The Nutmeg 40
(formerly The Goodwin Challenge)
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Registration is required by October 8 at 8:00 pm Eastern time.
Please register on BikeReg
The start/end location is Yankee Cider Company, 23 Petticoat Lane,
East Haddam, CT, 06423. The route will be shared with all registrants.
The Nutmeg 40 is a unique 40-mile adventure loop that utilizes the most interesting and challenging public preserves in East Haddam, Salem, and Lyme, Connecticut. The most iconic portion of this loop is the The Goodwin Trail. This is a unique, 13.5 mile linear trail that winds its way through preserved lands owned by local land trusts, municipalities, the Yale School of Forestry, and Nehantic State Park.
Ride begins and ends at Yankee Cider, 23 Petticoat Lane, East Haddam, 06423. Parking, restrooms, and rider meetings at Yankee Cider, then we will complete a challenging and scenic 40 mile loop traversing as-much-trail as possible . You will be very happy to see Yankee Cider upon the completion of the loop… we promise!
Everyone who registers before September 20, will receive a free,
Ronnie Romance designed Nutmeg 40, 2026 t-shirt.
We will ask you for your shirt size in the custom question section
of the registration.
The course is unmarked, a navigation device will be required.
The GPX route will be emailed to registrants the Thursday before
the event.
A mountain bike with sturdy tires and low gearing is recommended.
Sorry no Ebikes
There will be stocked rest stops every 10 miles on the course.
This will be a challenging event for many of us. Please give careful consideration before registering.
In addition to riding off-road on the Goodwin Trail, cyclists will be riding through The Lena Preserve, The Jewett Preserve, The Johnstone Preserve, and many others that will all blend together in a mind bender of a day out on the bike.
The Goodwin Trail, and the other single tracks you will encounter (while 99 percent rideable) are a technical test of your off-roading skills on a bicycle – this is the longest, most remote mountain bike event in the state, and entrants should be prepared for a physical test/challenge to remember. This will be a timed race for those who choose to race, and an all day trail adventure for those who want to take it at their own pace.
Cell service is very inconsistent on the trail. We strongly recommend participating with a buddy or two. We will provide a sweeper who could provide hands-off assistance. Please note that it could take skilled medical/mechanical staff up to two hours to reach you on the trail.
We will host the event in light rain. We will cancel if there are strong storms. Please check the EHLT website and Facebook pages for last minute updates.
Your registration donation will help East Haddam Land Trust preserve land in perpetuity for all of us to enjoy and earn you a 1-year membership to EHLT. Your membership entitles you to advanced notice to our hikes, paddles, and other fun events as well as allowing you to participate in members-only experiences. We are grateful for your help.
Please note that if this event is cancelled for any reason, we will continue to accept your donation to EHLT and not issue refunds. Thank you for understanding this.
Please sign the online waiver form before you arrive.
Please arrive to Yankee Cider, 23 Petticoat Lane, East Haddam, CT 06423 from 7:30am- 8:15am. We will host a short meeting for all cyclists at 8:15am then those who are racing will leave followed by the recreational cyclists.
Comments from past participants:
"If you're looking for a technical and challenging trail race,
this is the event for you! Lots of rocks, roots,
and hills to keep you on your toes." - Dale Matheny, cyclist
"This course is a true test of your riding skills. It’s a peek at
Connecticut’s rocky, punchy, demanding mountain biking trails.
I had an amazing day, the weather was near perfect ...
The volunteers were amazing the organizers made the day great."
- Dr. Singletrax, cyclist
"Wore me down to a smoldering nub." - Fabian Esponda, cyclist
Most of the Goodwin Trail is managed by the Eightmile River Watershed.
Visit https://www.eightmileriver.org/outdoor-recreation/ for information about the watershed
