The Housatonic River runs south out of the Berkshires through the north-west corner of Connecticut, and at Cornwall Bridge it is at its prettiest. The river here is a wide, quick, clear stream running over rocks and under old sycamores, with the hills of the Litchfield range rising steeply on either side. US Route 7 follows it along the valley floor, and the stretch from Falls Village to Kent is one of the most scenic roads in southern New England. Fly fishermen in waders stand in the shallows at the state park nearby, and the Appalachian Trail passes close to the river.
The village is little more than a crossroads, a bridge, a small store and a few houses, but it has the quiet that comes with distance from the big cities. A few kilometres north, the covered bridge at West Cornwall, built in the 1860s and still carrying traffic, spans the river, and it is among the most photographed bridges in the state. The countryside has a rural, slightly scholarly feel, with old stone walls, white farmhouses and a scattering of artists, writers and weekend residents from New York.
The riding is something special by New England standards. Route 7 is a smooth, winding road, running beside the river with wide, flowing curves, and the side roads that climb out of the valley, such as Route 4 and Route 45, are narrower, steeper and more twisty. Autumn is the peak, when the sugar maples go scarlet, and the road is busy with leaf watchers on weekends, so aim for a weekday. Watch for deer, which are plentiful, and for gravel and leaves on the corners. The road is often damp where the river fog settles, particularly in the early morning.
Fuel is not available in the village, and it is wise to plan accordingly. Kent, thirteen kilometres to the south, has a few stations and places to eat, and Torrington and Litchfield are the larger towns to the east. A few kilometres north, Falls Village has a small store and a good cafe. Pack some food and enjoy the river. Late May, when the leaves are fresh and the water is high, is also a wonderful time to be here.