Variations A + B avoid the longest hills
(58 miles, 2700 vertical feet,
hill
index 2.9)
Variation C continues on north to the village of Hillsdale, with
hills (70 miles).
Variation D takes it further to
explore quiet roads + hills in the north end
of the valley (80 miles).
For a much shorter route (30 miles) which uses some of the same
roads, see Harlem Valley Rail
to Millerton to Connecticut.
For a much easier route in this area, see Amenia
to Millerton - Rail Trail and Roads.
An option of interest to riders using the Metro North trains might
be to use the "connection" at mile 58 to join the Quaker
Ridge route and finish at the Metro North train station in Pawling
(total 77 miles) or even Brewster (total 92 miles).
Hill climbs: Total vertical climb around 3900 feet.
The longest climb is 550 vertical feet (McGhee Hill / Skunks Misery
Rd). Fortunately the average grade
of this climb is less than 4%, but it starts with a steep 50 foot
section around 9%. There are two climbs around 150-200 feet at
about 7-8% grade. (see Measuring
Hilliness)
Variations A+B avoid the bigger two
of those hills, but keep the steep climb of about 150 vertical feet
at 7-8% grade (just
north of Sharon CT).
Variation C adds about 900 feet
to the total vertical, including a hill with about 400 vertical feet
of closely linked climbing (on North Rd), with much of that at 7-10% grade.
Variation D adds about 1600 feet
to the total vertical, including the steep North Rd hill, and also a
hill with about 230 feet of climbing mostly less than 6%.
Traffic: The main route has about 3 miles of high-speed and/or
high-volume motor vehicle traffic. Also about 2 miles of moderate
traffic;
and about 12 miles of traffic which is more than low, but often less
than moderate. The rest of the road segments often have low
traffic. 4.5 miles are off-road on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.
see [ Road Condition
Reports ] - [ Trip Reports
]
