The Goodwin Trail Mountain Bike Challenge

All Proceeds Benefit the East Haddam Land Trust 

The new Goodwin Trail Mountain Bike Challenge is a unique 45 mile loop that utilizes the most interesting and challenging public preserves in East Haddam, Salem, Lyme, and East Lyme, Connecticut. The most iconic portion of this loop is the The Goodwin Trail. This is a unique, 14 mile linear trail that winds its way through preserved lands owned by local land trusts, municipalities, the Yale School of Forestry, and Nehantic State Park.  We will park our cars at Franklin Academy, 140 River Road, East Haddam, and then complete the loop scenic as-much-trail as possible loop back to the start. You will be happy to see Franklin Academy by then, i promise !??  

course is unmarked, so a navigation device will be required

GPX route will be emailed to registrants the thursday before the event.

A mountain bike with sturdy tires and low gearing is reccomended.  I

In addition to riding off -road on the Goodwin Trail, cyclists will be riding through The Lena Preserve, The Jewett Preserve, The Johnstone Preserve, and many others that will all blend together in a mind bender of a day out on the bike.

The Goodwin Trail, and the other single track you will encounter (while 99 percent rideable) are a technical test of your off roading skills on a bicycle – this is the longest, most remote mountain bike event in the state, and entrants should be prepared for a physical test/challenge to remember.  this will be a timed race, but non competitive riders are encouraged to participate too.    

This will be a challenging event for many of us. Please give careful consideration before registering. We will host rest/refreshment stops at Gungy (~4.5 miles in) and Grassy Hill (~9 miles in) Roads where snacks and water will be available. However, please carry you own water, snacks, and other needed accessories as well. 

Cell service is very inconsistent on the trail. We strongly recommend participating with a buddy or two. We will provide a sweeper who could provide hands-off assistance. Please note that it could take skilled medical staff up to two hours to reach you on the trail. 

We will host the event in light rain. We will cancel if there are strong storms. Please check the EHLT website and Facebook pages for last minute updates.

Your registration donation will help East Haddam Land Trust preserve land in perpetuity for all of us to enjoy and earn you a 1-year membership to EHLT. Your membership entitles you to advanced notice to our hikes, paddles, and other fun events as well as allowing you to participate in members-only experiences. We are grateful for your help. 

Please note that if this event is cancelled for any reason, we will continue to accept your donation to EHLT and not issue refunds. Thank you for understanding this.

Please sign the online waiver form before you arrive.

Please arrive to Franklin Academy from 7:30am onwards.

Please learn about the Eightmile River Watershed, which hosts most of the Goodwin Trail, and find trail maps here:

https://www.eightmileriver.org/outdoor-recreation/