GravitationalOno OP t1_jcp2tv7 wrote on March 18, 2023 at 1:53 PM

Reply to comment by iandavid in Long Distance Cycling: Best way to get from Pomfret, CT to Providence, RI? by GravitationalOno

Thanks! This is another vote against Option 3. It was the in between choice between (2) which is longer and safer, over two days and (1) which is faster but more unpredictable on roads, over one day.

My other option is to just do the Air Line trail on its own, maybe as Hartford-Willimantic-Pomfret-Willimantic-Meridien and then start another ride from Providence ... that's looking more attractive.

>Moosup briefly has a nice paved trail, but only as far as Barber Hill Road. Between there and the Summit General Store in Coventry it’s pretty rough

Where is Barber Hill Road? I could not find it on the map going east from the Summit General Store in Coventry.

iandavid t1_jd1rqvs wrote on March 21, 2023 at 5:18 AM

Sorry, missed this part earlier:

> Where is Barber Hill Road? I could not find it on the map going east from the Summit General Store in Coventry.

It’s in Moosup: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Rk1pSf5Dfq2vWEGt5?g_st=ic

Basically the trail from Barber Hill Road east to Summit General Store is either gravel, mud, or brush. They’ve done some preliminary work on the RI side to get it ready for paving (see here and here but there’s no timeline for the actual paving yet.

GravitationalOno OP t1_jd2gmwq wrote on March 21, 2023 at 11:05 AM

Ah, I see! I missed it bc it's right at the start and a dead-end road. Good to know. Thank you!

I saw on the maps it's kind of neat that some of the bridges exist to be part of the trail, but yeah, if it's mud or brush, it will be too much of an effort for me to take a chance with. Not to mention if I can't get across some of those waterways, I don't want to be portaging a bike.

iandavid t1_jcp5tcf wrote on March 18, 2023 at 2:16 PM

Yeah the areas nearest the border are the least developed, which on the plus side means it’s very rural and pretty, and on the minus side means none of the trails are very well-maintained at this point. That’s true in Massachusetts as well – the part of the Air Line/SNETT in Douglas state forest is in good shape, but it starts to get super overgrown between Douglas and Millville. I haven’t attempted that segment, but I have heard from folks who tried that it was rough going and you’re better off on the roads.

But Millville to Blackstone is brand new and great, and the path from Woonsocket to Pawtucket is beautiful. The plan is to connect all those segments eventually, again, as time and budgets permit.