there's a cool playground on your left after the greek diner that is just awesome! Blue HillsDescriptionThe Blue Hills has over 100 miles of legal trails for riders of all ability levels. Included among these are about 20 miles of VERY difficult singletrack trails. To get a free map of the Blue Hills' trails stop at the ranger station, just up the hill near the State Police barracks. The open area is about 2,000 acres, the whole reservation is over 7,000 acres. If you ride there, you should pick up a copy (free) of the MTB map, which shows the open areas & trails. If you're unfamiliar with the area, a little studying can help, as single & double track distinctions are shown as well as countour lines to indicate gradients. The best way to learn the trails is to come out on one of the frequent, lead rides (NEMBA, Blue Hills Trail Watch, Friends of Blue Hills, MDC MTB Day, etc.). DirectionsOption #1: From route 95 (the old route 128) take the Houghton's Pond, Ponkapoag Trail exit. Head North towards the Hills and turn right at the "T' intersection. the houghton's pond parking lot is about 1/8 mile ahead on your right. Option #2: Houghtons Pond parking lot. It is an easy ride from Boston or driving take RT. 28 south into Milton just as you enter the reservation lands take a right onto Chickatawbut and continue south about 2mi the parking lot is on the left it is big and easly seen and right on the road. There are bathrooms there. Option #3: Meet in the Parking Lot just north of the Trailside Museum on Rt. 138. Take Rt. 128 exit 2 (Rt. 138 north), go straight through one traffic light, meet in the second parking lot on the right (the one just after the Trailside Museum). Option #4: To get to the ski area take exit 2B North Milton off of 128, go straight through a set of lights and its half a mile on the right.
Trail IdeasIf you're looking for a difficult, challenging, but legal ride I'd include any or all of the following. From the Houghton's Pond parking lot head east on Headquarters Path and 'try' to ride it all the way out to route 28. I have ridden every portion of this singletrack, in both directions, but have never done the whole thing without stopping to rest. Maybe some day. J From route 28, retrace you route back to Forest Path and then head south. After about ½ mile bear right and go up an old road which leads to Buck hill Path. Turn right at the Y intersection and after about 30 yards. Hike up the staircase to the top of Buck Hill. This is part of the Skyline Trail, which is closed to bikes unless you're walking. (Which you will be as it's a difficult climb. If you don't want to attempt this difficult hike, just keep going on Buck Hill Path. It's a neat downhill. Then go left until you get to dark Hollow Path.) At the top of Buck hill, take a moment to enjoy the view. Then head West until you encounter the Buck Hill Trail. This is a long, steep, eroded trail that will lead you back down to headquarters Path. Then take an immediate left on Dark Hollow Path and follow that until you get to pavement. Then turn right and take your first right up hill. Follow that back to Headquarters Path. You should come out across the street from the ranger station. This is a long, but not too difficult climb. So far you've ridden about 8 miles. Cross the pavement and go up the hill by the Ranger Station. After about 150 yards take a sharp right on Hancock Hill Path. Which is very Difficult. Turn Left on Braddock path after about 2 intersections and then go left again on Breakneck Ledge Path. Follow that until it drops you down on a dirt road. Go right and then take a right on Bartol Path when you get to '5 corners'. Bartol Path is the downhill singletrack not the uphill climb over the rocks. Follow Bartol Path to Border Path and then turn left. When you get to a paved road turn left and ride to the top of Big Blue. Be sure to check out the weather station, the view and the observation tower at the top of Big Blue. The Ultimate technical downhill is Coon Hollow Path which is located just below the observation tower at the top of Big Blue Hill. Don't miss this one. And watch out for endos. If you follow this trail all the way to the pavement and then turn left. you'll get back to Houghton's Pond parking lot in about 1/2 mile. By now you should have about 15 miles on your odometer and will have noticed dozens of alternative trails that you can explore on another ride. Altogether you 'should' be able to do about 100 miles of legal riding in the Blue Hills. At least 30% of which singletrack and about 20 miles of which would be classified as difficult/dangerous. We mountain bikers have a pretty good relationship with the MDC types in the Blue Hills. Because most people observe the rules and stay off the few trails that are closed to bikes the MDC recently opened two new sections of the Blue Hills to bikes. (The Fowl Meadow and Little Blue sections.) And in addition they just opened the nearby Stoney Brook Reservation to us. If good relations with the MDC continue, I'd expect that in the near future more areas will be open to us. It's not necessary to ride on closed trails to have a good ride in the Blue Hills, and doing so could jeopardize any chance we might have in the future to increase our riding opportunities. Or, it could even detract from what we now have. LinksBorderlandBorderland is a state park not too far from Foxboro, it's a really well maintained very well sign-posted park with maps and good trails ranging from pretty technical to sedate. It was unclear which trails we were allowed on, but we had fun on the ridge trail, the northwest trail and the quarry trail (pitiful quarry by the way). The park was pretty busy - mostly with hikers with dogs and kids, as soon as you get a mile away from the parking they thin out, however it still restricts you from opening up the gas too much. Directions: Rte. I 93 south to Rte. 128 north to Rte. I 95 south take exit 10 and then left at end of ramp to Sharon Center. Through lights, then immediate right onto Pond St.. Follow to rotary and take Massapoag Ave to Park entrance on left. It's actually quicker to get there from Rte. 24, look it up on a map and find your own way. Alternate directions: Take Rt. 24 south to the Rt. 123 West exit (towards Stonehill College). At the 3rd set of lights, take a right (by Honey Dew Donuts) and then take a left at the next set of lights. This will bring you into Easton Ctr. Take the left FORK (it's almost straight) up the little hill past the library. At the end of that road take a right, and there's a small parking lot immeditately on your left. There's a sign there for Borderland. Links: Mass. State Forest and Parks - Borderland State Park Callahan State Park (Framingham)Distance: 8-10 miles From Boston/128 - take the Mass Pike to the Natick Mall Exit/Rte 30. Take Rte 30 West until it joins Rte 9 West. Go though one set of lights (Wild Harvest on right) and then there will be a Staples and Ruby Tuesday on your right. Take the next exit (Framingham Sate College / Rte 30 West). At the lights go right and follow past the town green on your left. Follow under the Mass Pike and take first left which is Belknap Road. Follow over the RR tracks to the intersection and go straight. About half a mile on your right will be Millwood Street. (just after the two houses on the right with the wooden fences along the road) Take this right and follow about .80 mile down and on your left will be a parking lot. Park here. The Millwood Golf Course is on the right. From Worcester/495 - take Rte 9 East for about 7.5 miles. At a set of lights will be Michaels Restaurant and a Stop & Shop. Take the next exit which is Edgell Road/Framingham State College. At the lights take a left back over Rte 9. This will bring you by the town green on your left. Go under Mass Pike and take next left which is Belknap Road. Follow over the RR tracks to the intersection and go straight. About 1/2 mile down on your right will be Millwood Street. (just after the two houses on the right with the wooden fences along the road). Take this right and follow about .80 miles down and on your left will be a parking lot. Park here. The Millwood Golf Course is on the right. CatrockIt's off Thoreau St. and you can find it via MapQuest. Fairyland is a pond with trails around it... There's also a trail near Dairy Joy in Weston in Catrock Park (pretty cool place to ride around in and you can do a private run down the abandoned ski trail if you want all speed and no drainage ditches (of course, it's a rather short course, but pretty cool adrenaline rush). The only thing I ask is that attention be paid to any restrictions to this conservation land http://www.weston-forest-trail.org/marchguide.htm Catrock will be part of the July 4th ride, which will start at our house at 4:00 AM and ride out to see the sun rise at Catrock Park with breakfast!!! Details later for those of you who want to witness me (the roadie) actually riding trails. -----Original Message----- From: Sassler, MaryJane Sent: Thursday, May 27, 1999 10:58 AM To: 'rage@rageMTB.com' Subject: RE: Trail access in Lincoln. There's one trail I rode with some friends a couple of years ago - it's called Fairyland (really, it is) in Concord. You can find it on a topo map. Pretty cool place to bum around, if you're looking for a new trail to ride without restrictions (at least that I know of). Directions: This highly unknown to many people, so I would not suggest that a mass ride NOT start there, because of lack of parking and being a residential area. The entrance that I know of is in a cul-de-sac (sp?) Dairy Joy is on 117 about a 1 1/2 from the Weston/Waltham line on the right hand side. There's a road called King's Grant Road before and right next to Dairy Joy. From there, I believe you take the second right (Indian Hill???) follow road to the Cul-de-Sac and you'll see an entrance into a wooded area. >From there, you ride about 100 feet and enter at the top of the ski slope. I'll ask my hubby better directions, but that's the gist of where it is. I believe the trails lead elsewhere, and I'm sure there's a better way to get to CatRock via Waltham...just don't know where it is. DogtownDescriptionDogtown has a lot of flat riding. Nice single track (with little rocks in the way). Not much technical stuff to fight over, but a good fast ride to get lost. There are two Quarry's nearby (you may bump into them on your travels). One (the one not near the junk yard) is great for swimming in - bring some spare shorts to avoid that wet shorts chafing feeling. Cars parked in the northern parking lot of Dogtown Commons in the North Shore have been broken into over the last few weekends. The police recommend parking in the southern parking lot. Dogtown Commons ParkingTake 128 north towards Gloucester. Before you get into the city limits of Gloucester you will pass over a Large bridge spanning a salt water river. Shortly after you pass over this bridge, route 128 will enter a large traffic circle (Grant Circle). Follow this circle 270 degrees around and exit off on route 127 (towards Annisquam). Follow route 127 for about 1/2 mile and it will curve to the right and pass over a small bridge and some salt water. Immediately after you cross the bridge, route 127 will curve around to the left. You do NOT want to follow 127 to the left, instead look to take a right onto Reynard St. Follow Reynard to the end (1/4 mile) and turn left onto Cherry St. Look closely to your right for a small, broken-down (almost a driveway) looking road, with a small sign for Dogtown commons at the end. Follow this road to the end until you come to a gate and can not go any further. Park your car. O'Maley SchoolDirections to Dogtown (O'Maley School parking lot): Take 128 north towards Gloucester. Before you get into the city limits of Gloucester you will pass over a large bridge spanning a salt water river. Shortly after you pass over this bridge, route 128 will enter a large traffic circle (Grant Circle). Follow this circle 270 degrees around and exit off on route 127 (towards Annisquam). Turn immediately right on Poplar Street then left onto Cherry Street. The O'Malley school is approximately a half mile down, on the left. There are two lots - park in the one nearest Cherry Street. 2 min. ride to trails. (I think this is where they park for the Marblehead bike shop rides). LinksExeterExeter is in Henderson-Swasey Town Forest. This is a great ride with lots of technical climbing, descending, singletrack (even some brand new trails) and lots of jumps. A couple of the biggest non-BMX jumps I know of are here. A lot of the trails are out & backs, so if you are totally loop obsessed you may be slightly unhappy, but not totally. There is enough riding here for 3+ hours. Directions: Route 95 to Route 101 (exit 2) just before the toll booth in NH. After the small toll booth on the exit ramp take a right onto 101 west towards Exeter. Follow to Route 85. At the top of the exit ramp go left towards Exeter. Entrance to the park is .5 mi. on the right just before the train overpass. FoxboroDescriptionIt's 14 miles of really good riding, kind of like the woods in nam, with a little more hills, getting more and more technical as you get further around (and tired). The final stage is all on fireroad, all down hill and huge huge air off all the water bars. There's cool technical slickrock climbing and also singletrack littered with boulders. It's very cool. Expect hunters to be around in the Fall/Winter so wear something bright. Trails are multi use, so there may be dirtbikes and horses around. The Ranger StationTake 95 South to Exit 7a towards foxboro (if you pass 495 - exit 8, you missed it) I believe this is rt 140. After you get off the exit get ready, you will cut across traffic and take an immediate left on to Walnut Street. Follow Walnut, pass straight through a 4 way intersection and pass the foxboro country club on the left. You will come to a T intersection, take a left onto south street and then look for the signs for the park, in a few hundred feet take a right into the park, pass a few houses then pull into the dirt parking lot on the left across the street from the fire station. The Cell TowerThe main parking lot at the rangers station fills up pretty quick and this is an alternative spot to meet. From rte 95 south....get off on the rte 1 south exit, the same for the stadium....follow rte 1 for about 5 mile and there will be a State Police Barracks on your left, then New England Pottery supply on your left, its right after the Pottery place's parking lot on your left..... follow to the end.... From 495..... Rte 1 north, go through the set of lights for the and as you crest the hill High rock street is on your right....follow to the end. Links
GeorgetownFollow this link for the DEM trail map. Directions:
Great Brook State ParkGreat Brook State Park is in Carisle, North of the city, about 45 mins. or so. Directions:
You can also take Rt. 4 up towards Chelmsford, or take Rt. 3 north and then get off to meet Rt. 4. That's easy too. GrotonGroton is another great non technical riding area - teh trails make it very fast and a great place to train for cardio fitness. It's pretty small, but you can loop together some good loops in there. There are also Dirt Bikers in Groton so watch out for them zooming round a corner (like you wont HEAR them!). Another idea: after a hard ride in summer - drop by the canoe rental company and take a trip down the river for a nice post ride chill out. Directions: From I 495: take exit 31 and follow route 119 west for 7 miles to Groton Center. Turn left onto 225 west/Rt. 111 south. Drive for 0.6 miles to the point where the two roads split. Turn right onto 225 west. Continue for 1.9 miles to the town forest. Take a left onto Town Forest Road and travel one 1/2 mile into the woods. You have arrived. This is the point of departure. Drive Time: Depends on traffic! 50+ min. Horn PondDirections from Arlington/Cambridge: Take Mass. Ave to Arlington center. Take a R onto Rte 3A in Arlington center toward Burlington. Follow that 3 miles or so until you see "Mahoney's" garden center. Take the next right after that (I think it's Pond St.?) there is a gas station on the corner. Follow that street 1/2 mile until you see Horn Pond, then pull into parking lot on left. LeominsterLeominster State Forest is a great cardio training ground. They have well over 6 hours of trails to ride around and almost all of it is real nice smooth twsity singletrack through the woods. Real real nice single track. There's lots of hills if you like climbing. There's not much on the super technical rock front, but the riding is really good if you like blasting through the woods at speed and the occasional rocky descent. Directions: I can't remember the exit number, but the LSF exit is Rt 31. (It's before the Wa-Wa-Wachusett exit.) After driving west on Rt 2 for 45-50 minutes, the highway goes up this crazy hill on a right hand curve, w/ a big rock wall off the shoulder (dead man's curve). You'll know it when you see it. That's when you want to snap out of auto pilot, cause you're about 3 exits away. Go through the traffic light and continue on route 2. Go past Mt Elam road (a really dangerous exit that's not an exit, just a break in the guard rail where this country road intersects w/ the highway. Weird.) The next exit is route 31. go left off the exit, south on 31. Go past the dump on the left. Up a little ways you'll see the Ranger Station on the right. A little farther you'll see the main gate and swimming hole on the left. past that is a dirt parking area on the right. GO PAST ALL THAT STUFF... About 15 seconds later you'll see a dirt road intersect w/ 31. Rocky Pond Road, turn LEFT and park. If you come to the flashing light at rt 140, you went too far. Alternate directions: Take rte 2 west to exit 28. Take a left off the exit ramp and drive about 3 miles. You will pass a hotel, a power plant, the ranger station, and a swimming area. You will eventually come to Rocky Pond road, which is on the left hand side (one of those small wooden signs so keep a lookout) This road turns right into a parking lot. Links: Lincoln WoodsDescriptionThe Lincoln Conservation Land area has a "Bike Loop" which is really more like a path...meaning you just go back the way you came. It's not all that technical but it's really fast (plus it looks really nice)!! This trail is good for some cardio work and to develop some good bike handling skills. Many of the trails are closed in Lincoln but there is one "legal" trail marked with blue bike path signs. There is only one short stretch of pavement we need to ride on but the rest is fire road with maybe a little singletrack (if you want to call it that). It's too bad that the other trails were closed. DirectionsFrom the North: Take Route 128 South to Exit #28 - Trapelo Road Lincoln and bear right following the Lincoln signs. (see below "THEN" for the rest) From the South: Take Route 128 North to Exit #28B - Trapelo Road Lincoln THEN: Follow Trapelo Road for about 2.4 miles. Take a LEFT at the Stop sign onto Lincoln Road (see Old Library
on your right). Follow Lincoln Road for about 1.5 miles. Lynn WoodsRiding in Lynn woods is very technical - some say even better than the Fells, which is pretty crowded a lot of the time. This is one of the few places to ride near the city that is also used by equestrians (thats horse riders for us lay people). Some of them use the entrance that leads into the woods from Majestic Stables (the Walden Pond side?). The name of the street that leads to this entrance is called Walden Pond Ave. That is where most of the horses are although there are three other stables in the area. Keep your eyes peeled when you are in this area! Main Parking LotThis is also known as the Great Woods parking lot, it's near the golf club, right near the baseball fields. It's right at the bottom of the fireroad which leads upto the tower. From 128 (Route 95): Take exit 44B - it's the exit for 129 East, Take your 2nd exit from the rotary and carry on down 129 East. After a while you'll pass a hospital type building and a flashing light for a left turn, keep going down 129. When you come to a left bend in the road you want to take a right there (Just before St Marys Cemetry). There's a sign for Lynn Woods, but it's facing the other way. Anyway once you've taken that right you're there :-) The best place to park these days is in the big lot near Northeast Cycles. If you are heading south down route 1 from route 95, you'll have to go about 1 mile past Northeast Cycles and then take the next exit to turn around and come back to get into the parking lot - it's quite a long round trip From 128 (Rt 95) to Unos128/95 North. Take Exit 43 (the exit AFTER the Salem St/Montrose Exit). Take a right off the ramp and go straight through the lights (heading towards the Saugus Ironworks). Bear left at 2nd set of lights, Go over Route 1 and take the a right onto the ramp heading North. Proceed on Route 1 North until you hit Northeast Cycles on your right. Power-LinesHead up 95 north and take 129 East (exit 44B) it's the third exit you'll see for 129 (you'll see one very early on and then two close to each other (44 A&B). If you got the right exit then the exit ramp will dump you on a rotary. Once you are on the rotary you want the second exit just past a Quick Java hut (129 East)- follow that road to a set of lights at Regina St and turn right onto that. Just after you see the school on your left you want to take the left immediately after the school. Take this road for a few blocks until you reach the BIG POWERLINES which pass over the road. Park anywhere on the side of the street underneath the powerlines. This is where we meet. Riding from Swampscott T stopComing from Boston, Exit parking lot L + go L under train bridge. Road ends in a T, go L onto Essex. See convenience store at lighted intersection + go R onto Rte 129 for 1 mile. Fork in road, go L. (If you miss this, the road ends in a T, go L onto Rte 107.) At light go L onto Rte 107 for over 1/2 mile. At Rte 129 go R 'til Lynn Woods main entrance, over 1.5 miles. Main entrance is marked w/a flashing yellow light, after cemetery where they bury mountain bikers from the white trail. Hammer & this will take 15 min, 30 min if you get a flat. Links
Maudsley Estate (Newburyport)It an easy, particularly scenic ride. It is 95N to route 113 East - Newburyport. Proceed East past Friendly's, there will be a cemetery on your left. A road runs throught the middle of the cemetery. Take a left onto that road(across from Papa Gino's). About now you should see brown signs indicating where Mausdley is. At the end of that road take another left. The road will curve right with a fork to the left. Stay left. Go over Route 95 and keep going until you see the park on your right and the parking lot on your left. Midstate Trail (Central MA)For anyone that's not familiar with it - this is truly an awesome epic point to point ride. The shuffling of the cars was not a big deal at all and allowed bob to place well needed water halfway through the ride. The first 15 miles were awesome rocky single track - this is highly technical babyhead (and toddlerheads too) windy pick your line kind of riding perfect singletrack hardly ridden and superbly marked by little yellow triangles on almost every tree. the second 10 miles were pasture roads and snowmobile trails, slightly wider, but still rocky and run. mix that all together with some amazingly steep short hills and long descents and about 200 yards of road riding and it made for a sweet ride. in the last half there were plenty of places to cut the ride short if you wanted which was reassuring. The easiest way to get to the Spencer Big Y end where we left vehicles for the finish, is to take the MassPike west to the Sturbridge exit (exit 9) and head south (the only way you can go). As soon as you leave the tolls get over to your right - Rte 20 comes up very fast - and take the second Rte 20 ramp - the East bound ramp. Take Rte 20 about 3 miles to Rte 49 and then head North on Rte 49. Rte 49 ends at Rte 9. ot right on Rte 9 and then in a 1/4 mile you will see the Big Y on your left. Park in the Big Y lot near the Ernies car wash at the far end. Alternatively, if you wanted to make the ride a little shorter and cut out the snowmobile section, you could keep going on Rte 9 to the other side of Spencer and park that the Spencer Country Inn - that's where the Pub is and there is the driving range right next to it - the Inn will be on your right. Once you've left cars in spencer, you'll need to get to Rutland State Park. Go to the center of Spencer and take Rte 31 North. Going toward the center of Spencer from the Big Y means you will turn left at the first stoplight in town (not the McDick's light). You'll travel I guess about 8-10 miles north on Rte 31 before you'll see a restaurant on your right - the Black and White Rest. The first intersection past the Black an White is where I usually leave water. Continuing on Rte 31 from the water stop, take the next left - I don't remember the name of the road but it takes you past the Treasure Valley Scout Camp and the is a sign at Rte 31 directing you to that camp. If you miss that turn, keep going until you get to Paxton Center and turn left on Rte 122. Take Treasure Valley Road to Rte 122 and turn left. Follow 122 for a few miles. You will pass a body of water - on the left side of the road is a state boat launch - keep going - you'll eventually (mile or so) pass a road coming in from the right - keep goin about another 1/4 mile and you'll see a pull-off on the right. Park there. You'll know you are at the right spot if the road on the North side is gated, and if you can see the yellow MST markers. The trail head is on the South side of the road. Just follow the yellow triangles. As far as following the trails once you've reached the Spencer Country Inn, I think you'll have to wing it. Nashua MerrimackIf you can get over the other side of the river into Litchfield, NH there are some great trails off RT 3-A. Go 3A north, about 1/4 mile after the golf course you'll come to a country store. Soon after that take your first right then immediatly left then right (these are drivways getting progressivly smaller) onto dirt road and follow into gravel pit. Just start following the power lines to the south toward Hudson and the apple orchards in Londonderry. Or go up and out of gravel pit (North) and ride untill you run into the Manchester Airport. Usuallly some good (small) water crossings to cool off in. Needham WoodsThe terrain is a combination of fire roads and singletrack (not that difficult) Perfect for rookies and intermediates. All riding levels welcome. I'd like to start riding by 6:45 and ride until dark (approx. 8:15 - 8:30) Meet in the parking lot at the Central Ave. entrance. From 95 South, take the Highland Ave. Exit (Exit 19 I think, it's near Muzi Ford). You want to go south on Highland Ave. Follow Highland Ave into the center of Needham. In Needham Center, Highland Ave ends and you want to take a right onto Rte. 135. Follow Rte 135 through Needham Center and past the Mobil Station on your right. After the Mobil Station, if you keep going, you will come to a set of lights. (there is a church on the opposite left corner) You want to take a left onto Central Avenue. Follow Central Ave about a mile (maybe less) and the road will bend to the right and there will be a road coming in from the left. As you begin to bear right around the corner, there will be an entrance to Needham Woods on the left. Go in here and there is a small parking lot. From Newton, take Needham Street south so that International Bicycle is on your right and Muzi Ford is on your right. Needham Street turns into Highland Ave somewhere along there and follow Highland Ave into Needham Center. WestonThis ride is not nearly as technical as Lynn Woods' Bow Ridge but does have some nice singletrack trails. Weston trails are pretty, covered with Pine neddles, not any hill accept at Regis college area. No technical areas, there is some wetland and single track. There is a lot of trail area/mileage though, at least two hours to make it around the perimeter. Trails are accessable from the railroad track, parking at Westn Recreation area near a pond, or from the Campion Center, also at Regis College. A better small area is CatRock Park. It is na old ski slope, steep with tecnical trails, some very narrow and fast. Meet at the Duck Feeding/Canoe Rental Parking Lot across the Charles River from the Newton Marriott Hotel. Take Mass Pike exit 15 or Rt 128/95 exit 24. WompatuckSome technical spots, but nothing like the ridge. Slight hills, but with no really huge climbs. Quick and fun.
It's a state park, it's about 1/2 hr. from Boston, South 93, to Rt. 3 South, following to Cape Cod. Take the Rt. 228 Exit, Left off of Ramp. Follow 228 straight from a few miles, into the town of HIngham... There will be state park signs. There will be a right, that's well marked, *maybe free street?*, follow down this street, the state park is like one mile down on right, follow into park. Usually meet in the first parking lot on the left next to the visitors center. Usually we meet at the first parking lot on the right. Links: Wrentham State ParkIt is very boney, and if you are not sure of where you are going, it is easy to go in small circles since there are many trails. Lots of great technical stuff. There are some rock formations like those at Vietnam, but not quite as cool. Also some challenging hills. 95 South to exit 6B, 495 North,
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