New Trails Master Plan Brings Purpose - Built Mountain Biking to Mono Pond State Park

Columbia, CT - Eastern Connecticut riders have a big reason to get excited: a newly released Trails Master Plan for Mono Pond State Park lays out roughly 13 miles of new trail, including a dedicated mountain bike zone with terrain for riders of every skill level.

The plan, developed by Trust for Public Land in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and IMBA Trail Solutions, covers the park's full 650-acre footprint, a huge jump from the 218-acre reserve that existed before a 2020 land protection deal nearly tripled the park's size and set the stage for this moment.

What's In It for Riders

The master plan divides Mono Pond into three recreation zones, and mountain bikers come out as a clear priority:

• A mountain bike-focused zone: purpose-built with trails scaled to different skill levels, from newer riders working on fundamentals to those looking for something more technical.
• A shared-use zone: for hikers, runners, and mountain bikers to enjoy together.
• A hiking-focused zone: highlighting the park's scenic views and natural features, keeping some experiences low-traffic and nature-focused.

On top of new mileage, the plan calls for retiring unsustainable legacy trails and adding proper trailheads and access points throughout the property, the kind of infrastructure that turns a good trail system into a lasting one.

Just as important for the regional riding scene: the expanded network is designed to tie directly into the Air Line State Park Trail, a 50-plus-mile Connecticut Greenway already popular with cyclists, giving riders a connected corridor.

NEMBA at the Table

This didn't happen by accident. NEMBA has been part of the planning process from the start, and Director of Communications and Outreach Mick Ferraro pointed to Mono Pond as proof of what's possible when trail advocates, land managers, and conservation groups pull in the same direction, a partnership NEMBA is glad to have helped build, calling out DEEP and Trust for Public Land specifically for making it happen.

The planning process itself was a multi-year community effort: site visits and local meetings kicked things off in September 2024, and a second round of public engagement in November 2025, including an open house in Columbia that helped shape final priorities before the plan's release in late July 2026.

IMBA Trail Solutions' Ama Koenigshof, who led the planning and design work, framed Mono Pond as a model for how to grow riding access without losing sight of conservation, especially in a state where population density puts real pressure on open land.

Good for Trails, Good for the Local Economy

The economic case for trail investment is part of the story too. Trust for Public Land data cited in the plan shows mountain bike visitors spend an average of $416 per trip at local restaurants, hotels, and shops, a reminder that new singletrack is also an investment in the towns around it.

Acting DEEP Commissioner Emma Cimino credited the years of planning and community input behind the plan, saying it sets up a trail system built to last for generations of visitors.

What's Next

With the master plan now released, attention turns to phased trail construction and continued coordination between DEEP (which owns the land) and the Town of Columbia (which handles day-to-day management), with resident and stakeholder input continuing through the Columbia Open Space Committee.

Stay tuned to NEMBA's calendar for volunteer trail days and build opportunities as the Mono Pond plan moves from paper to dirt.