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THOMASTON, CT – Off-road motorcyclists will get two fewer days each week to ride the 13 miles of trails behind Thomaston Dam in 2025. A federal hiring freeze has resulted in a staff reduction at the popular recreation area which serves about 40,000 riders annually.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced earlier this week that it has trimmed the number of days the area will be open to the public. It has also reduced the number of hours on the days the area is open.
The trail riding area will open for riding and other recreation as planned on May 1. However, it will only be available for use from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The dam will be closed Monday and Tuesday. In the past, the area was open seven days a week until dusk.
The riding area on the west side of the Naugatuck River has been used by dirt bikers for 50 years. Members of the Pathfinders Motorcycle Club of Connecticut help maintain the trails. Some 40 club members turned out on April 19 to prep them for the 2025 riding season.
In a Facebook post, the club noted that “there were lots of blow downs and other debris blocking some of the trails. Considering the Dam is a flood management area first and foremost, any weather – rain especially – can cause drastic changes to the trails necessitating additional trail maintenance.”
(Photos by Bud Wilkinson.)
