West Hartford Reservoir

Review: Adding on to my last review there are not too many trail markers but once you see blue on the trees just follow it. you can get a trail guide at https://themdc.org/assets/uploads/files/Recreation/WHtrailsMapWeb_12_2013.pdf

Review: This trail is is beautiful. The Rez has great xc, enduro shit, and even some great downhill that will challenge anyone. When you get to the top of the rez there is some tech XC riding, some good sized drops, but there can be a rough fire road climb to the top. On the way down there are some great jumps including a 8 foot boner jump, and a huge 10-15 foot step down. The blue trail AKA metacomet downhill part is amazing and any rider can ride it but there is endless speed you can ride it with. once down the blue trail, you can enter the playground. This is a great area to improve jumping skills, but the first jump is high risk and low reward. I have done it many times but but a couple times have gone wrong. When you get back into the paved road area off of canal road there are some smaller trails that are just great for and person with any amount of experience. I have been riding the Rez for 3 years now and there is a reason I do not leave that much. I ride a trail hard tail, my friend rides and 160mm enduro bike, and one of my other friends even rides a Santa Cruz V10 and just sessions the downhills. Anyone can ride this place and have a ton of fun...Hope to see you out there

Similar Trail: penwood state park

Review: Fun place to ride if you live locally...I can bike to the trail in about ten minutes, so I find myself here often. With that being said, it's not a place I'd drive more than 15-20 minutes to ride at. The trails seem like they aren't really maintained, no trail markers, and the riding lacks a lot of technical features or drops. Don't get me wrong--the Res is fun, there are just much better places to ride in the greater Hartford area

Review: An interesting place to ride. Would benefit from markers and well designed trail map, but worth exploring if you have time.

Similar Trail: Nepaug

Review: I've been biking here for about 4 years. If you don't know where you are going and you wander too far out, you will get lost. The are no signs, and all online maps are crap. Once you figure out where to look for good ST, its great. There is a good outer loop which is about 8-9 miles. Go with someone who knows the area. Som good drop offs, cool roc features, logs, jumps, skinnys, rock gardens, steep climbs. A little bit of everything. There is even a fun downhill section with a few jumps and a drop off and a little skills park area with a bunch of manmade features. Good for about a 1 1/2 hour ride. For a good portion of the outer loop. Its also pretty easy to cut back out onto the DTs that runs between the 44 side and the Farmington Ave side just in case you run short on time. All of the ST is very beaten up and overused, and some parts of the trail have about 4 ways to go over or avoid one obstacle. Lots of roots, so make sure its completely dry.

Similar Trail: Penwood

 

Review: kamoot has a great online map for the res

Review: Great variety of trails. Rocky great for fat bikes. Lots of technical parts with some rock drop offs.

Review: I have to echo the others and say there is a LOT here, if you get to know the place. There are few signs, and few maps. But a lot of trails of almost every level. From asphalt, to gravel roads, to dirt roads, double track, single track. Large sections are easy and perfect for beginners, or fitness training. But there are also some sections that are black diamond expert, if you know where to look.

If you aren't sure where to go, stick to the main trails, and don't wander too far off. Take a GPS or good app. Or go with someone who has been there before.

One final thing. Singletracks has this park having 10 miles of trails. That can't be right, especially if you consider all the side trails. The true number could be triple this.

Review: For an in-town loop, hard to beat "The Res." It's like a little playground. Not a destination by an means, but folks in Hartford should be thankful they have this. Nothing beats and after work loop through The Res

Review: Your experience in WH is proportional to how much you like to explore/get lost. This is a pretty big area, and you get to choose your own adventure. You can ride the asphalt loop, some fire roads, or pretty cool single track. Additionally, this is the type of place where you climb once and then dissent, save for a couple of short misc short climbs.

I park at the main lot in West Hartford, and then follow the fence up to the power lines. This is a pretty good climb, right off the bat. Make sure you're in good shape. Then I simply pick one of the single track trails by the power lines and ride. The blue trail, Metacomet, is a nice one. You rarely find people here. There are some skinny, and drops. Nice time. If you follow the blue trail you'll take a nice rocky descent (watch that tire psi) to a fireroad. If you cross it, there is a short and very steep climb (read: hike a bike for most) and then it leads you to several fun drops. You are now the furthest away from you car. From here, once you reach a trail crossing, you can go straight or turn right. If you go straight, the trail is pretty rought, and then you cross a bridge to the flood levy. This is cool as there is a little skills park over there. If you turn right instead, there is a cool ST/DT that will lead you to another levy. From there, it's again pick your own adventure back to the car. There is so many trails to pick from.

If it's your first time to WH, make sure you have plenty of time. The place is fun, but it'll take a while to find all of the gems.

Review: Lots of variety: ST, DT, Fire Roads, & paved paths along with some features spread out. Not very well marked, so be sure to study maps/routes & landmarks...I've been riding here for a few years now with a "local". We still get "lost" & not always certain of where we are. Nice ST "loop" which circles outer perimeter of reservoirs (approx 10 miles)... Best/more demanding trails west of the powerline. Lots & lots of trails to explore...Provide for extra time to explore & get lost.