Prospect Hill Fire Tower (2x) (Harvard Forest)
Hike Type: Out-and-back-and-out-and-back
Distance: 2.13 miles
Elevation: 177 feet
My Time: 40 minutes
Book Time: 1 hour, 9 minutes
Parking: Very limited roadside parking on narrow dirt road
Hiking Challenges: Massachusetts Fire Tower Challenge 45
Hiking Challenges: Massachusetts Fire Tower Challenge 45
The Hike
I had a bit of a journey to get to Prospect Hill from the Federated Women's Club State Forest. I initially followed Google Maps, which brought me to the southern end of Prospect Hill Road. The road started at a museum in Harvard Forest, past some old farm land and barns, but the road quickly became single-lane, rocky and bumpy, with potential hazards hidden by leaves. Sure, I probably could have managed it with my CRV fine, but I chose to bail and had a stressful time reversing out of there. I regrouped, and approached it from the north, which was MUCH better way to go. Still bumpy and dirty, but easily passable even in a sedan.
As a quick recap, my plan for the day was to hit up to six fire towers:
1. Soapstone Hill (COMPLETE)
2. Prospect Hill (Hike)
3. Pinnacle Hill (Drive up)
4. Gibbet Hill (Hike)
5. Robbins Hill (Drive up)
6. Billerica Tower (Drive past)
I parked outside the gate, and got to my hike! I passed a forest legacy tract sign, a Harvard Forest sign, and a tick warning sign. The woods were beautiful and flat to start, and it was just beautiful out. The trail/road meandered through the woods in a generally uphill direction, but never uphill enough to get my heart rate up. The road split further along (I stayed right) and paralleled either a logged area or an abandoned field of sorts. I thought about how I want to be able to see a forest like that and be "ah yes a 20 year old regrowth" or something.
Forest Legacy Conservation Land
This Forest Legacy funded Conservation Land is protected from current and future development. Working with the USDA Forest Service and the State Forester, the landowner committed to conserving this land in perpetuity for our benefit and for the benefit of future generations.
This land remains in private ownership. Please respect the landowner's rights.
For more information on the Forest Legacy Program contact:
State Forester's Office
251 Causeway Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1430
www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/forestry
In just under ten minutes, I was at the tower! What a freaking delightful walk! The tower was tragically (and typically) fenced-in. I saw an arrow disc on a rock within the fence, which was a bummer. I walked around the fence clockwise, and found another disc! I guess I have to hike it twice to make both discs count... The arrow discs was USGS and the other disc, a summit one, was Mass. Dept. of Public Works. On the far side there was small view down the power cut towards a town with a white steeple. I wish the tower was open! I wonder why Massachusetts has so many towers without any public access, while Vermont and New Hampshire have almost all of them open?
I made my first return trip and heard some gunshots in the distance (no thank you!), but was quickly at the gate in just over a mile. I gave the gate a boop and made another trip! I played some Pokemon and checked emails along this lovely walk. I hit the top again in just under 30 minutes, and hit two miles right before hitting the gate a second time. I was worrying about not having enough daylight for all of my towers today... We'll see, and at least I have now gotten the two that are furthest from home!
Extra Credit:
I drove from Phillipston to Harvard, MA to find the Pinnacle Hill Fire Tower. The pull-off was heavily posted, but I basically ran to check it out. It was maybe a 20-second walk along the dirt access road to the tower, I snapped a photo, giggled at the porta potty, and got right back in my car and drove away. The walk seemed to be legal, as only the land adjacent on the left (walking in towards the tower) was posted.
Step-by-Step
- Drive to gate from the north side of Prospect Hill Road.
- Start hike from gate to fire tower.
- Repeat.
- Return to car.
Photo Album
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