Upton SF

[steve_b]

How's the riding at Upton ? After reading the article from Singletracks, I thought I would give it a try. I have a chance to stop there and ride while on the way to Maine next week. (10/3) Is there a good loop that will provide a solid 1 - 1 1/2 hr ride?

[johnnyt]

Plenty o'good riding there! although not extremely technical in general. Here are some must do's.
Hit the Mammoth Rock trail and be sure to find the nice slickrock down from the top.
The Whistling cave trail will provide a gonzo downhill if taken from the Park Road, or a nearly impossible up from the other direction,
The Grouse trail up is difficult, but makeable, down it is wild.
So here is a good counter clockwise loop:
Park Rd to Whistling Cave to Loop to Grouse to Mammoth Rock to Old Hopkinton to Rabbit Run. That should be about 7-8 miles, plenty of ups and downs. That route can also easily be expanded on.

Have a blast!

[steve_b]

Upton was fun stuff. Anyone in the area that likes singletrack trail riding will be pleased here. Granted it's not Vietnam or Lynn, but what is ? The powerlines I crossed under on the way to the park looked like nice rocky riding as well.

[SloMoJo]

Yes, Upton is nice by itself, but what really makes it is how it's easily linked to Lake Whitehall and Peppercorn Hill.

Whitehall has nice singletrack all the way around it. Really pretty ride with some challenge to it. Peppercorn is a nice hill area reachable via the powerlines on the southwest corner of Upton SF. Below Dean pond.

These 3 areas combine for a huge riding area.
For the adventurous, the same powerline can take you from Peppercorn down to Vietnam. Great stuff.

[PKK]

How does one get there. Say from 495

[steve_b]

Upton is easy to get to. Take 495 to exit 21 B. Take rte 135 west towards Upton for aprox 3 miles. Just after crossing over a small lake, take a very sharp, almost backwards right turn labeled Westboro rd. (There may be a DEM park sign) Shortly after crossing under powerlines (which I hear leads to more good riding including 'nam) turn onto Spring st on your right. The park entance is here also. Should be maps at the kiosk. There's an article in the Sept 02 singletracks on Upton. It might help also.