Searsburg and Somerset
8/7/2024
This is a nine and a half mile ride – out and back, with one steep climb at about mile 6, and the rest a gentle rolling ride on a solid gravel surface.
We parked at the corner of Somerset Road and Route 9, where there was a great place to park.
The gravel road is straight and flat, and grades up gently while paralleling the Deerfield river.
The road is undeveloped, with very little traffic. There are few residences along the way, but not many and no commercial establishments.
You make one right hand turn near a residence with interesting Moose decor.
Just beyond 6 miles out you cross the Deerfield river, and Airport Road on the left, the grade gets noticeable steeper until about mile 7.5, then it grades down most of the way to the upper dam.
Here and there you will see a few trail heads, as this is National Forest area.
Eventually, after about 9 miles, you come to a large earthen dam, holding back Somerset reservoir – with a hydroelectric station, boat launch and other facilities.
You then ride along the pond/pool behind the dam, which has some really beautiful picnic spots for day visitors.
We admired the reservoir for a while. The scenery at the dam site was lovely. Then we turned around and rode back to our truck.
