Talcott Mountain

[Hoo-Koo-Eee-Koo]

What are the "legal" MTB trails through Talcott Mountain SP that link Penwood SP with the trails at the West Hartford reservoir? I have attached a link to map for reference, although the MTB trails may not be shown. Where are the MTB trailheads?

http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/maps/talcgis.pdf

Maybe they are not that interesting, since there is no information about Talcott Mtn trails on bikerag.com.

Thanks in advance...

[turch]

Haven't looked over the map you have presented but not much has been developed at Talcott SP as yet (some opportunity to leverage old trails and logging routes on the east side of the property exist.). DEP only requests cyclists avoid the summit (Heublein Tower), the main access trail (Yellow trail, heavy pedestrian traffic), and of course the Blue Trail/Metacomet trail across the ridge. That being said the power lines are fair game (in case you didn't know this is Old Stafford Road and portions are referenced on the map as Old Metacomet trail, i.e. red trail). There also is a trail that cyclists use to connect MDC property with Penwood SP along the southern border of MDC property. I've got an old Topo! file that is a pretty poor rendition of this route. Some day I'll get around to replotting it.

For now, the best I can offer are these generalities. From MDC Res 6 inner parking lot, head north on the unpaved service road and take your very first right hand trail opportunity. Continue bearing right (you will get to the southern fence line and even cross an unridable gully). Continue navigating this route on a northly bearing and eventually you will cross the old tote road (referenced on the DEP map) and be delivered to the power line service road pretty darned close to Rte.185. wish that I could be clearer.

[charlieb]

we ride from the farmington ave parking lot at the res... up to the chimney at penwood... really a nice ride...about 44 miles R.T.

a couple of ways to go..
1) at route 44 jump on the power lines and ride it all the way to penwood.
2) ride the paved road at res 6 and go past the water treatment plant and inner parking lot up to the fire road... take it and watch to the right for a trail entrance... take that and you should be able to follow the fence line on the east side of the res... follow that and it will ultimately take you to the power line a few hundred yards before the gate in the fence that leads to penwood.

no maps that i know of for res#6.

if you try to ride to heublein tower, you will find no biking signs as you get close .. they do not want us any where near the tower ... maybe someday!

charlie