MATTABESETT TROLLEY TRAIL LETTERBOX:
WESTLAKE AREA BIKEWAY:
MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted: May 23, 2009
Length: Mattabesett Trolley Trail; 1.9 miles
Mattabesett Trolley Loop Trail; 0.8 miles
Westlake Area Bikeway; 2.2 miles
Difficulty: Mattabesett Trolley Trail; Easy. Paved rail trail. Short hard packed dirt section.
Mattabesett Trolley Loop Trail; Moderate. Mostly paved, some sidewalk, short on-road section, hilly.
Westlake Area Bikeway; Moderate. Paved trail with some steep hills.
Directions:
To start from the Millennium Industrial Park; From I-91take exit 21to Route 372 westbound. Turn left onto Middle St after crossing over the Mattabesett River. The trail starts just past the entrance for Aetna and the parking area is just past the trail on your right.
To start from Cucia Park; From I-91 take exit 21to Route 372. Take Industrial Park Road which is located on the west side of I-91, across from the exit ramp. Take a right onto Smith St and a quick left into the park.
The Westlake Area Bikeway travels alongside roadways and connects to the Mattabesett Trolley Trail which travels through the woods and alongside the Mattabesett River. Part of this trail utilizes the rail bed from the old Mattabesett Trolley Line.
Starting from the Millennium Industrial Park; Cross over to the start of the Westlake Area Bikeway next to an entrance for Aetna. Head south down the paved trail alongside Middle St. At the bottom of this hill turn left alongside Smith St. This section is a little nicer with a bit more greenway. After 0.7 miles you'll pass a crosswalk that brings you to Cucia Park. After traveling underneath I-91 you'll head uphill and hang a left along Westlake Drive where you begin a gradual assent through this townhouse heavy neighborhood. You'll crest this hill at 1.7 miles and start a long descent. When you reach the bottom of the hill and the paved trail turns to sidewalk you've reached the end of the trail after 2.2 miles. A crosswalk will then lead you over to the start of the Mattabesett Trolley Trail. After traveling alongside a residential street the trail pulls away alongside a pond. At 2.5 miles you'll hit the tree line on your left. Spot a group of 3 large trees. Follow the stonewall behind them into the woods. Quickly you'll come to where a second stone wall intersects it. Spot the large Shagbark Hickory tree that has become part of the first stonewall. Spot a large flat rock in the first stonewall just before this tree. Behind it is located the MATTABESETT TROLLEY TRAIL LETTERBOX. Please replace the small rock on top of the box as it helps protect it. Continuing along the trail, you'll come to a sharp curve. Look to your left and you'll see the old dirt trolley rail trail. If you detour down this hard packed trail it will bring you to an old trestle bridge over the Mattabesett River. Use caution as there is no longer any bridge decking. Hopefully this bridge and trail section are included in future trail development plans. The trail travels along the and underneath Route 217 where it then pulls away from the river. You come to a trail intersection at 3.3 miles where a brown sign reading "Moss Glen & Tuttle Rd" points right.
Note; You have two options from here. Head straight along the undeveloped old trolley line or head right along the Mattabesett Trolley Loop Trail. We did both.
Continue straight where the paved trail ends and the hard packed, single track former trolley rail trail continues. It appears that this section should be developed in the future. You'll pass through a rock cut as the trail travels through the woods. After 0.4 miles you pass through a narrow cut that looks like it become pretty muddy after heavy rains. The rail line ends after 3/4 miles behind Building #54 in an industrial park along Tuttle Pl which leads out to Tuttle Rd. You can backtrack or follow Tuttle Rd right to connect into the Mattabesett Trolley Loop Trail.
The Mattabesett Trolley Loop Trail heads up a switchback along a paved trail to Moss Glen Road and out to Tuttle Road at 0.3 miles. Head right on-road or along a narrow sidewalk to Route 217 at 0.6 miles. Turn right and travel on-road along the shoulder for a short distance. Just before the bridge over the river, a narrow dirt trail on your right will return you to the paved trail after 0.8 miles.
HH
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CLICK HERE FOR WESTLAKE BIKEWAY MAP
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
AUGUST 31, 2009
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