Rail Trail Over/Under the Merritt Parkway

Curiosity once again got the best of me so after a short mountain bike ride in Pequonnock Valley - I checked out progress on the Rail Trail tunnels which I had visited previously back on Saturday, June 24, 2017 Link >

Starting at Quarry Road I rode north  - it only took a few minutes to bike the entire stretch and I was pleased to see the old foundation I discovered before was still accessible.

Trumbull's Abandoned Ice House

It was a beautiful day -- sunny but not too hot with a breeze. After my mountain bike ride in the valley, I decided to revisit the rail trail -- it was just too nice outside to head home!

IMHO the stretch between Whitney and Tait has got to be one of the most scenic rides in the state! The lush canopy of greenery kept the ride cool and pleasant.

I rode to the old ice house as it has been probably more that a decade since I last visited the spot with my son. It is very overgrown now but once I descended the steep bank, I got close enough to take a few nice photographs...

The Ice House up close

Remnants of the old carriage road that led to the Ice House

Colorized railroad valuation map

Topo of the former pond - Source

Further Info

• Pequonnock Valley - Historical Map Comparisons
• Pequonnock Valley Map - Geological and Historical Spots of Interest 

Merritt Parkway Rail Trail Tunnels

After a morning rock building trail session up at Pine Mountain, curiosity got the best of me. I heard they were finally building tunnels for rail access across the Merritt Parkway ramps at Trumbull and I wanted to check it out.

Just like the last trek in, I parked at the end of Rocky Hill Road but this time it looked a whole lot different! It appears this is where one of the the tunnels will emerge.

I gingerly hopped over the jersey barriers along the ramp and saw the tunnel work.

All the scrub and overgrowth on the walk to the bridge has been cleared.

Its a beautiful sight - crossing the bridge!

After crossing the bridge, a short trek brings you to the next ramp tunnel...

The tunnel stops just short of the actual roadway (ramp) and ends in a huge metal plate. I peaked thru a mini window in the metal plate and saw that the rocks under the roadway have yet to be removed!

Walking back, I took another nice photo of the bridge (going north)

Previous Posts on the Bridge (great for comparison!)

Revisiting the Abandoned Railroad Bridge over the Merritt Parkway
Abandoned Railroad Bridge over the Merritt Parkway

Revisiting the Abandoned Railroad Bridge over the Merritt Parkway

I decided to re-visit the Abandoned Railroad Bridge over the Merritt Parkway, but this time trekking in from the north. (Feb 2015 snowshoe visit >). I was joined by three friends and it was an easy hike to the bridge even though we were somewhat stymied by overgrowth.

We continued on south after crossing the bridge as I wanted to show them the old foundation I had seen previously. The embankment was easily discernible but barberries were everywhere!

 

The foundation...

Heading back...

Sadly, a dead wild turkey was spotted on the Merritt from the bridge :-(  [In Montana this would be dinner for some - ROADKILL Yum yum!]

I then toured the Broadway Woods area with my excellent guide John Lauria (the Trumbull historian), who pointed out some old railroad ties just west of the cut...

It was a long day -- I had mountain biked up in Old Mine Park before our hike and I headed over to the Valley after my second hike with John! This old man needed a nap when I finally got home mid afternoon but it was a fun day for sure.

Housatonic Rail Trail - Riding Video

Yes it's been ages since I posted here - I have been mountain biking instead (see Mountain Biking Blog) but today I had a really bad time on the mountain biking trails and opted finally to ride the rail trail across the river instead.

a.k.a. the Pequonnock River Valley

Heading south from the Whitney Ave parking lot - the weather was gorgeous (not too hot!) and there were quite a few people on the rail trail.

After a frustrating hour or so on the mountain biking trails across the river (details), riding the rail trail was super easy--even though I was on my mountain bike (rather than my much lighter road bike).

I took a one-handed video on my iPhone while bike riding! Normally when rail trail riding, I have a Canon camera that's easier to hold while riding with one hand but since I came straight from a mountain bike ride, I only had the iPhone. Thankfully it turned out OK!

Remnants of the old ice house are visible along the rail trail

This looks like an old carriage road that descended to the ice house

Right before your get to the Whitney parking lot ,
remnants of the Radcliffe Mill ruin are visible across the river
(Highlighted digitally)

Of all the Rail Trails I have ridden, this still is one of the most scenic!!

Housatonic Rail-Trail - North End

(a.k.a. Pequonnock Valley Greenway)

I was in the Trumbull/Newtown Area today and decided to check out the last northern section of the Rail Trail I missed back on November 2, 2013 ride.

On that trip, I turned around before the very end because I was on a road bike and worried about popping a tire

Well, it turned out it was a very short stretch that I missed!

 The short trail to the railroad tracks

 A short vid (panning the tracks)

or view on YouTube >

Housatonic Rail-Trail

(a.k.a. Pequonnock Valley Greenway)

Map Link >

Saturday started out dark and cloudy but by noon - it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day so I headed over to Trumbull with my road bike (for a change!) and rode the Rail Trail.

I started out at Tait Rd -- the same spot I used to start out with my son Greg when we first started riding here years ago. The lot was packed so I had to park on a lower road.

The ride along the picturesque river valley was--as always--awe-inspiring. The rugged granite cliffs and deep cuts looked wonderful with the vibrant fall tree colors all around. I didn't take any photos (although I should have) but cruised straight on up thru Parlor Rock, ducking under Route 25 to Old Mine Park, then waiting for traffic to clear before zipping across Route 111.

+++++++++++++++++

For a while the paved surface turned to dirt and got a little confused. I stopped at this little bridge to check my location with my iPhone and Google maps and once I realized I was fine, I  continued on...

...passing the old Stepney Depot

 ...then riding by a lovely view of Great Hollow Lake. 

Further up north, the trail turns to dirt again and cuts through a marshy area. 

  Where riders are soon treated to a view of the old rails still in place!

Finally, the trail got rough -- there were a lot of roots to ride over. Yikes - that got me a little paranoid thinking I would pop a tire. On the mountain bike it would be easy and fun but on my thin-tired lightweight road bike I gingerly rode on until I came to where the trail had to pass over 2 sets of tracks.

Checking on my iPhone, Google maps indicated I was near the end so I opted to turn around at that point and head back south.

Videos

I took a couple of short videos while riding to show the railroad tracks and railroad ties I paralleled. 

Heading North on the Newtown Trail Section

Heading back south again - riding along the exposed tracks and railroad ties