Review Date
November 20, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Mike , from Enfield

Summary:
This mountain has just about everything you need to have fun. Lots of single track with rocks and roots and even a few fallen trees in the way here and there. A few new bridges have been poping up for you freeride junkys.Oh yea, did I mention the rocks! If you cross the road you will find lots more trails with some good short down hills and some fire roads with tons of unmarked trails if you are feeling adventurous. Be carefull though as i have almost gotten lost the first few times out. Try to ride with locals if you are not from the area. Oh and did i mention the rocks!! Ride a full suspension if you can and have a blast. A hard tail is great on the rocky climbs but can kill you on the down hills.

Recommended Route:
Park in the lot at base of mountain off gulf road in somers. Much easier than parking at top of hill and having to climb your way back at end of ride.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Anywhere there is dirt!

Review Date
June 20, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: pm , from ct

Summary:
Description - Soapstone, 3 words, great rocky singletrack. Some long down hills, nemesis short technical climbs, rock gardens etc...Many trails, all
singletrack loops - very little double or fire roads.
easily 20 miles plus riding. GREAT stuff.

Recommended Route:
see bikerag.com for topo map and suggested route

Other recommended trails in the same area:
biggelow, valley falls

Review Date
May 1, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Please Select

Reviewed by: Tussin , from MA

Summary:
Can easily spend hours out here. If your not from CT I would suggest you get your arse here. Good for beginers (you can walk your arse) and great for experienced (Hilly, rocky, and rooty yet smooth)
There place is pretty much a dream for anyone who likes to bike.

Review Date
December 4, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Mayloo , from Playa Del Rey CA

Summary:
I spent most (and the best part) of my mountain biking time on the East coast, namely Western Mass and Northern CT. This place, ever since I was introduced to it in 1992, has been my favorite place to "ride". Sure, Moab's fun, Flagstaff's okay, NorCal has it's charm but hey, these places just don't compare where the riding is concerned. When you throw exotic locale, charem and flava out the window and just concentrate on a pure rubber/terra firma interface you're talking about the Shinipper. You've got berm's, jumps, stream crossings, hub-deep mud, drop-off's, eternally slick roots, technical riding that goes up, down and all-around. And what about the magic that is Shinip? On some routes you'd swear that you never ever even descend. It's as if it's just all technical grind to the sky. Sort of like an Escher painting. This is New England at its finest. Singletrack on the West Coast is laughable. Singletrack in Shinip' means branch ends impaling you at the slightest mistep or a facefull of granite from a collection of rocks that only pale in diversity when compared to a "Tolerance Rally at UMass-Amherst". Ahhh, the rocks. The rocks are great. I've cracked helmets, nuts, derailleurs, bars, and enough tubes to float Elian Gonzalez around the world on. Still, every time I go home to New England it's what I want to do the most. With a close second going to either downing a sixer of Harpoon ESB or trying to hook up with old girlfriends who aren't married yet of course. But I digress. This little gem of land has given me some of the best times of my life and has caused me to befriend some of the greatest people I've ever known. This is where I want my ashes spread when I die. If you're rolling your eyes right now you obviously haven't been there. What the heck are you waiting for? Get there before it's a condo/golf course.

Recommended Route:
Every trail's a gem.
Sections can be walked/pushed if deemed necessary.
All abilities. She's got something for everyone.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Any trail built by the Hoss or Jenks. Shinip at night. Amethyst Brook, Amherst. Brimfield. Southwick. The secret Serpent trails of Wilby. Mt. Toby, Sunderland. Vermont Adaptive Sports Fifty Miler (where fun, benevolence and pain go hand in hand.

Review Date
May 23, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Fid , from Vernon

Summary:
Once you reach top of "un-climable" hill (I'm sure there is someone out there who can climb it.)Stay on yellow. Great trail with many technical ascents and descents. Lots of rock, fallen trees, and drop offs.
Great ride to work on all aspects of your biking. there are many other trails that intersect and criss-cross the yellow. Just try to stay on yellow. Southern New England Mtn. Bike Ride book isn't very accurate for this ride, but it can help orient you.

Recommended Route:
Start in pk lot off Gulf Road. Two options to start - 1. take blue trail directly in front of pking, to yellow on left. Climb and continue to follow yellow.
2. Ride up asphalt entrance - when near top, yellow trail on left, very easy to miss - if you reach road on left, you went 100 yards too far. Take this for sick downhill.take right at jct.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Case Mtn., Uconn to Mansfield Hollow on Nipmuck, Pennwood, Nepaug