Sunny Hollow
Update: Fellowship of the Wheel has replaced bridges and made them 48″ wide! Thanks Mickey! We rode a loop from Brook Crossing to Tri-borough Bridges and up trail on far left. There’s actually still a couple narrow bridge that haven’t been replaced yet, so I had to go through muddy stream and take a little help when traction failed. But I believe these wibe widened soon too.
There are some areas that are really off camber. Be careful
This is a series of trails near Costco in Colchester. There are a number of loops with terrain ranging from relatively easy (6-7) to unpassable (10 or maybe 11.) The initial area you arrive at from the parking area is a relatively flat plateau. Trails are marked as green, blue and black. All are in the woods. On the plateau, there are a couple green loops that have moderate slopes, some slight cross slopes, bridges, and moderately tight turns. The Ring Finger spur is shown as green on the map, but posted with blue sign on site. There is a somewhat steep rooty section midway out, that was challenging, but otherwise this section was pretty easy.
The other Blue trails I have taken off the plateau are all more challenging. Brook Crossing drops down into a ravine with narrow track, backed turns, significant cross pitch in places, roots, rocks, and downed trees, (it was after a wind storm.) At the bottom of the hill we found a wooden bridge over a stream that was too narrow to cross. The water was too deep, so I had to turn around and go back. The ascent was steep and tricky to go around turns with cross pitch. At one spot, I got help to get up over a rock/root step. In another, I had to cut through off trail section to get around tree fall, (this was true going down too.)
Middle Finger goes through a number of steep sections with roots and sand that made coming up tricky. I made it, but it took a few tries at different lines. There are some moderate off-camber areas and some tight banked turns. At the bottom, near Triborough Bridges area there is a bridge that’s too narrow to cross.
The blue trail at the far left off Blueberry Loop, was manageable until I hit narrow bridges. Steeper than green trails with a couple switchback turns, but much easier than the other blue trails I rode.
I have added notes to the map indicating bridge locations. Photos are all from Middle Finger trail
More Information
Trail Name: Sunny Hollow
Location: Colchester, Vermont
Type: Narrow trail (< 30"), Start and end at the same point (Loop)
Rating:
Length: 1-2 miles
Steepest Section: Difficult – over 30º
Most Off-Camber Section: Difficult – over 30º
Terrain: Mostly hardpack, minimal loose sections
Obstacles: Root exposure, Deep ruts and erosion, Brush and/or other growth, Baby heads and/or rock gardens, Water crossings
Help Needed? Yes, a little
Even more info: Fellowship of the Wheel
Directions to Trailhead
I89 to exit 16
Go north on Route 2
Turn right on Hercules Drive.
Sunny Hollow parking area at bend in road
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