Wright's Tower, Red Cross Path, Cross-Fells Path, Middle Road (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Wright's Tower, Red Cross Path, Cross-Fells Path, Middle Road (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Hike Type: Tracing Loop

Distance: 3.81 miles

Elevation: 417 feet

Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation Tracing, 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike 

Okay, with my first few ski days behind me and squeeking in another 4000 footer, it's time to get back on-track with hiking. I always struggle this time of year with motivation since the only place I can realistically hike for more than an hour is the Fells which doesn't always excite me, only hiking for an hour isn't exciting, and getting minimal elevation also isn't exciting. That being said, everytime I go I think "I should do this more!" Thankfully, motivation came in the form of returning tubas to the high school and seeing their production of Cindarella, so I had some time to kill (plus, as per tradition, I'm comically behind on my 52 Hike Challenge hikes for Nov/Dec.

It was a windy afternoon and a chilly 30 degrees. My only goal was to see the view from the tower and then meander on trails that I had not yet meandered - off I go! The yellow trail up to the tower was made up of frozen mud (and two unleashed dogs) and I immediately found myself wishing I had a buff, gloves, and a fleece (instead of the hoodie I wore to school). The view was wonderful, as always, though. I passed some needle ice on the descent via Skyline Trail, and followed the Skyline Trail over to the Red Cross Path, avoiding some confusing criss-crossing unmapped trails and frozen swamps.

I hit a triangle along the Red Cross Path and maneuvered around some more unmapped paths around C5-25 before turning onto the more-rugged Cross-Fells Path. I followed the Cross-Fells for a while, and then eventually made a sharp turn onto the Reservoir Path, which had nice tree views to the Reservoir, which was not yet frozen. I still am wondering about the practicing legality of hiking the paths around the reservoir...

I hiked the network of loopty loop mini-trails around C5-4, which were mostly grown-in, and then made my way over to East Dam Road and the Bike Loop, which had a nice long series of NEMBA bridges. I was starting to work up an appetite! 

Now on Middle Road, the sky was illuminated with wonderful pastels as the sun barely poked through the sun. I made my down some unnamed paths, eventually returning to Bellevue Pond! It was a really nice afternoon in the woods, and now that it was dark at 4:20pm, I made my way over to Sweetgreen in Burlington and then schlepped up to the high school for some theater!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Bellevue Pond.

- Start hike on Quarry Road.

- After D6-5, turn right onto Wright's Tower Path.

- At D6-4, turn left onto Skyline Trail.

- At C6-3, turn right onto Red Cross Path.

- Hike triangle at C6-4, continue on Red Cross Path.

- At C5-25, turn left.

- At C5-17, turn right onto Cross-Fells Path.

- At C5-11, turn left to continue on Cross-Fells Path.

- Hit spur at C5-10, continue on Cross-Fells Path.

- At C5-5, turn right.

- At C5-6, turn left to continue on Cross-Fells Path.

- At C4-9, turn left onto path.

- At C4-8, turn left onto Reservoir Trail.

- Hike network of spurs around C5-4, then continue left on East Dam Road.

- At C5-8, turn sharply right onto Bike Loop.

- At C5-7, turn left onto Middle Road.

- Hike Triangle around C5-14/C5-15, continue on Middle Road.

- At C5-14, continue straight/veering slightly right onto continuation of road grade.

- At terminus, turn left onto road.

- At C6-2, merge and continue onto Middle Road.

- At unmarked junction, turn left and return to car.

Middlesex Fells Reservation Map

Photo Album