|
Chester/Moodus/Hopyard/Lymes Loop
Total Distance:
49.2 miles Elevation Gain: 2721 feet
Degree of Difficulty Index: 2721 ft / 49.2 mi = 55.30
ft/mi Terrain: Rolling to hilly
Killer Hills: Several hilly sections
Geographical Region: South Central Connecticut
City/Town: Chester
Starting Location: Rt. 9 Exit 9 CPL (Rt. 148) in Chester
Ride Description: As the name suggests, this ride travels up
into Moodus by way of the East Haddam swing-bridge and then passes Moodus
Reservoir and Bashan Lake en route to Devil's Hopyard State Park (good lunch
stop). The ride then heads down to the shoreline through Lyme, Salem, and
Old Lyme before crossing the Connecticut River via the Baldwin Bridge bike
path. Then it is a direct route back to the CPL, mostly on Rt. 154 with its
smooth road surface and wide shoulders.
There is a bail out option available on the route sheet that
shaves 10 miles off the ride's length.
Facilities and Points of Interest:
|
Mile
|
Facilities
- Points of Interest
|
|
1.4
|
Chester
village (various shops)
|
|
5.4
|
Convenience
store, Subway
|
|
6.0
|
East
Haddam swing-bridge (steel deck) crossing of the Connecticut River (views)
|
|
6.2
|
Goodspeed
Opera House and the Gelston House
|
|
10.0
|
Convenience
store on right
|
|
10.3
|
Convenience
store on right
|
|
14.0
|
Causeway
across the Moodus Reservoir
|
|
18.2
|
Begin
great 1.5 mile downhill swoop
|
|
20.6
|
Chapman
Falls @ Devil's Hopyard State Park (views and a great lunch/snack stop);
outhouse facilities
|
|
35.9
|
Hains
Park @ the south end of Rogers Lake (another great spot for a lunch/snack
break with a good grocery/deli to purchase 0.1 mile farther up the road);
bathrooms
|
|
36.0
|
Grocery
store and deli on left
|
|
38.8
|
A&P
Supermarket on left
|
|
39.0
|
Start
1-mile trip over the Connecticut River via the Baldwin Bridge bike path
|
|
Facilities
on the shorter route:
|
|
27.7
|
Country
store
|
|
34.0
|
Convenience
store, Subway
|
Wu-WE030 abb
DLB02058
|
