BIKING EXCURSION: RYEGATE TO GROTON

Name of Excursion: Ryegate to Groton on the Rail Trail

Excursion length: 6.5 miles

Time for trip: less than one hour

Rate of Difficulty: Very Easy, no hills

Location of starting point: Going east on Rt 302 turn right onto Brown Drive approximately 3 miles east of Groton Village. Travel less than ½ mile to the sign which says: NO OUTLET. Park here and begin the ride.

Location of ending point: The rail trail will merge with a dirt road aprox. 3 miles from the starting point. Turn around here and return to S. Ryegate

Suitability for children: This is an excellent trail for children; there is no car traffic and plenty to look at along the way.

Reviewed by: Deborah Jurist

Highlights and special notes:

Pickerel Cove on the left as you head west towards Groton, is home to blue herons, ducks, muskrats, beavers, and Canadian geese. A trip near dusk will be the best time to view wildlife.

Approximately 1 mile down the rail trail you will pass a beautiful Clough farm. Holsteins are pastured by the trail, and horses are pastured nearby. Dogs may meet you at the farm but they are friendly. Bear to the left through a sandy patch and back onto the trail. There are often mud puddles by the farm but it is easy to avoid them.

Through a wooded area there may be more puddles, and as you come out of the trees you will see a swampy area on the left. Here you may see turtles sunning themselves on logs, and many varieties of frogs can be quite musical. Look for beaver houses, and little green herons here. The rest of the ride is a combination of wooded areas and open fields. The Wells River on the right wends it’s way eastward.

You will find the end of this section of the rail trail when then trail turns into a dirt road.

This is the end of this section.

The return trip is often faster as there is a very slight grade.

Note: poison ivy grows along this track. Bikers should not leave the path.