Sweet like sugar along the river

After watching the fly-fishermen cast into the Sugar River, it wasn't too long before a pair of kayakers crossed under a historic covered railroad bridge while four all-terrain-vehicles rode across it and a mountain bike leaned against it.

If there ever was a multi-use rail trail that gets used by all sorts of outdoor recreationalists it is the 10-mile long Sugar River Trail between Newport and Claremont.

In winter, snowmobiles rule the trail also open to cross-country skiers and snowshoers. In spring, summer and fall, ATVers and motorcyclists share the way with walkers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.

Confession time. I wasn't sure I was going to like this trail. It starts near the horseshoe snarl of traffic in downtown Newport and runs to the construction of Route 11 in Clarement before the start of strip mall city. ATVs are popular on those sunny Saturdays like this one and the thought of having dust appetizers was not appealing. But as I pedal my petroleum based mountain bike with my petroleum based shoes, I can't get too preachy about the environmental impacts of one group of riders versus another. Truth is, if I'm ever in a jam on the trail, in the mountains or in the woods, and an ATV or snowmobile is the quickest way for EMT's to drag my sorry butt to the hospital, please do it. And those snowmobile clubs are largely responsible for much-needed bridges and trail upkeep.

But I can get preachy about trail courtesy.

And on this day, everybody got along. Seems everybody waved and the motorized vehicles slowed down for the bicycles and walkers, not kicking up much dust to eat.

The trail is an abandoned section of the Claremont-Concord Railroad which parallels the winding Sugar River. Along the way were two nearly 100-year-old covered railroad bridges, iron truss and girder bridges and wooden bridges by the hardwoods and hemlock. The flat stretch was easy riding for ATVers while bicyclists had to contend with a myriad of surfaces from gravel to ballast to fishtailing sand as farm, field, distant hills and good long legs with the river went by. Kayakers like the Sugar in spring, a Class II river with a Class III plunge called Sweet Tooth Rapids.

Don't be fooled by the propane tanks near the trail start in Newport. Soon enough the trail followed the river, crossed over bridges, passed the orange gates and entered the shade of the pines. Snowmobile signs were still posted on trees, like about 2 miles into the ride, where a sign pointed the way to Goshen and Sunapee. The trail plunged to the right and smack onto a bridge built in 2001 by the Twin Ridge Mountaineers Snowmobile Club. It's worth a look.

The roar of the rapids and whistle of the wind can be heard at bends in the river or when stopping on one of the dozen or so bridges along the way. Near the halfway point the trail went under Route 11 and by a field inhabited by geese.

The first covered bridge was ridden across about a mile later, before the trail shares space with a dirt road for a spell. The bridge was dark, no lights. But light does filter through, casting its luminescence on the wooden planking. Think muted disco glitter ball.

Riding the road, mountain bikers have a choice. Stay on the right side and tackle some washboard, or head over to the snowmobile trail on the left and try the rocks and leftover rail ties. Both ways lead to the same point as the trail winds by horses behind fences.

The trail passed through another covered bridge and by vistas of fields and hills before ending at yet another orange gate in Claremont. Better riders can do an out-and-back ride totaling 20 miles between the Belknap Street start in Newport and Claremont. Cyclists looking to not ride as far to see the covered bridges can start the ride under the Route 11 bridge in Kelleyville between Newport and Claremont.

It is, as grandma used to say, sweet like sugar.

(Marty Basch can be reached at rodeman@aol.com.)