Left : Built in the late 1800s and beautifully preserved , St . Bridget Church is part of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish . Right : As far as covered bridges go , the historic West Cornwall Bridge is a long one at 172 feet . Below : It ’ s hard to beat a leisurely scenic ride with a couple of friends .
After riding back across the bridge , we followed U . S . 7 north again to North Canaan , where we had lunch . For our return route south , we made a counterclockwise loop via U . S . Route 44 and State Routes 41 and 4 back to the town of Cornwall Bridge . We enjoyed cruising through the quilted land of farms , lakes , forests , and villages , where there was something new to see around every corner and bend .
South of Cornwall Bridge , we took State Route 45 to Lake Waramaug , which is surrounded by low- lying mountains and picturesque country homes . We circumnavigated the lake on a winding route that included North Shore Road , Lake Waramaug Road , and West Shore Road before returning to SR- 45 . Two state parks adjacent to the 656- acre lake offer plenty of recreation opportunities .
Since the day was growing late , we left the beautiful lake behind and started our journey home . Heading south on U . S . Route 202 , we crossed the Housatonic again near New Milford and backtracked on U . S . 7 to SR- 37 and New York .
Riding along the weaving roads , the cool , late afternoon air was invigorating . As the sun washed the landscape with color , I was glad I had made it to western Connecticut again . Its many beautiful sights and pleasant backroads make for an enjoyable and interesting ride .
Kenneth W . Dahse is a writer and photographer from northern New Jersey and a regular contributor to Rider . Ken has been riding since he was a teenager , and his favorite rides are relaxed multiday excursions .
RESOURCES :
• Connecticut Tourism : CTVisit . com
• Connecticut State Parks : CTParks . com
60 / APRIL 2025 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM