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Tri Town Tour
Total Distance: 34.6 miles Elevation
Gain: 1811 feet
Degree of
Difficulty Index: 1811 ft /
34.6 mi = 52.34 ft/mi Terrain: Rolling to hilly
Killer Hills: Several
hilly sections
Geographical
Region: Northwest Connecticut
City/Town: Litchfield
Starting
Location: Topsmead State
Forest parking area in Litchfield; take Rt. 8 Exit 42 (Rt. 118
Harwinton/Litchfield); go west on Rt. 118 toward Litchfield for about two
miles; turn left on Clark Rd (sign for Wisdom House); go right at end onto
East Litchfield Rd; take first left (about one mile) onto Buell Rd; then take
first right onto Chase Rd and into Topsmeade State Forest. Parking area is on the right in about
0.3 miles.
Ride
Description: This very scenic
ride is over rolling to hilly terrain in the towns of Litchfield, Morris and
Goshen, and loops around Bantam Lake, Connecticut's largest natural
lake. The ride passes Haight
Vineyard, White Memorial Foundation and Lourdes in Litchfield (catholic
shrine). An ice cream stop in Litchfield is possible near the end of the
ride.
Facilities and
Points of Interest:
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Mile
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Facilities
- Points of Interest
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0.0
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Topsmead
State Forest estate and grounds.
Topsmead State Forest is the former summer estate of Miss Edith Morton
Chase, daughter of Henry Sabin Chase and Alice Morton Chase. Henry Sabin
Chase was the first President of Chase Brass and Copper Company in
Waterbury. Chase Brass was one of the leaders in the brass industry when
Waterbury was the Brass Capital of the world.
The English Tudor style
house was completed in 1925. The exterior woodwork is of cypress, the
downspouts are lead, the walls of brick and stucco, and the roof is slate.
The interior woodwork is oak, as is most of the flooring. The foyer,
hallway and dining room floors are of polished terra cotta tile. Most of
the interior walls are of the same type of stucco as is found on the
exterior. Fine craftsmanship, an eye for detail and understated wealth are
evident throughout the house, which is tastefully and simply furnished with
17th and 18th century English country antiques.
Free guided tours of
the residence are offered from June through October on the 2nd and 4th
weekends of each month. Reservations are not required. On open weekends,
tours are available from 12:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Nestled in the
Litchfield Hills, Topsmead State Forest remains a precious piece of an era
past.
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1.9
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Haight
Vineyard on left. Connecticut's
oldest winery, having planted the first of the fine wine grapes in
Connecticut in 1975 .Complimentary tasting and winery tours are offered
year-round, seven days a week. Our daily hours of operation are, Monday
through Saturday, 10:30 to 5:00 P.M., and Sundays from noon to 5:00 P.M.
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4.4
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Begin
ride through part of White Memorial Foundation
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10.2
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Begin
ride along west side of Bantam Lake
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11.0
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Begin
tour of Deer Island
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15.3
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Begin
ride through another part of White Memorial Foundation
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17.3
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Stop
& Shop supermarket to the right
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25.6
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Marina
on right
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31.9
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Litchfield
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32.5
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Lourdes
in Litchfield shrine on left
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34.6
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Topsmead
State Forest estate and grounds
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www.ctbikeroutes.org
Wu-IL085 abb
DLB00038
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