Goodwin Trail Challenge

Goodwin Trail Challenge (October 12, 2025)

The Goodwin Trail Challenge is a registered mountain bike event held on October 12, 2025. Registration is required through BikeReg and includes a donation to East Haddam Land Trust that provides a one-year EHLT membership. Participants must sign an online waiver before arrival. The ride begins at Franklin Academy, 140 River Road, East Haddam, where parking, restrooms, and rider meetings are available.

Course and logistics

The event follows an unmarked, largely off-road loop that uses public preserves in East Haddam, Salem, Lyme, and East Lyme and includes the Goodwin Trail, a 13.5 mile linear trail crossing lands owned by local land trusts, municipalities, the Yale School of Forestry, and Nehantic State Park. The full route is a 45-mile loop. The course is unmarked, so a navigation device is required; a GPX route will be emailed to registrants the Thursday before the event. A mountain bike with sturdy tires and low gearing is recommended. Rest and refreshment stops are planned at Gungy Road, Grassy Hill Road, Darrow Pond (about halfway), and Joshuatown Road; vegetarian chili will be available at Darrow Pond and end-of-ride food is planned at Franklin Academy. Cell service is inconsistent on the trail. A sweeper will be present, and medical or mechanical staff may take up to two hours to reach some locations. The event will run in light rain and will be canceled for strong storms. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

• 45 miles
• 13.5 miles