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Big River Area
16 reviews
4.38 of 5
A fun place to ride with a group. There are all skill levels but it's a good place for a beginner to learn. A lot of banked turns and whoop di do's, the kind of place that a fast group can have a blast. It is owned by the water dept. and was supposed to be developed as a resevoir but was stoped for enviromental reasons. That being the case it is not well managered. You will see a lot of trash by the fire roads but the single track is fun. Next time you are on a group ride try it instead of Acadia.
Summary: As the previous posts state Big River is faster, easier & not as tech as Arcadia, so it can be a nice change. One of the great aspects of Big River in the summer is that you can connect up with some trails around Carrs Pond, get in a quick swim and hang by the water while you suck down your Cliff bar in this oppresive heat.
What I haven't seen in any of the other posts is talk of the trails off the right side of the road. The trail network on the right side is slower, more tech with some steep hairy little climbs & decents that can sneek up on you. These trails can take you all the way to the white fire station about 3 mile sounth down Rte3.
Recommended Route: To get to Carrs Pond follow the trails off the left side of the road, when you hit the 2nd. newly paved road take a left past a DEM red bar. Couple 40-100 feet past the bar look for a steep uphill to the right, at the top you should see a cemetary across the street, enter to the right of the cemetary then follow the single track to the left behind the graves.
The trails off the right side of the road are way to confusing to give directions to, but you can only go so far west till you'll hit Rte3, and south to the fire station isn't that far, plus it's an easy ride if you end up lost down there. Give the rigth side a try, it's a HOOT!
Other recommended trails in the same area: Arcadia, park at the White church on Rte165, or the lot 1/8 mile past, and head out behind the white church or across Rte165 to the Mt.Tom trail area.
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Summary: Do you come here often? Why not? What's not to like? Like many others have said, the whoop-de-dos, berms, up-n-down nature of the trail make for a really nice flow. I've never found myself lost, as you always dump out on some road (I like the one with the 17 mph speed limit, particularly). Fairly new to mtb, these trails have been kind to my lack of skills, while still getting technical enough at times to allow me to build some. For my more advanced buds, this is an awesome opportunity to let it fly. And don't listen to the people who diss the mud! This is black gold! Come down a hill and around a quick turn and take on some of those puddles on a hot summer day. Getting messy is what its all about!
Oh, and I didn't get this nick by accident- get yourself a thudbuster if you're going in there. Some rock gardens and babyheads that'll whack your nutsack like a speedbag if you don't have something to dampen the shock.
Hardtail!
-OwMyNads
Recommended Route: Try some of the various loops if you enter the left-hand side of Burnt Sawmill Road. Take your time and try to get lost, once you have established routes down. Be careful- there are some cliffs back there that come up on you pretty fast if you're not aware of them. Don't want to go huckin' by accident!
Other recommended trails in the same area: Try Arcadia (go down Arcadia Rd on the left, just past the main entrance) Management Area. Park near the pond and head south on Arcadia Rd. and there's an path on the left near the Tomaquag Beaver sign. That's a great trail to start off on.
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Review Date April 9, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: N. Kingstown
, from Rhode Island
Summary: This trail is nothing short of awesome. Not quite as hard as arcadia (or tiring) but incredibly fast. Alot of logs to ride over and good down-hilling. There is one fairly difficult uphill that is very slippery due to all the pine needles that cover it, and to make the hill even worse there are roots sticking out everywhere on it. So it is a pain in the but on the way up, but the way down is unbelievable. Lots of fast banked corners and a nice little rocky river to cross. It is only ankle deep and six feet wide at the most, but fun none the less. You must ride through this river fast because if you don't the rocks will stop you and you will have to step in the water. At one point all trails end, but when this one ends you will be at a road and across from it you will see a cemetery. Look to the left of the cemetary and you will see another slightly hidden trail. Take that and keep following it until you come to another road. Once you hit that road take a left up the hill and you will be back where you started (cemetary on the left, original trail on the right), go where you please, either do the cemetary trail again, or go back down the path that leads you back to you vehicle. Have fun and keep the trails clean. Reccomended for everyone, just pace yourself for whatever skill level you are. If your a newbie, be sure to use your brakes, if an expert, then prepare for some awesome speeds. Its the next best thing next to actually going down a mountain side (as far as speed goes).
Recommended Route: Take exit 6 off of I-95 south. Take a left off of the exit (now on Rt. 3) and you will see Big River on the left. Park your car and ride down the dirt road a bit. After you pass a dirt lot on your right there will be a trail on your left that is slightly hidden so look hard. It starts off kind of in the open but then you go into the woods where the fun begins.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Arcadia Managment Area in Exeter off of Rt. 3.
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Review Date November 14, 2002
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: Peter / pisgah lightspeed
, from Rehoboth, Ma
Summary: Everything but really big hills: dirt roads, flying fast single track with lots of jumps, and penlty of technical rock gardens as well. Just about everything you'd want except we don't have those northern New England hills for training. When you know it, you can really mix up your ride loops so every trip is different. A bunch of us (mostly intermediate level) ride every Thursday at 6:00 all year long. We leave the lot at 6:00 pm. You are welcome to join us
Recommended Route: Park in lot on Rt3. Head down Burnt Sawmill Road. After trailer, first left (over plank bridge). Stay left at every turn. You will come out on New London Turnpike (this is an old dirt road). Take left (East), take a right about 1/2 mile down the road (up short steep hill), cross Hopkins Hill Road to cemetery. Take trail next to fence. Generally head east. After crossing a 25' wide stream on a rough (walkable) bridge you will have lots of trails to choose from. You are now in the Carr Pond area. Most of the trails are on the Westside of the pond, the north border is New London Turnpike. If you can find it, climb "pinto hill" up to the top of Hopkins Hill Road to a sandy parking lot.... strait across is the trail to the wall and back into Big River Area. Climb up past the dead jeep. Again, lots of choices. There are LOTS of trails to the west and north of you. The outside loop of Big River and Carr Pond (without the dunes portion) is 17 very varied miles.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Arcadia, out side loop is plus 25 miles. Don't forget Lincoln Woods, its small but if you get your head into it there is LOTS of really nice technical stuff there (as tough as Vietnam in Ma)... You just have to be willing to kick around on trails that might be fifty feet apart.... its mostly a head game.
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4.38 of 5
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