CTRA Steep Rock Ride – Members Only
CTRA Steep Rock Ride – Members Only
Steep Rock Preserve, 2 Tunnel Road, Washington Depot, CT
Sunday July 27, 2025, RSVP July 26, 2025
Hosts CTRA Secretary Chris Mard and Director Lynn Gogolya
RSVP to Chris at 203-388-6577 IMPORTANT READ DIRECTIONS BELOW cell service does not work the preserve parking area
10:30 am Mount up time.
Water and donuts /granola bars for riders will be provided at sign in. Bring your own water for your horse. A Tailgate lunch following the ride (bring your own & a chair).
Memberships and Trial Memberships will be accepted the day of the ride with a prior RSVP
For those who have not made this ride before it is well worth the trip. You can have summer riding without the bugs! The entire ride is in the Steep Rock Preserve and due to the air flow along the Shepaug River the bugs don’t bug you. Steep Rock is the oldest land trust in CT and was established in 1925 it enjoys having riders there. They even have a ring for events and a nice field for parking. This will be an approximate 2-1/2 hour slow paced ride over some very nice, well-kept trails, an old railroad bed, train tunnel and a Shepaug River crossing with a chance to water your horse on the trail. Keep your eyes open as you ride along the river. This Preserve is known for hawks nesting in the area, and you might see them hunting along the river, along with wood ducks, heron, and numerous other wildlife, that live in the area, as well. It’s recommended that you bring water for yourself and your horse as there is none in the parking area.
For those with GPS or who want to do a MapQuest the address is: 2 Tunnel Road, Washington Depot, CT but make sure it brings you in on River Rd to Tunnel Rd (entering the Preserve from the opposite end of Tunnel Road is not a good option to be able to turn into the trailer parking area)
For those without GPS
Take Rt. 8 to exit 42 and follow Rt. 118 west. When you get to the center of Litchfield take Rt. 202 west for 10.2 miles. Turn left on to Rt. 47 for 3 miles you will come to a “T” intersection (CTRA sign). Turn left, then right on to River Rd. The road bends to the left (CTRA sign) go for 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Tunnel Rd and go over the bridge follow the road to “Horse Trailer” parking which is just after you go past the horse ring.
