Bluebird Hill, Stone Arch, and Russell Bird Sanctuary (Westford Conservation Trust)

Bluebird Hill, Stone Arch, and Russell Bird Sanctuary (Westford Conservation Trust)

Hike Type: ---o- Loop

Distance: 1.55 miles

Elevation: 79 feet

Time: 31 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike 

Okay now my actual probably last pre-band hike! I didn't have enough time for the usual Burns Hill Loop because it was Band O'Ween, but I knew there was a trail network near the school I hadn't checked out, so I drove over there and basically free-wandered! I entered the woods and came up to an open hill with a trail - turns out to be Bluebird Hill. I noticed vents along the hill, so I was thinking it used to be a dump, and the Westford Conservation Trust website includes this funny annecdote: 

"On your right, you will pass the old, capped dump, which residents used to call “Mt. Trashmore,” but at which a resident has erected a sign naming it “Bluebird Hill.” This caring individual has erected bluebird nesting boxes on the dump’s vent pipes and also around the edge of the hill. The birds have taken up residence and one can now observe vibrant bluebird pairs perching on the hill’s grass and weed stems. Also look for red fox hunting mice on the hill."

After descending "Mt. Trashmore," I turned right to rejoin the original path, which looked like an old road grade or pipe line, turns out to be an old rail bed. It was really lovely! The sun was shining through the trees with vast wetlands on the left and woods on the right. This hike already had more views than my Burns Hill Loop, but with that comes many more people (in fairness, I saw maybe 12 max, but still!). 

I came up to the Stone Arch bridge, which had a series of sketchy wooden stairs down to the base of it which offered a lovely view along the Stony Brook and beneath the bridge. From here, I turned around and then took the Bird Sanctuary trail, which was narrower and beautiful. It looped around a mini-peninsula that jutted into the wetlands, with lovely views through the trees. 

My return trip was quick and easy, passing some more people. I caught up to some slow walkers, so instead of following the Rail Trail back to the car, I went back up and over Bluebird Hill and just barely snuck in front of them. It was a lovely, easy, short hike!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike at Russell Bird Sanctuary parking area.

- At jct., turn right to climb over Bluebird Hill.

- At terminus, turn right onto Rail Trail.

- At Stone Arch Bridge, follow stairs down.

- Enjoy view, turn around and retrace steps.

- At jct., turn right onto Bird Sanctuary Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Rail Trail.

- At jct., turn left to climb over Bluebird Hill.

- At terminus, turn left and return to car.

Stone Arch Trail Map

Photo Album

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 2.41 miles

Elevation: 354 feet

Time: 46 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike 

Plot twist - Tuesday was NOT my last pre-band hike! It should have been, but I needed to decompress after a stressful Friday before the football game that night. It was an almost-chilly 58 degrees out. The access trail was covered in deer tracks through the needles and the gently falling yellow foliage was delightfully peaceful. I didn't spook any deer in my usual spot but there were at least a million grey squirrels to make up for it. On the back side of the loop, two GIANT limbs fell off of a nearby tree about 50 feet away from me which spooked me. I blasted off for a second lap with minimal thoughts, and was soon back at the car and making my way over to the high school for an evening of band! and football, I guess...

Step-by-Step

- Start hike at Burns Hill trailhead.

- Cross power cut, turn right at loop split.

- Follow loop two times with optional visit to Heron Roostery.

- When complete, return via power cut.

Burns Hill Map

Photo Album

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 2.39 miles

Elevation: 351 feet

Time: 45 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike 

Possibly my last pre-band hike! This was another quick and easy double-loop of the Burns Hill Conservation Area within the Westford Conservation Trust land. It was a beautiful 65 degrees out with a breeze. The foliage was looking really excellent, with super bright yellows all overhead. The entry spur of the lollipop loop smelled of delicious pines, and once on the loop, I spooked a few deer in the same spot that I have twice before now. There were little foot holes in the leaves where the deer ran away! I made my way up Burns Hill, and followed the trail through the mixed forest. After the final low spot, the forest transitions to fully hardwoods, all of which were full of golden leaves - it was really spectacular. I took my second lap with little brain activity, and then made my way over to the high school for some band!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike at Burns Hill trailhead.

- Cross power cut, turn right at loop split.

- Follow loop two times with optional visit to Heron Roostery.

- When complete, return via power cut.

Burns Hill Map

Photo Album

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 2.44 miles

Elevation: 351 feet

Time: 49 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike 

Back at Burns Hill before band on a ridiculously unpleasant 80 degree day! I was super sleepy and hoping the hike would wake me up (it medium did). My lungs were hurting for whatever reason (probably from the hike this past weekend), which also wasn't pleasant. The roostery/swamp looked drier than ever from the power cut, but I had a wonderful breeze once in the woods. I spooked a deer in the same spot as last week and I noticed the trail was getting much leafier. There were no people nor bugs, except for one gnat at the very end, and I even saw a snake at the end of my second lap!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike at Burns Hill trailhead.

- Cross power cut, turn right at loop split.

- Follow loop two times with optional visit to Heron Roostery.

- When complete, return via power cut.

Burns Hill Map

Photo Album

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 2.42 miles

Elevation: 351 feet

Time: 50 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike 

Back to Burns Hill for some mandatory woods time before marching band! Not much to say about this hike. It was a little warm out and the leaves were starting to change, it was quite lovely! I took a few spider webs to the face and there were some bugs in the low-lying stretches. I did a second lap, got just a little sweaty, and enjoyed an occasional breeze. I spooked a deer in the first low-lying stretch which was fun, and noticed some faded blue blazes in the same area with new pink flagging tape - maybe they're planning to revive an older trail? I had the "hey let's go!" song from My Neighbor Totoro stuck in my head for most of this. A lovely break from reality before band!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike at Burns Hill trailhead.

- Cross power cut, turn right at loop split.

- Follow loop two times with optional visit to Heron Roostery.

- When complete, return via power cut.

Burns Hill Map

Photo Album

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Burns Hill Loop (2x) (Westford Conservation Trust)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 2.64 miles

Elevation: 381 feet

Time: 55 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike 

Now for something completely different! I enjoyed the Grassy Pond loop from last week, but it was time to try a new trail in Westford. This one I tried last week, but didn't see a parking lot. A friend said to just park on the residential road, so I did! Burns Hill Conservation Area within the Westford Conservation Trust. I went in with my normal clothes on since it was a neighborhood and I didn't feel comfortable changing. The entry path was a little overgrown, but it had a sign and a hard-to-read kiosk. Thankfully, it was super nice out!

The trail crossed a stone wall and continued on, with a few old woods roads around. The trail then crossed a pleasant power cut with a large swampy area on the left (which I would latern learn is the "Heron Roostery," and on the right were rolling hills. After the power cut, the loop officially began.

I turned left and followed the semi-regular but faded yellow blazes, which meandered through the woods. The trail eventually dipped to a rocky low point where there were a good amount of gnats buzzing about, and the trail here was a little tricky to follow. There were some narrow boardwalks and then a ferny area with yellowing birches - probably still due to the drought. The trail crossed another stone wall and then zig zagged up Burns Hill, which had a bench at the "summit" (pretty inconsequential). The loop turns left here, but more trails are on the right.

The trail followed the spine of the ridge back down and then turned sharply with the sound of I-495 present for company. I meandered some more, passing another seasonably wet spot (dry on this day), and noticed a sign for the "Heron Rookery" down a side trail - I had to take it! It led me to a viewpoint of the swampy area that I saw from the power cut - no herons to be seen, though. Lots of beaver evidence!

Back on the loop, I took a second lap since I had plenty of time. I got a little sweatier than expected, but I was just happy to be out and about. My brain was mostly off for lap two, and soon enough I was back at the car! I didn't see a single other human - I will definitely be back!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike at Burns Hill trailhead.

- Cross power cut, turn right at loop split.

- Follow loop two times with optional visit to Heron Roostery.

- When complete, return via power cut.

Burns Hill Map

Photo Album

Grassy Pond Lifecourse & Trail (Westford Conservation Trust)

Grassy Pond Lifecourse & Trail (Westford Conservation Trust)

Hike Type: Figure 8 Loop with Spurs

Distance: 1.57 miles

Elevation: 36 feet

Time: 33 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike

Time for something completely different! I simply needed SOMETHING to do between the end of my school day and marching band, so I drove out to Westford in search for that something... I tried a few parks/trailheads I saw on Google and AllTrails, and after some strikeouts (either due to no parking lots or grown-in trails), I landed at Grassy Pond. I couldn't find much information about it online, and the trailhead kiosk didn't have much either, so it was time to wander!

It looked like there was a main trail around the pond and two bonus loops with a few extra spurs to roads. I decided to hike around the pond in the clockwise direction - which had wonderfully soft pine-needle footing. Most of this loop is also a "lifecourse" trail with different exercise stations scattered about. At the far end of the pond, I took the bonus loop, which kind of turned it into a figure-8. There were a couple spur paths to roads that I also took, just to keep moving. 

I passed an old white pine tree (labeled as such) and saw one person with his dogs - I was grateful to only see one person on my little excusion. I eventually did find an online map which showed fewer spur paths than were actually on the trail. I passed a really neat mushroom, continued past the parking lot, and then hit the lifecourse loop before returning to my car. It wasn't a very active hike, but it was nice to move my body! I would come back!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike from parking lot around Grassy Pond traveling clockwise.

- Trail joins the Lifecourse Trail, continue straight.

- At second jct., turn left to do upper loop.

- Hike spurs to roads.

- On original loop trail, continue traveling clockwise around pond.

- At the parking area, continue to travel clockwise, repeating some trail.

- When Lifecourse Trail joins, turn sharply left.

- Follow Lifecourse Trail back to car.

Map of Grassy Pond

Photo Album