Cleaveland Farm State Forest
Cleaveland Farm State Forest is a section of state forest trails that link the Georgetown/Rowley trail system with the Willowdale trail system. A combination of singletrack and fire roads with little in the way of technical stuff, but still a fun section to ride. It's a good ride for all levels. Beginners will find almost all of it rideable (guys, it's a good place to take your ladies on their first rides.)
Trails to check out:
- Start by riding toward the left after the gate. Go past a small pond and a singletrack will be straight ahead. This trail has a short climb that is challenging and comes out at the fire road. Go right at the end to head toward Willowdale, left to head toward Georgetown/Rowley.
- Another way to start that's better for beginners is to bear right after the gate. Follow down until you see a singletrack that bears off to the left. Follow until the trail comes to a 'T' (there is a marker that says 'Esker Ridge Trail' here.) Go left and the trail will come out to the same fire road as above after passing over a series of small bridges and then going up a short hill.
- Look for a singletrack that is on the left as you head towards Willowdale. The trail kind of humps upward on the left where you'll find it. Follow this to a steep downhill with some nasty roots at the bottom where the trail curves. Fun stuff and a bear on the way back up.
- After this section take a right when the trail comes to a 'T' again. Take your second left and you'll run through a 'roller coaster' like section. Fast and fun with a couple of jumps and a big log to ride over. Eventually this will bring you out to Line Brook Road. Cross here to do the Hood Pond section.
- Follow to the left to head toward Willowdale, or if you want to swim go right to head to Hood Pond. There's a dirt beach and the water is great for swimming although a little shallow and rocky.
- When you hit the road again go right and about 100 yards on the left is the trail. Make sure you have lots of momentum for the steep hill there.
- Climb the hill after the water crossing and turn left. Follow along the fire road until you see the trail hook off to the left and get narrower. This is a fun section that is all singletrack and gets twisty as you get closer to Route One. You'll cross one more road before hitting Route One.
- Once you hit Route One go directly across to ride at Willowdale.
This is a great place for a night ride and also good in bad weather. The trails here get rid of their snow a little faster than the others in the same area and are a decent ride in the rain or when snowy.
Cleaveland Farm State Forest trails make up part of the Bay Circuit Trail.
