Air Line State Park Trail - Start point East Hamptom, CT

 Usually when we go for a bike ride, we head up to New York to The Hudson Valley Rail Trail System, as Connecticut seems to be lacking in bike trails.  However, the Airline State Park is a nice change!

We tried out the Airline State Park Trail, with 50 miles to explore, and we were not disappointed.  It is a trail that is still a work in progress and do not bring your road bike, this trail is best for hybrids or mountain bikes (but I would prefer a hybrid).  The trail is mostly compacted earth but there are areas that are a bit sandy and some pot holes (not large).  As it was a rail trail, it is fairly level but there are areas that do have a slight incline.  This can make biking tiring but when you turn around, makes for a fast and easy ride.

As I mentioned, the trail is still a work in progress, so we started out at East Hampton where the trail begins.  The website said that parking in East Hampton could be difficult but we found plenty of parking at the municipal lot right at the start of the trail.  The lot is right in town and next to a pizza restaurant; which by the smell we knew we would be visiting after the ride.

Plenty of parking on a beautiful Sunday and the other side of the lot was completely empty. The trail begins right by those yellow poles and you go over a bike bridge before crossing a small road and it appears the path officially begins by a Cranberry Bog.

For the next six miles we were on the trail.  After six miles, the path goes through a parking lot and you do have to be on a fairly busy road and pass an entrance to Route 2, so you need to be aware.  However, we might have been on the road about 50 yards and there is sidewalk before entering the trail again.  So, not so much of a big deal.  

If you want a great bike ride, this place will be beautiful come mid October.  The foliage will be stunning and some of the views over the old viaducts which have been filled in (watch little children as they are steep) are amazing.  For information, visit the Park's website: http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=479336&deepNav_GID=1650

We only got to do 20 miles but hope to be back soon to see the rest of the trail.  As for the views that we did see....