The Connecticut Greenways Council announced at the recent 23rd Annual Connecticut Greenway Awards Ceremony in Groton that the Norfolk Mountain Express Accessible Rail Trail has been officially designated as a Connecticut greenway. 

The Norfolk Mountain Express trail, once constructed, will provide access for persons of all abilities and uses an existing railroad bed right-of-way. The Norfolk Rails to Trails Committee, Town of Norfolk and State of Connecticut have been working together over the past five years to develop a state-owned segment of the abandoned CNE railroad bed now known as the North Brook Trail. This is the first of many sections that will link North Canaan, downtown Norfolk and eventually the town of Winchester.

A greenway is a corridor of open space that may protect natural resources, preserve scenic landscapes and historical resources or offer opportunities for recreation or nonmotorized transportation. “Greenways are so important to connecting Connecticut residents with the outdoors,” said Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Conservation Mason Trumble at the ceremony. “They provide mental and physical benefits to those who recreate on them, protect natural resources, and contribute to quality of life in a community and to our outdoor recreation economy.” Greenways cover thousands of acres throughout every county in Connecticut. 

On Sunday, Oct. 9, Norfolk Rails to Trails will host its third annual Tour de Forest recreational bike ride as a fundraiser for the Norfolk Mountain Express trail. Committee chair Robert Gilchrest encourages everyone from families to serious gravel biking enthusiasts to come out. “Last year riders had a great time and asked us to make it even longer, so we’ve added in a 29-mile ride we’re calling the Icebox Gravel,” he said. The original 13-mile route starts at the Curling Club, travels west up Mountain Road past Wangum Lake, turns south on Canaan Mountain Road, then runs down through Great Mountain Forest and into town. The Icebox Gravel ride continues an additional 16 miles on Norfolk’s many gravel back roads.

Riders can register for the Tour de Forest/Icebox Gravel at bikereg.com/norfolk-ct-tour-de-forest-2022.