Long Distance Cycling: Best way to get from Pomfret, CT to Providence, RI?

Submitted by GravitationalOno t3_11umzbi in providence

I was told about a nice trail that runs from around Hartford to Pomfret, CT. It's around 55 miles. I would like to extend that to get to Providence.

I could split it into two days. What do you think my best option would be?

Option 1: From Pomfret I can take local roads to Providence, about 35 miles. But I would prefer to not ride with cars on unfamiliar roads. For those who have done it, how is cycling from Pomfret to Providence? The total would be around 90 miles in a day.

Option 2: I could also connect to the Southern New England Trunkline trail through Massachusetts and wind up in Woonsocket, which would also be another 35 miles, but at least it would be on a protected trail. I would ride the Blackstone River Trail (about 20 miles) into Providence the next morning.

The trail is represented as a dotted line on Google Maps, which means it's not paved, but is it rideable? Strava heat map suggests it is. The total would be 110 miles over two days.

Option 3: Finally, from Pomfret, I could also ride about 6 miles on street to Brooklyn, stay at a hotel there, and the next morning, ride 7 miles on street to the Moosup Valley Trail, which connects to the Trestle Trail to the Washington Secondary Trail into town (about 40 miles).

The trail is also represented as a dotted line on Google Maps, which means it's not paved, but is it rideable? Strava heat map suggests it is. The total would be around 95 miles in two days.

Which would you suggest? Option 1 gets me to Providence the fastest, but I will have to contend with cars. Option 2 is the most protected, but also requires the most mileage. Option 3 is a little of both: Mostly protected, but less mileage.

Thanks!

cc: Buffet_Yogi since you told me about the Air Line trail.

22

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

suchmann t1_jcotou8 wrote

I don’t have an answer unfortunately, but would love to hear how your ride goes!

14

putathorkinit t1_jcowcrf wrote

For option 3 - from Providence, the Trestle Trail is only rideable from the Log Bridge Road/102 parking lot east. I also see the dotted section on Google Maps at the CT/RI border but can’t speak to that, but it does not connect to the Trestle Trail that (re)starts at Bridge Road. That said, riding 117 to connect the two (assuming the dotted line is rideable trail) is probably pretty okay - not much traffic out there. I really like the Trestle Trail, but will warn you it’s arrival in Providence is pretty abrupt and you’ll have to navigate angry traffic at the end.

For option 1 - The roads in Western RI are generally pretty rideable if you have a baseline comfort doing so (since you’re looking at a 90 mile day I assume you are). Obviously avoid the big ones like 44 and 6, but I’ve felt pretty safe on many of the smaller ones, and there are enough options it’s pretty easy to reroute if you find yourself on one that you aren’t loving. Once you get closer to Providence it gets worse, I generally try to come in on the (very short) Woonasquatucket River Greenway to make it a bit better.

No insight on Option 2.

Have fun! Sounds like a great adventure!

9

GravitationalOno OP t1_jcp1z9c wrote

> the Trestle Trail is only rideable from the Log Bridge Road/102 parking lot east. I also see the dotted section on Google Maps at the CT/RI border but can’t speak to that, but it does not connect to the Trestle Trail that (re)starts at Bridge Road.

Thanks for this guidance! Strava Heat Map suggests I can connect on it through to the Moosup Valley Trail to the west, but I don't know what the conditions are, people might be taking dirt bikes out there.

I used Google Street View to see some points where the Moosup/Trestle crosses a main road, and they exist, but they look a little rough. These are also photos from 2012/2019 though.

https://goo.gl/maps/tEs7SBMKYB4kXcTs7

https://goo.gl/maps/bGSLdp9ESY6HSPw88

https://goo.gl/maps/UcFAorJKpzorqJybA

Related note: Do I have to worry about ticks on rough trails like this?

>That said, riding 117 to connect the two (assuming the dotted line is rideable trail) is probably pretty okay - not much traffic out there. I really like the Trestle Trail, but will warn you it’s arrival in Providence is pretty abrupt and you’ll have to navigate angry traffic at the end.

Thanks, angry traffic is not something I'm a big fan of!

2

putathorkinit t1_jcptbi6 wrote

Oh maybe that connection is rideable based on those google maps pics! Where it comes into the paved part at the Log Bridge Road parking lot it's pretty rough (I remember gravel and mud) but I was also not that eager to go exploring so didn't pursue it. But it looks doable (and if Strava Heat Map suggest people do it that's even more evidence) and if it isn't you can connect by road on 117 without issue. You're making me want to go explore this!

As for ticks, I've never had issues. I mean it can't hurt to do a tick check at the end of the day but I have never found one on me unless I'm bushwhacking through the woods on foot.

2

GravitationalOno OP t1_jcr2e89 wrote

>You're making me want to go explore this!

lol, report back! I'm glad this is turning into a team effort.

>As for ticks, I've never had issues. I mean it can't hurt to do a tick check at the end of the day but I have never found one on me unless I'm bushwhacking through the woods on foot.

Good to know! But Lyme disease is from Connecticut and I don't know how rough those "road closed", dotted line trails on Google are, so I'm especially wary. I also a ride a roadie with 700 x 27 tires, so I have to be open to the possibility of being on foot at some point if the trail turns too rough.

I suppose one day of Picardin use wouldn't be bad, just as a safeguard.

2

UncleJimmee t1_jcp5uje wrote

yes you'll arrive by garfield, check out pointz app for bike friendly (or friendlier at least) routes through pvd.

1

iandavid t1_jcp1ma8 wrote

I’ve done Willimantic to Plainfield to the Washington Secondary via route 14 and 14A, which is similar to your option 3. The problem with leaving the Air Line trail is that then you have to deal with all the terrain of eastern Connecticut: Basically all the ridges run north-south, so if you’re going east or west you have to go up and down hill after hill after hill. But if you don’t mind hills, those roads are fairly low traffic and have decent shoulders.

Moosup briefly has a nice paved trail, but only as far as Barber Hill Road. Between there and the Summit General Store in Coventry it’s pretty rough. RI and CT are working on paving the whole thing eventually as funding permits, but it’s slow going. You’re better off staying on roads through there.

The Washington Secondary is a fantastic trail and it’s literally all downhill from Coventry to Providence. Folks are right that it ends unceremoniously at the Providence line and you have to cut through either Silver Lake or the West End. Cranston Street sucks but once you get under Route 10 you can weave through neighborhoods. We did the Silver Lake route to Olneyville and then zig-zagged up the various segments of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, which aren’t contiguous yet but are nice. They’re working on new segments all the time so this will get better in the future.

6

samskeyti_ t1_jcpfcvu wrote

FYI Summit General Store closed AFAIK. it can still be a landmark but if using it as a place to buy refreshment/etc, it is not in business

4

GravitationalOno OP t1_jcp2tv7 wrote

Thanks! This is another vote against Option 3. It was the in between choice between (2) which is longer and safer, over two days and (1) which is faster but more unpredictable on roads, over one day.

My other option is to just do the Air Line trail on its own, maybe as Hartford-Willimantic-Pomfret-Willimantic-Meridien and then start another ride from Providence ... that's looking more attractive.

​

>Moosup briefly has a nice paved trail, but only as far as Barber Hill Road. Between there and the Summit General Store in Coventry it’s pretty rough

Where is Barber Hill Road? I could not find it on the map going east from the Summit General Store in Coventry.

2

iandavid t1_jd1rqvs wrote

Sorry, missed this part earlier:

> Where is Barber Hill Road? I could not find it on the map going east from the Summit General Store in Coventry.

It’s in Moosup: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Rk1pSf5Dfq2vWEGt5?g_st=ic

Basically the trail from Barber Hill Road east to Summit General Store is either gravel, mud, or brush. They’ve done some preliminary work on the RI side to get it ready for paving (see here and here but there’s no timeline for the actual paving yet.

3

GravitationalOno OP t1_jd2gmwq wrote

Ah, I see! I missed it bc it's right at the start and a dead-end road. Good to know. Thank you!

I saw on the maps it's kind of neat that some of the bridges exist to be part of the trail, but yeah, if it's mud or brush, it will be too much of an effort for me to take a chance with. Not to mention if I can't get across some of those waterways, I don't want to be portaging a bike.

2

iandavid t1_jcp5tcf wrote

Yeah the areas nearest the border are the least developed, which on the plus side means it’s very rural and pretty, and on the minus side means none of the trails are very well-maintained at this point. That’s true in Massachusetts as well – the part of the Air Line/SNETT in Douglas state forest is in good shape, but it starts to get super overgrown between Douglas and Millville. I haven’t attempted that segment, but I have heard from folks who tried that it was rough going and you’re better off on the roads.

But Millville to Blackstone is brand new and great, and the path from Woonsocket to Pawtucket is beautiful. The plan is to connect all those segments eventually, again, as time and budgets permit.

2

Yourstrulygegats t1_jd8c6ym wrote

I looked at the google maps suggestions and they dont look terrible. The most direct routes look the least fun. I would avoid Rt 6 and Rt 44. On the suggested google route, i would navigate off Rt 101 and use less traveled roads to get to Central Pike and stop and see Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge, one of only 2 in RI. Once you cross the Reservoir you can climb up to Central Ave which will take you right into the Olneyville section of Providence. Celebrate with a taco, weiner or Cuban. Traffic is busy in Olneyville Square but Ive never had an issue and ride through there all the time.

2

brick1972 t1_jcpjd17 wrote

Yes, this is a weird problem unfortunately. Even the East Coast Greenway takes a seemingly completely unnecessary bump north in Eastern CT. If I had to guess it's because there aren't many safe for bikes ways to cross both the Thames and Connecticut Rivers. I found it very difficult to plan a route when I was trying to do a coastal trip from Providence to NYC.

FTR the Greenway itself goes south from Pomfret to Moosup then East across Sterling into Coventry and picks up the Cranston/Washington Secondary path, your Option 3. It is well marked due to being part of the Greenway, if that helps.

For your actual question - on option 1 44 is actually fine other than a couple spots if you are a confident cyclist. You might feel better deferring a little south to 101 then pick your way to avoid Rt. 6. Either way your problem is going to be anything inside of 295, which will be pretty dense with traffic on any decent through roads.

I might check the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen's maps page for rides as they usually pick good roads. If you contact them they might help you out as well.

1

GravitationalOno OP t1_jcr3548 wrote

Good feedback, thanks!

>Either way your problem is going to be anything inside of 295, which will be pretty dense with traffic on any decent through roads.

This sounds ominous. I know exactly what you're talking about, the phenomenon is the same around most cities.

And it'll be near the end of my day, with nearly 100 under my belt, which means I may make stupid decisions out of fatigue.

1