Northern Fells Reservoir & Virginia Wood Trails (Middlesex Fells Reservation)
Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 6.73 miles
Elevation: 778 feet
Time: 2 hours, 8 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation Redlining
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation Redlining
Parking: Pulloff on Pond Street at Gate 42
The Hike
Now we're really back at work, because I was back at the Fells killing time while Christien finished up work. It was a beautiful 60-degree afternoon with no clouds and a light breeze. My goal was to hike through the Virginia Wood section of trail and possibly finish up the area around the Fells Reservoir. Parking was unpleasant, as it was a small pull-off on a busy road, but ultimately fine. I wish I brought my long sleeve since I was chilly to start, but was soon completely fine.
In the woods, the undergrowth was starting to sprout! I crossed a neat old bridge on the Crystal Spring Trail, which was blazed in red, and partially coincided with a Historical Trail, which was blazed in yellow. I had to carefully and safely cross Ravine Road, which was busy, and then hiked up a Pipe Line, which was expectedly underwhelming. My windbreaker finally came off since the Pipe Line was on a slight incline, and I didn't realize that I had dropped my phone taking it off! Thankfully, it was only about 50 feet down the trail from when I noticed, but yikes!
There were a few nice woodpeckers near the reservoir as I followed the Wyoming Path, which eventually split and I joined the reservoir, which is really a lovely walk. It reminded me of a mini Quabbin. Some parts of the reservoir were lined with a tarp, which was interesting, but I guess made sense? Maybe those were areas where water was leaking out?
There were a couple of ducks swimming about as I hiked around, high above the land down below. There were a medium amount of unmapped trails around the reservoir, but I was really just planning to stick to what's mapped. I exited the reservoir area eventually and found myself behind a women walking TWELVE dogs?! It looked like a scene out of a movie. Thankfully, she pulled over to let me pass.
I hiked a hanging chad trail that I needed and met a white bird that I hadn't seen before (a white-breasted nuthatch - thank you, Seek!). I managed to cut my arm on a pricker bush and hiked past a little meadow while on the Rock Circuit Connector, which then zig-zagged around some rogue trails that led back to the reservoir.
I needed a few trails around the Fellsway East and Ravine Road, which unfortunately led to a road walk to save miles. It was sketchy, but thankfully I had enough of a shoulder where itw as mostly fine. I wrapped up the Wyoming Path area and then made my way to the Melrose Path/Pine Grove Path area, which involved a lot of wiggling and zig-zagging and one unpleasant road walk. The Pine Grove was my favorite area around here, as it was true to it's name!
My return trip started back on the Rock Circuit Path to the terminus of the Crystal Spring Path. The sun felt amazing on the open slabs, but it was getting chillier in the woods. I realized I was going to finish the Fells Reservoir area, which was exciting! I followed Crystal Spring Path back to Melrose Path, hopped a few blowdowns, hit a few spurs, and voila! I did it!
Now I had to cross Ravine Road again and decided to go for one last road walk uphill to the Virginia Wood road. I had just enough time to hike the network of trails in this small area of the park, the coolest being the Historic Trail. The only information on this area on the DCR map reads: "Virginia Wood, the site of a vanished mill village called “Haywardville,” is now a hemlock enclave featuring a self-guided interpretive history trail."
Wikipedia's "Spot Pond Archeological District" page reads: "The Spot Pond Archeological District is a historic archaeological site near Spot Pond in Stoneham, Massachusetts. It is located in the Virginia Woods section of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, a state park. The district encompasses sites along Spot Pond Brook that were mill sites dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries. At its height, in the mid-19th century the Hayward Rubber Works was located in the area, giving it the name "Haywardville". One of the park's trails runs through the area, and a park pamphlet provide a self-guided tour joining the major remnants of the industries that once flourished there." I also found a lackluster map here.
I'm sure there's a DCR map somewhere, but I have been unable to find it. The trails got a little confusing, but were fun to explore. I ended my hike with my first gnat in my eye of the year! I finished up this stretch of the park also, which felt good, leaving just the main Crystal Spring area, the Spot Pond Reservoir area, the area around Sheepsfold, and the area northwest of the big reservoir. Almost there!
UPDATE FROM THE FUTURE: I found the brochure I wanted about the guided tour in the Virginia Wood - here.
Step-by-Step
- From parking at Gate 42, follow the middle trail.
- At F3-2, continue straight over bridge, following red/yellow blazes.
- At F3-4, continue straight on Crystal Spring Trail (red).
- Cross Ravine Road, continue on Pipe Line Road after Gate 39.
- At terminus, turn left onto Wyoming Road.
- At jct., turn right to loop Fells Reservoir.
- At jct., turn left.
- At jct., turn left.
- At F5-1, continue straight on Hemlock Pool Road.
- At F5-4, turn left.
- At F5-6, continue straight on Jerry Jingle Road.
- At F5-9, turn sharply right onto road.
- At F5-5, turn right onto Rock Circuit Connector (orange).
- At F4-10, turn left onto trail.
- At F4-11, turn right onto Rock Circuit Trail.
- At jct., turn right onto Rock Circuit Connector (orange).
- At jct., turn left.
- At Fellsway East, turn left onto Fellsway East.
- At Gate 50, turn left onto Wyoming Path.
- After F4-7, turn around.
- At F4-7, turn left onto path.
- At terminus, turn sharply left onto Melrose Path.
- At F4-2, turn left onto Rock Circuit Trail (white).
- At jct., turn left.
- At terminus, turn right onto Melrose Path.
- At jct., turn right.
- At F3-10, continue straight.
- At terminus, turn right onto Ravine Road/Fellsway East.
- At jct., turn right onto Pine Grove Path.
- At F3-8, turn left onto Crystal Spring Trail (red).
- At jct. after F3-9, turn left.
- At terminus, turn right onto Wyoming Path.
- At F4-8, turn right onto Rock Circuit Trail (white).
- At F4-4, turn right onto Crystal Spring Trail (red).
- At F4-3, turn left.
- At terminus, turn right onto Melrose Path.
- At F3-7, turn right onto Pine Grove Path.
- At F3-8, turn around.
- At F3-8, turn right onto Melrose Path.
- At Gate 40, turn around.
- At F3-8, turn right onto Crystal Spring Trail (red).
- At Gate 39, turn left onto Ravine Road.
- At Gate 38, turn right (signed: Virginia Wood).
- At F3-3, turn right onto Crystal Spring Path (red/yellow).
- At F3-4, turn left onto Historic Trail (yellow).
- Hike spur, then turn right at F3-5.
- At F3-6, turn right.
- At terminus, turn around and retrace steps past F3-5.
- At F3-3, turn right.
- At F3-2, turn left to follow red/yellow blazes.
- At F3-1, turn right to parking lot.
- At parking lot, turn around.
- At F3-1, turn right to conitnue loop, following yellow blazes.
- At F3-2, continue straight toward Gate 42.
- At Gate 42, complete hike.
Photo Album
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