Started from Rte 188 and headed east on my non-suspension mountain bike. All was well until I crossed Towantic. It was almost impossible to traverse the rusty colored muck which lasted about 100 feet. (worst I've ever seen it) After that it was smooth sailing again. On the return trip I took roads to avoid the muck n' mosquitos at Towantic. All thats needed is a drainage ditch but from what I'm reading its in the hands of a private landowner.
Later I did the short section from 188 towards Kettlletown Rd. Its very rough just after you cross Rte 67 then it improves.
Overall the trail is nice but leave your road and hybrid bikes at home . This is strictly mountain bike terrain. -john

I created a cue sheet for rides I plan to lead on this trail. These are my recommendations. While talking to an equestrian, I got the inside scoop on the private section of the trail. She said that it's owned by a man who does not want to sell it to the state, but he does not mind people riding on this section. Unfortunately every time I have ridden the section, it's underwater, which is why I recommend taking a bypass on the way back. I also recommend bypassing the washed out section near Rt. 67. It's much easier to take Rt. 67 than to ride this rough section of trail.

Directions, Maps, and Parking: Start at the main parking area on Rt. 63. Take Rt. 8, Exit 27 to Rt. 68 West to Rt. 63 North. Go 1 mile on Rt. 63 North. Look for sign “Larkin State Bridle Trail.” From I-84, Exit 17, take Rt. 63 South. Just past Waterbury/Naugatuck line, lot is on right side. Maps: www.bikekinetix.com/images/ct/ mapsct/larkin_bridle_rt.gif or http://www.ct.gov/dot/ and do a search for “Larkin Bridle Trail.” The trail is described on multiple pages, which are included in the book Pathways Through Connecticut. The book may be purchased from the Conn. DEP store. From http://www.ct.gov/dot/, do a search for “Pathways Through Connecticut.” The paved parking lot holds 20 cars. The only other trail crossing with parking is on Riggs Rd. where 8 cars could be parked. In Southbury, parking is available in the CPL off I-84 Exit 15, but requires biking up the steep hill on Kettletown Rd. Off Rt. 188, there are shopping centers with available parking.

Trail Notes: Due to the varying trail surfaces, a mountain bike with suspension is recommended. A hybrid with its narrower, harder tires is likely to give an uncomfortably bouncy ride. From Rt. 63 heading toward Naugatuck, the trail is moderately to slightly uphill until about mile 5.7 (near Christian St.), and then is moderately to slightly downhill toward the end in Southbury. The trail is entirely unpaved with a surface that is cinder or hard-packed dirt. Some trail sections have a washboard surface created by the horses’ hooves digging up the trail. The section between Longmeadow Rd., and Towantic Hill Rd. is privately owned and unmaintained. There is usually water running across about a 0.1 mile section of the trail. Most road crossings are at grade level and have little traffic on them. Some crossings have a moderate climb. Steep and busy crossings are noted. Dogs are permitted, but must be leashed. Mountain biking is permitted.

0.00 Straight Climb hill to reach trail
(easier to walk, than bike)
0.05 Bear left Larkin Bridle Trail
0.90 Cross Allerton Farm Rd.
1.90 Cross Shadduck Rd.
2.50 Cross Wooster Rd.
3.80 Cross Longmeadow Rd.
4.10 Water over trail. Ride through it.
4.25 Cross Towantic Hill Rd.
(Steep climb. Walk bikes up to road,
and down other side.)
4.80 Cross Riggs St.
(Washboard surface on trail. Ride on sides.)
5.70 Trail begins to descend
6.15 Cross Christian St.
(Trail surface changes to hard-packed dirt.)
6.95 Cross Hawley Rd.
7.45 Cross Pope Rd.
8.20 Cross Rt. 188 (watch for traffic)
(Walk bikes up to Rt. 67. Steep and narrow climb.)
8.70 Right Rt. 67 (busy road)
(This bypasses a heavily eroded section.)
9.00 Next left Curtis Smith Rd.
9.10 Right Larkin Bridle Trail
10.20 Cross Jeremy Swamp Rd.
(VERY steep descent to Jeremy Swamp Rd.
Walk bikes!!!)
10.65 U-Turn Trail ends at Kettletown Rd.

11.10 Cross Jeremy Swamp Rd.
(Walk bikes up steep hill to trail.)
12.20 Left Curtis Smith Rd.
12.30 Right Rt. 67 (busy road) at T-int.
12.60 Left Larkin Bridle Trail
(Walk bikes down slope. Steep and narrow).
13.10 Cross Rt. 188 (watch for traffic)
13.85 Cross Pope Rd.
14.35 Cross Hawley Rd.
15.15 Cross Christian St.
15.60 Trail begins gradual descent.
16.50 Cross Riggs St.
17.15 Right Towantic Hill Rd.
(Steep, curvy descent. Control your speed).
(This bypasses the section under water and provides the least climbing to resume the trail.)
17.55 Bear Left Towantic Hill Rd.
(at Longmeadow Rd.***)
17.70 Left Gunntown Rd. at T-int.
18.70 Left South St.
18.71 Next Rt. Hill Rd.
19.10 Left Wooster Rd.
19.15 Right Larkin Bridle Trail
19.75 Cross Shadduck Rd.
20.75 Cross Allerton Farm Rd.
21.60 Bear Rt. Trail to parking area
(Steep descent! Control your speed.)
21.65 Right Rt. 63 parking area

*** If you want the shortest distance back to the trail, turn left on Long Meadow Rd. and go 0.40 miles, then right on the trail. It’s a steep climb with 100 ft. of elevation gain for a grade of 4.7 percent.

We rode the trail October 7th, 2007. Trail surface and conditions varied from compacted stone dust to grapefruit sized rubble and everything in between. In spite of an extended dry spell one section was muddy although this mud was hard packed and didn't create any problems other than dirty sneakers.

In many places the surface transitions from compacted screenings to deep non-compacted screenings (that look just like the compacted ones). The result is a bike that stops without warning.

The trail follows the railbed for it's entire length although a short portion between Route 67 and Curt Smith Rd is mostly softball size and larger rocks. On the return trip we detoured over roads. It's interesting to note that the trail's only crosswalk is being built across Route 67 at this point.

The only official parking lot is on Route 63 at the east end of the trail in Naugatuck although there are impromptu roadside areas big enough for 2 or 3 cars at most places where the trail crosses roads. Many of these road crossings are complicated by not having bridges and often require a steep portage over boulders down to the road and then back up to the trail. Railroad bridge abutments still exist in many places I imagine it wouldn't be too big of a deal to install bridges at these locations.