Four parks in one ride! In true Connecticut form this ride had everything from big rocks to techy gardens. But be prepared to work hard on your MTB because they make you earn every feature. Starting from Hemlock Hills and Bennett’s Pond we used Lebowitz-Knapp Preserve to reach Seth Low in Pierrepont State Park. Check out the “Trail Details” below to learn more.
Want more? Check out the extended cut I made for my Patreon members (link below). It tells a more complete story and includes a few more features and trails I left out of this version.
Hemlock Hills to Seth Low Extended Cut
https://www.patreon.com/posts/hemlock-hills-to-95003624
If you are interested in a Mountain Bike Connecticut T-shirt check out the one below. I customed designed it featuring the state of CT with a MTBer riding off the edge. So help a growing channel and rep the state you ride in.
Custom Mountain Bike Connecticut T Shirt:
https://trailsage.myspreadshop.com/mtb+ct
Trail Detail:
Hemlock Hills, which is also known as Bennett’s Pond, is full of big rock rolls and technical rock gardens that were a lot of fun to play on. But they make you earn that with several punchy climbs throughout. It’s also a little bit of a spaghetti maze of trails, especially at the start, so have your trail forks ready. But we all really enjoyed this network of trails.
Lebowitz-Knapp Preserve was not that great on the way to Seth Low with some big climbs and boring bits. However, coming down the Yellow East Loop on the way back was fast and exciting.
Seth Low had its own unique flavor. Once you get to the top of the first climb you are greeted with an epic slab that was a lot of fun to session. In fact, there were lots of trail side features to play on throughout so keep your eyes peeled.
Route Suggestions:
My biggest complaint was all the road, double track and boring bits needed to connect Hemlock Hills to Seth Low. If I were doing this again, I would focus on Hemlock Hills and Bennett’s Pond being its own ride. And treating Seth Low the same way.
Of course, if you are looking for extra miles then the route we took might be your cup of tea. The only suggestion I would make is, find an alternative to the Blue Trail South which was a 250 foot hike a bike. Perhaps the New Green Climb a little farther down the trail would have been a better option. Regardless I left my Strava and Trailforks down below so you can get an idea for mileage and elevation.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/8856803253
Trailforks: https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/view/50922967/
Additional Info:
Fitzgerald Field parking lot
10 S Shore Dr, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Bennetts Pond / Hemlock Hills
https://www.trailforks.com/region/bennetts-pond–hemlock-hills/
Seth Low and Lebowitz-Knapp
https://www.trailforks.com/region/seth-low-pierrepont-state-park
Trail Advocate:
FC Nemba (Fairfield County New England Mountain Bike Association)
https://www.fcnemba.org/
Featured riders: Dan @the_ride_abides, Stick @stephenstoccardo, and Chris Garland
Footage notes: All footage was taken at Hemlock Hills/Bennett’s Pond, Lebowitz-Knapp Preserve, and Seth Low in Pierrepont State Park, located in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Featured Bike: Ibis Mojo 3
https://www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/past-models/mojo-3
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https://www.patreon.com/TrailSage
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