Rabbit Run Rail Bed, North Dana Depot, Soapstone Hill Loop (Federated Women's Club State Forest/Quabbin Reservoir)
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 6.34 miles
Elevation: 705 feet
My Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes
Book Time: 3 hours, 31 minutes
Parking: Parking for 10-15 cars at end of State Forest Road.
Hiking Challenges: Massachusetts Fire Tower Challenge 45
Hiking Challenges: Massachusetts Fire Tower Challenge 45
The Hike
Happy post-marching band Sunday! I was feeling exhausted from the October of it all, but it was yet another BEAUTIFUL fall day. After some puttering around the apartment, I decided I'd drive out to the Quabbin, explore Soapstone Hill's fire tower, and then make a few more fire tower stops on the drive back home. I ultimately landed with six on my list, in order:
1. Soapstone Hill (Hike)
1. Soapstone Hill (Hike)
2. Prospect Hill (Hike)
3. Pinnacle Hill (Drive up)
4. Gibbet Hill (Hike)
5. Robbins Hill (Drive up)
6. Billerica Tower (Drive past)
I got out of my house sometime before 10:00am and had just a stunning drive along Route 2, and it became even more beautiful once I was off the highway. The final bit of drive along State Forest Road was just lovely. There were maybe twelve other cars at the trailhead, taking up all the spots, but there was plenty of roadside parking. I suited up and got right to my hike!
My hike started by turning right onto West Street (there was a "road closed, bridge out" sign in the left direction) and crossing a gate. Per usual with Quabbin Hikes, I was following an old road. I crossed over a culvert and the old road climbed moderately for a moment to a power cut, which wasn't overly scenic, but it was something! I came up to a split and a plaque: "FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS STATE FOREST PRESENTED TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SEPTEMBER 13, 1933." I turned left at this plaque to hike through a campsite area. I would camp here!
The old road brought me to the group camping area, which featured a privy and a hand-painted trail sign of the State Forest. The road climbed from here, passing a few more campsites and eventually a yellow gate into Quabbin Watershed Land. The road narrowed at this point, and then even more at a blue arrow that led towards Soapstone Hill, which I would be visiting in a couple hours.
The seemingly unnamed road I was on narrowed again as it existed the State Forest at an old guard rail post. The sides were lined with soft, young pines. It was pretty and there were only a few easy blowdowns to contend with! I followed the trail, easily descending while passing occasional signs of past life in the area (piles of rocks, old sign post, survey pipe, etc.). I meandered over a few larger blowdowns during a more moderate descent, and then the trail narrowed to a messy footpath as it approached a pond.
The pond was still, small, and reflective. I couldn't tell if it was dammed by humans or beavers, as I saw some drainage pipes, but then I realized I was hiking right across the beaver dam AND lodge! There was a beaver sized hole, and I hiked myself right on out of there! I popped back onto a nicer old road at intersection 35-2PT.
There were birds singing all around this junction. I went straight, thinking I was correct, making my way over a wet, grassy clearing, and then I realized I was wrong! I turned around and went on the correct path, which would have been a left coming off of the beaver dam. I was enjoying this hike more than the hikes around Dana Common solely because the roads here are mostly dirt while the ones around Dana Common were mostly paved. There were stone walls on either side of this road, and after a bit I could start to see the Quabbin through the trees!
The road ended at a somewhat paved path that paralleled the shore line, called the Rabbit Run Rail Bed on AllTrails, but I don't think that's officially the name here. The official Quabbin interactive map called it North Main Street. Some information about the rail bed was found on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield,_Athol_and_North-eastern_Railroad.
I followed a spur onto the shoreline of the Quabbin, which was far away from what seemed like the usual banks. I had been reading on Facebook the water had been extremely low. There's also a good amount of conspiracy that Boston is "up to something" with the water, but I'm not overly involved to know anything about that. The reservoir was breathtaking as always. There were deer prints in the sand! It was just so pretty - I missed it out here!
I got back onto the rail bed and followed the pavement, realizing I had no idea where the tower actually was on this hike. Thankfully, it was no more than one minute after I had that realization that I came to the tower! Maybe three minutes after turning onto the rail bed? The tower was more of an observation tower slowly being swallowed by nature. I walked through the crunchy meadow that would no doubt be a tick haven in the spring and summer to check it out. There were old bits of metal roof and plywood on the ground and the base of the tower was fenced-in. There was a small shed at the base, and the lower bits of the stairs had been removed (I guess to prevent curious minds from exploring...).
Back on the rail bed, I was passed by a BUNCH of hikers as I hiked directly into the sunlight (I bought a new visor but naturally it's at home...). My sunglasses did a halfway decent job. I passed a little stone monument in the woods - I always assume these are town boundaries, but it also could just be a property line, or nothing. Maybe the North Dana town line? Unsure. All I did know was that the peeks of the Quabbin through the trees were ridiculously blue, and I loved it! I passed so many stone walls, heard crazy squirrels on the left and loons over on the right! I saw a couple of guys fishing as the trail turned from pavement to gravel. I think this would be even more stunning if/when the reservoir is at 100% capacity.
I passed a duo and came to a point where the trail swung left, but a small trail continued straight. AllTrails marked this point of interest as "North Dana Depot." An older duo was also here, checking it out. They were super friendly. The woman and I talked about how interesting it was how far the rail bed extended into the water, and she pointed out that this asphalt has been covered by water for a long time. There were stone walls marking what I assume are old building foundations or something. It was a really fascinating area to explore. I might need to revisit. I wasn't able to find too much information on it, besides the Rabbit Run rail went through here and this old photo:
An old guided hike by the AMC of the area read: "Join us on this hike offering a spectacular view from Soapstone Hill. The hike includes a section of the abandoned "Rabbit" Railroad bed. The last run of this railroad section was June 1, 1935. We will follow along the Quabbin's shoreline, from where the Old North Dana Depot was situated, to an old observation tower. The hike will continue across the edge of a beaver pond to Soapstone Hill. This hill's elevation of 883 ft, offers a spectacular view of the reservoir. We'll retrace the first section of the trail back to the parking lot. Approx 7 miles, 700' elevation gain, 4-4.5 hours, including break time. You will need trekking poles for a water crossing and waterproof boots."
I made my way back onto the main trail, getting some distant photos of a family of four loons. The main trail (now Monson Turnpike Road) was now marked with a "no biking beyond this point - surveillance cameras in use" post, posted by the DCR and DWSP (Division of Water Supply Protection). I don't think the 1,000 bikers followed that sign. There was a bit of uphill at this point past many post-peak foliage'd trees. I reached the height-of-land at junction 35-5PT and crossed with other logging roads. I made sure to descend on the most obvious-looking one.
I descended, passing some more logging roads and pull-outs. I saw a comical abundance of red and grey squirrels and found myself wondering: "do the red and grey squirrels know that they're both squirrels?" Eventually, the trail leveled out and began to turn as I could make out more water through the trees. There wouldn't be a view of the Quabbin until a bridge that I would turn left at just before crossing (junction 37-2). There were people exploring the wetlands along the shoreline here. I also hiked past a big pile of weird-looking bear poop!
Turning left at 37-2, I hiked along the road bed of Gorge Trail, past a three-tiered beaver pond/dam situation. It was super pretty! The Soapstone Hill trail turned left at an unmarked junction (I could see the nails where the arrow used to be) and continued on a narrow footpath. I was emotionally reluctant to hike uphill, but it was time!
Naturally, I passed a cool stone wall and then came up to this cool rocky pond covered in leaves. Something geological definitely happened here! The trail steeply climbed up the side of the pool and then continued to climb moderately-steeply uphill. I crossed paths with two hikers who did NOT want to let me go first, but I was cranky and stubborn and got my way! The trail entered a zone full of pretty, autumnal oaks as my calves were about to bust. I climbed up one baby scramble to what must have been a former view spur before trees grew in. Another baby scramble led to the main view point, which was simply lovely. There were four people up here chatting away, so I said hello, took a few photos, and continued on my way.
I rambled along the ridge of Soapstone Hill, which was simply delightful! I passed just east of the high point, which was hardly discernable. The trail then began to descend easily and then moderately, but nothing as steeply as the trip up. Everything flattneed out in a younger forest and paralleled the State Forest boundary.
I turned right at an unmarked trail, which connected me back to the State Forest group campground. What a lovely hike! This closed my lollipop loop. I followed the old road to West Street and then continued up through the power cut, which was warm in the sun. I descended and had a wonderuflly easy hike out, passing a "thank you for visiting, please come back soon" sign at the final gate.
I was one of only two cars left at the parking lot. I didn't change since my next hike wasn't too far away. There was a very reasonable number of people on this hike consiering it was a stunning October Sunday, and I would definitely do it again! Now time to drive over to Prospect Hill!
Step-by-Step
- Start hike by turning right onto West Street.
- At split, veer left.
- Hike through campground area, continue straight uphill.
- Cross gate into Quabbin Reservoir land, continue on road, now narrower.
- Follow road all the way to terminus at jct. 35-2PT.
- At 35-2PT, turn left.
- At terminus, turn left onto Rabbit Run Rail Bed/North Main Street.
- Follow to terminus at North Dana Depot, going straight when the trail turns left.
- At North Dana Depot, turn around.
- At jct., turn right to continue on main trail/Monson Turnpike Road.
- Just before bridge, turn left onto Gorge Trail.
- At jct., turn left onto Soapstone Hill Trail.
- Near end of trail, turn right onto trail toward Campground.
- At terminus, turn right onto campground road, closing the lollipop.
- Continue onto West Street, return to car.
No comments:
Post a Comment