No Name, Prescott, Swamp, Ponkapoag Paths; Madden Road (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Loopty Loop
Distance: 4.81 miles
Elevation: 377 feet
Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
The Hike
After yesterday's achilles flare up, I planned to take this Cinco de Mayo Monday hike easy. It was a raw, misty, chilly 50 degrees out, and I just planned to hit the Madden Road corner of Ponkapoag with a bonus view of the pond from the cabins. Easy is the key word here! There was only one other car in the parking lot when I started my hike on Ponkapoag Trail, which was in it's green tunnel glory! Really beautiful start.
I noticed some orange blazes at 5322, I think marking the old Prescott Foot Path and whatever the long-distance trail was that traversed the entire park - I need to refresh my brain on the old maps. It was not raining out, but whenever a breeze hit the treetops, plenty of water fell on me. Once back on Ponkapoag Trail, I hiked past some flowering dogwood and some slugs munching on rotting logs. I continued onto Swamp and Duck Pond Foot Paths, the ladder of which had a narrower footbed and passed an EVIL looking road, which was super cool and extra spooky in this weather.
Near the Three Pines Path/Madden Road corner, I noticed someone spray painted "I <3 TRUMP" on a tree, which gave me a lot of pause. One, don't paint trees, period. Two, why are we making the graffiti political? I also struggled with whether or not to take a photo of it, but I do like to take photos and write these entries as more or less a mini-history for the future, and it unfortunately is now a part of the parks history... I guess? I have the photo, and I don't like it, but also no one will probably ever see it because this is my echo-chamber. I don't know. Lots of thoughts!
I was also in a backpack strap crisis - I never know how tight each strap should be (waist, shoulder, chest). I feel like I have to CINCH my waist strap so tight to keep the weight off my shoulders. I'll figure that out someday.
My crises aside, I found some northern starflowers! I did a little loopty loop, working my way over to Duck Pond Proper, which was very full. I wish there was a better viewpoint, but it was still nice. I hiked past a LOT of horse poop on Ponkapoag Path, and then made my way to the dock at the AMC Cabins, which provided a magnificent and spooky view of the pond shrouded in fog - I couldn't see the other side! It was so beautiful and spooky. I did a little victory lap to hit another trail I needed at the cabins and then started my return trip, passing the first and only person of the day!
I loved seeing the old blazes along the Prescott Foot Path. My ankle was feeling 99% fine, with only a short moment here and there of feeling a small sensation. I'm so curious what happened! I soon turned onto No Name Path, and then back onto Ponkapoag Trail to return to my car - it's chicken time!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Ponkapoag Trail (Exit 3).
- Start hike on Ponkapoag Trail.
- At 5322, turn left onto Prescott Foot Path.
- At 5330, turn left onto No Name Path.
- At 5344, turn left onto Ponkapoag Trail.
- At 5371, turn right onto Swamp Path.
- At 5380, turn left onto Duck Pond Foot Path.
- At 5383, turn left onto Three Pines Path.
- At terminus, continue left onto Madden Road.
- At 5374, turn left onto Ponkapoag Trail.
- At 5371, turn left onto Swamp Path.
- At 5380, turn left onto Duck Pond Foot Path.
- At 5383, turn right onto Three Pines Path.
- At 5382, turn right onto Jones Link.
- At 5381, turn around.
- At 5382, turn right onto Three Pines Path.
- At 5385, turn left onto spur.
- At Duck Pond, turn around.
- At 5385, continue left.
- At 5362, turn right onto Ponkapoag Path.
- At 5361, continue on path to shoreline.
- At Ponkapoag Pond, turn right.
- At 5364, turn right onto Swamp Path.
- At 5361, turn right on path.
- At next jct., turn right.
- Back at Swamp Path, turn left onto Swamp Path.
- At 5371, turn left onto Ponkapoag Trail.
- At 5343, turn right onto Prescott Foot Path.
- At 5330, turn left onto No Name Path.
- At 5311, turn right onto Ponkapoag Trail.
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