New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway (http://nhncg.org) is a trail network that takes riders from Yale University in New Haven, CT to Northampton, MA, the site of the BTCNJ Pioneer Valley tour.  It is made up of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, the Southwick Rail Trail, and the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail.  This multi-use path runs primarily along former rail corridors and canal towpaths through urban, suburban, and rural areas. Along the way are historic buildings, restored canal locks, rail line structures, murals, and other landmarks that provide a rich cultural experience for the trail user. The distance from New Haven to the hotel in Northampton is 84 miles.  The route is flat, and mostly separated paved trail, but uses local roads for short distances in a few spots.

This ride would be at an easy B-pace, starting at about 8:00 AM from New Haven, expecting to arrive at the hotel around 3:30-4:00 PM, allowing stops for breaks and lunch.  Riders who would prefer a shorter distance (65 miles) could join the ride in Milldale, CT (near the intersection of I84 and I691) around 10:00 AM.

Participants may want to stay in a hotel the night before the ride.  In and around New Haven, there are several hotel options.  Participants could tour New Haven (e.g., the Yale University museums) and carbo-load on New Haven’s famous white clam apizza. In Milldale, there is a Holiday Inn and Econo Lodge. Participants would need to carpool back to their cars, which they could leave at their starting points until Sunday.

There is no additional cost for this ride as part of the Pioneer Valley Tour.  All costs will be borne by individual riders.  To sign up, or for more information, contact Don Schlenger, [email protected].