The Cotton Brook Road is an old logging road that runs within the Mount Mansfield State Forest. The loop is 11 miles long.
I rode out of the parking lot at 8 AM.
The weather was mostly sunny with periods of overcast. Severe thunder storms were on the way for the afternoon. The temp. was 77 F.
For this ride I did not bring a trail map or payed close attention to the trail description that was in the guide book. Those mistakes cost me.
I was unable to complete the loop. Without a map I became confused. I was expecting trail markers where they were none. After a few wrong turns I decided it would be best to stay on the graveled logging road. This turned out the be the correct way anyways. I found this out after reviewing the map when I arrived back.
The ride was a great work out. That logging road climbs and climbs. According to the trail guide book, it climbs for 6.7 miles. Further review of the map, I know I climbed most of these miles. I passed 4 streams and went about a mile beyond the last stream that I crossed.
I decided to turn around after almost crashing into a wash out. This was the worse I have seen. It was 3 feet wide and 6 feet deep. It was a missing chuck of the trail. I'm glad I have disc breaks.
The way back was a very fun descent. It was fast but not that steep. It felt like I was riding at 40 MPH as some points. I only saw a few dog walkers and that was on the last mile back to the parking lot. No one else was around.
I made it back to the parking lot by 10 AM.
I look forward to returning to this loop and completing it. Today was a fantastic ride and a great workout. I think I rode over 11 miles.
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