Callahan/Sudbury Conservation question...

[GarySZ]

Hi folks - been lurking for a while, posting for the first time...

I have a question for folks that ride in Callahan out in Framingham - its at the end of my street, so I ride there a few times a week...

I notice when I'm coming down the Pipeline trail from the Marlborough side, that you eventually cross into the Sudbury Conservation land... and the point it changes, there is a sign that clearly states "biking allowed" with a picture of a bike. However, if I keep going straight and take the steep downhill at the end (towards the Millwood entrance) on the sign is posted another Sudbury Conservation sign explicitly stating that biking is NOT allowed...

So which is it? Or are there some where you can and some where you can't?

Thanks.
- Gary

[Tim]

Don't know the area (I only ride the north side of Callahan) but recall reading somewhere that somebody was working to get bikes allowed on a trail or two in the Sudbury Valley Trustees land to get from one place to another within the park. Seems like they may have been successful.

Since the Sudbury Valley Trustees have historically hated mountain biking, this seems like a very positive accomplishment. I would suggest you simply respect the signs.

Tim

[GarySZ]

Especially since its my most freqenet riding spots, the last thing I want to do is get the Cons. folks upset or threaten future riding for other folks - so I'll most definitely follow the signs - I'll have to look again (too see if its not referring to another side trail) but it was just confusing on this one trail (Pipeline) that it seemed to have an "allowed" sign on one end and a "not allowed" sign on the other...

Oh well... perhaps I'll just move the majority of my riding over to the north side...

Thanks.

[Pedalphile]

Thanks for pointing this out. NEMBA has made some good headway with SVT and we want to keep moving in a positive direction.
I referred your concern to Blackstone Valley's local contact. We are looking at the situation this weekend. He or I will get back with more info. What I do know is that there is one section of the Pipeline, downhill on the side of the hill that reaches a muddy, sensitive area. I know that SVT wants to prohibit biking there. There are a couple of places to exit Pipeline bringing you to an open area of the park. Possibly clearer signage to these trails might solve the problem.

[NembaHobbit]

HI Gary,

Thanks for bringing up this topic :-)

SVT owns land abbutting Callahan, plus a narrow little swath that cuts through on the South side of Callahan. Here is a link to SVT's map which is clearer than the DCR map, DCR land is blue, SVT land is green.
http://www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org/PHPSite/maps/files/NWFramingham1.jpg

SVT Policy has always been to prohibit bikes on all their land, but they have only recently put up signage in Callahan to indicate this rule and mark the boundaries, so it is confusing for longtime riders in the park.

We have permission to ride on Pipeline, which preserves rider access from the Edmands road lot toward the South part of the park, and the section of Rocky Road between Red Tail and Deer Run, which is the main trail between the north and south sides.

From the Edmands road lot, going up Pipeline, after you crest the hill, turn right on one of several side trails on the backside. Please do not take any of the side trails to the left, they are all on SVT land and are closed.


We recently did a major trail work project with SVT installing drainage control on Pipeline, and SVT had an Eagle Scout to do a very nice re-route around a huge mudhole near Deer Run. We are in initial planning stages of a re-route from Juniper to Deer Run so it won't dead end at the SVT boundary.

I believe this cooperation is truly helping our relationship with SVT. They sincerely appreciate our efforts and experience and have been actively soliciting our advice and assistance. So please do continue to respect the signs, even though they are a bit confusing and disconcerting.


Thanks!

Anne Shepard
Blakstone Valley NEMBA

[Mark]

Anne Shepard and I have been working with SVT over the bike issue for more than a year now. I checked out Pipeline and a couple of other areas the other day. All of the signs are correctly posted. The confusion arises due to a couple of missing signs or a clear message that defines whether or not we can bike on trails that have no signs.

Let me describe the Pipeline Trail. Traveling from the Edmands lot you start in DCR (state park) land then enter SVT property near the first rise. The border is clearly marked as SVT property with a Biking Allowed sign. Continuing up the hill and leveling off, you leave SVT land and re-enter DCR land. There is another set of SVT/Biking Allowed signs for those traveling back to Edmands. Continuing away from Edmands, you'll re-enter SVT land where it is posted Biking Allowed. If you continued and descended the eroded trail, you will leave SVT land and once again be in DCR land. Looking back you will see an SVT/No Biking set of signs.

I have sent a message to my contact at SVT suggested that a second sign, Biking Allowed with a left arrow be posted at the fourth location. The arrow would point to Packard Trail. That trail leads up to and joins Pipeline where a Biking Allowed sign should be posted. I think that would be the proper exit from Pipeline, avoiding the prohibited section. I am attaching an SVT map that I have marked up where signs are and where I think signs should be. I also highlighted what I think the approved Pipeline route should be. Hopefully the attachment works

Let me say that this is my read on the situation and cannot be held responsible for any errors. We hope to fix the problem as soon as possible.

In the meantime, please restrict yourself to trails with Biking Allowed signs. In addition, we hope you enjoy the reroute along Rocky Road that has been a very long mud pit.

Mark Lamkin
VP Callahan
BV NEMBA

[GarySZ]

Excellent - thanks for the replies and for the great maps - much better than the one's I've come across in the past...

I've moved to the north side of Callahan lately - simply because I'm not familiar with it and the south side was beginning to get repetetive (as any area would if you ride 4-5 times a week) - but I still like that Pipeline section and can now make sure I'm not going anywhere I shouldn't!

Thanks again.

[GarySZ]

i apologize if i'm keeping this thread unnecessarily alive - but i just wanted to report back that the suggestions for new signage in callahan has been implemented and that it is now clear where you can and can't bike around that section of the pipeline trail...

thanks again!