Tour Opacum

4th Annual Bike Ride for Land Conservation sponsored by Southbridge Credit Union

Ride Details

Routes

Tour Opacum provides bike riders with the opportunity to explore the beautiful towns and countryside of the Quaboag and Quinebaug river valleys, with proceeds from the ride supporting the charitable work of Opacum Land Trust, preserving land across this region.  Choose from one of four routes to explore the Opacum Land Trust service area with a 99.8 mile Full Tour, 48.3 mile Half Tour, a 26.8 mile Quarter Tour or a 2 mile Mini Tour for families and those who just want to take it easy.  

*New for 2020*- based on feedback from our 2019 riders, we will be adding a 5th route that’s shorter than the Quarter Tour, but longer than the Mini Tour (somewhere between 7-15 miles). Check back for updates on the new route soon, or email TourOpacum@OpacumLT.org to let us know you’re interested & we’ll shoot you an email once the route is finalized and map is up.

The longer tours are hilly and offer a great challenge for experienced bike riders while the Quarter Tour and Mini Tour are fine for less experienced or new riders (though the Quarter Tour still has its share of hills!).

All routes are on paved roads and fully marked. Click here to view and download the route maps and cue sheets.

Full Tour

99.8 miles

Take the full tour to challenge yourself and take in the beauty of this region.  The full tour starts at Brimfield Winery, takes you through Wales, Holland and to Sturbridge for your first rest stop at Rapscallion Brewery. Continue up through Brookfield and connect back at the winery for another stop. Then it’s back on the road to Warren, West Brookfield and then a stop at the Flynt Quarry in Monson for a rest.  Now you’re on the home stretch back to Brimfield, where a cold beer, juicy burger, and live music awaits you.

Half Tour

48.2 miles

Enjoy a scenic, challenging Half Tour, which aligns with the first part of the Full Tour. Starting at Brimfield Winery, you’ll ride through Wales and Holland and enjoy a rest stop at Rapscallion Brewery in Sturbridge. You’re halfway back- just continue up to Brookfield and then back down to the winery in Brimfield.

Quarter Tour

26.8 miles

Looking for a good ride to get the blood pumping, but don’t want to over do it? Then the Quarter Tour is for you. Starting at the Brimfield Winery you’ll ride through Wales, Holland, and Sturbridge and then back to Brimfield for a beer and burger- you deserve it! Although shorter then the Half and Full tours, the Quarter tour still includes many of the hills, so enjoy the downhills when you can.

Mini Tour

1.8 miles

Parents with kids or anyone looking for a quick ride is encouraged to register for Mini Tour. The ride is flat and takes you on a short loop around the winery and back.  Mini Tour riders can depart between 11:00 am and 12:30 pm. Ride it once or customize your route length by riding multiple laps! Kids are free, but they must be registered with an adult to participate.

There are 3 rest stops placed so that you’re never more than 25 miles away from a stop, located at Rapscallion Brewery, the Brimfield Winery and at Flynt Quarry, on Upper Palmer Road in Monson. All rest stops have bathrooms and are fully stocked with water and snacks.

Pricing

Full / Half / Quarter Tour

Junior Rides (under 18): $35
Adults (18+): $60

Register

Mini Tour

1 adult and kids: $35
2 adults and kids: $70

Register
  • Free beer or beverage from Rapscallion brewery
  • Free food ticket
  • Swag bag with gear from our sponsors for the first 250 riders
  • Free Event shirt when you register by June 15th

Please Note: Tour Opacum will be held rain or shine. We are unable to offer refunds and apologize for any inconvenience. Your registration is a charitable donation to help Opacum Land Trust with its conservation work.

Online pre-registration with prices as listed is open through July 8th. Prices will increase by $5 with on-site registration.

Ride Registration

  • Registration/Check-in starts at 6:00 am on Sunday morning at the winery.
  • All riders need to check-in, even if you pre-registered and including kids who are riding the mini-route.
    • You should arrive 30-45 minutes before the group departure time for your chosen route* to register (if needed), sign the required insurance form, get your swag bag, grab printed cue sheets and snacks & get ready to ride! We accept cash, check or credit card.
    • Riders who are under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Ride Details

  • The ride starts and ends at Brimfield Winery. The departure times for the different routes are staggered so that we can all come back together for an after-ride party with food, beer, music and games starting at 12:00.  If you’re not back by 12:00- don’t worry, the party will go until at least 4pm!
  • This is a fun ride, it is not competitive or timed.  Set your own pace, enjoy the ride and scenery however you wish!
  • Decide to change your route? No problem- but please let us know so we can keep track of which riders are still out and how late we need to keep the rest stops open.
  • There is a SAG Wagon provided by Southbridge Bicycles for any roadside assistance or bike issues during your ride.
View Event Schedule

Opacum Conservation Properties Along the Tour

  • Stevens Brook / Holland Community Forest, Holland: Full, Half and Quarter Tour riders will pass by part of a 153-acre area that is soon to be conserved through a partnership with the Town of Holland.
  • Plimpton Community Forest, Sturbridge: Full and Half Tour riders will pass by this 281-acre property that Opacum partnered with the town of Sturbridge to conserve as public open space.
  • Rice Corner, Brookfield: This is a 105-acre privately owned conservation property, that Opacum helped to conserve. The Full and Half Tour will pass by it, but please note that it is not open to the public.
  • Dingley Dell, Brimfield: Full Tour riders will pass near-by Dingley Dell, a beautiful 76-acre property owned by Opacum containing a waterfall and enormous glacial boulder.
  • Flynt Quarry, Monson: Full Tour riders will take their last rest at the Flynt Quarry rest stop. Opacum helped to conserve this unique 163-acre property that is owned by the Town of Monson and is open to the public and has a marked trail system, part of which winds through the remains of an historic granite quarry.

More information will be available about these properties and others that Opacum has protected at Tour Opacum. Be sure to check out the Opacum Info Table at the ride.