Bluff Mountain (South Peak) (Brighton Town Forest)

Bluff Mountain (South Peak) (Brighton Town Forest)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: 1171 feet
Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Northeast Kingdom Mountain Challenge; Summit Beer Society

The Hike

Back hiking in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom for the first time since the early fall! This day's goal was to hike Bluff Mountain in Island Pond and Gore Mountain from the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, both places that we've previously visited but never hiked. We saw the early morning sunrise colors from the dirt roads, took a pit stop at the blessed porta potty right in Island Pond, and started our hike soon after on the Bluff Mountain Community Trail, which turns into the Bluff Mountain Trail. 

The hike begins in an open, planned forest where all the trees are in rows, which is equally pretty and spooky. Horror films could definitely be filmed there, but also lovely meandering walks in the woods. This section ends at a trail register, and the trail heads into the more-traditional woods. The trail here is gentle with a moderate incline- really nice hiking. We turned left at the junction with the Lookout Trail to follow the Lookout Trail, which to much dismay immediately started descending. The trail dips for a little while, and when it starts to climb it starts to CLIMB. Before we knew it we saw the "CAUTION: STEEP" signs and then we were climbing up iron rungs. 

Thankfully once the steep section was over we were immediately rewarded with a beautiful view of Island Pond (the town and the pond) and the surrounding landscape. We took a break here, had our summit beverages at 6:50am, and enjoyed the view. Thankfully, the bugs did not want to both us at this early hour. Once we were ready, we continued our hike to the junction with the Bluff Mountain Trail and found the summit sign which was just past that in the opposite direction. The hike back to the car was quick and gentle with only a few signs of moose activity and still minimal bugs. Before we knew it the morning hike was over and we were back at the car ready for the next adventure! We decided that someday we want to the whole Kingdom Heritage Trail - starting from the NWR to Gore, Middle Mountain, Bluff, and ending with dinner in Island Pond... someday!

Step-By-Step

• Park at Bluff Mountain Community Trail parking lot on Mountain Road.
• Start hike by following the blue-blazed Bluff Mountain Trail.
• At first junction, veer left to start the yellow-blazed Lookout Trail.
• At jext junction, continue on the yellow-blazed Lookout Trail, and be ready for a steep climb.
• At the top of the steepest climb is a great view of Island Pond, from there continue on the yellow-blazed Lookout Trail.
• At re-junction with Bluff Mountain Trail, turn right to return to the parking lot via the Bluff Mountain Trail. (The summit is slightly away from this junction).

Kingdom Heritage Trails Map

Photo Album

Mt. Kearsarge (South) via Winslow/Barlow (Winslow State Park)

Mt. Kearsarge (South) via Winslow/Barlow (Winslow State Park)

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 2.7 miles
Elevation: 1112 feet
Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 With-a-View; New Hampshire Fire Tower Quest

The Hike

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I was headed up to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont for the weekend and wanted to split up my drive up with a hike. I was between Cardigan and Kearsarge South - and the wonderful people of Facebook led me to Kearsarge! The biggest plus was that it was right off of I-89, so it was quite literally on the way up. The Winslow State Park website says that the parking area closes at 6:00pm, but the same wonderful people of Facebook told me that it's never closed in the warm season. I took the gamble, arrived around 5:00pm and got to hiking!

View from the picnic area at the parking lot.

There were a couple of other cars in the parking lot, and I ran into their group right at the trailhead so I had the whole mountain to myself. I went up the red-blazed Winslow Trail and got quite the workout in! While it's not a long trail, it does get steep. Nothing crazy, but definitely enough to get the heart racing. Rocks and roots make up the majority of this trail, and it vaguely reminded me of the rockier parts of Mt. Tammany in New Jersey. Halfway up there is a rock with a "1/2" painted on which felt equally encouraging and patronizing. 

The first view came just at the perfect time (i.e., when I was questioning my life choices) and gave me the boost I needed. After the first view the trail continues to climb, but more gradually over shrubby slabs. The rhodora were in full bloom and it was a beautiful final ascent, even with the gloomy weather. The Winslow and Barlow trails meet back near the top just before the final summit area. The summit area has expansive views in all directions, a radio tower, a firetower, and finally the summit cairn. It was windy up there so I didn't dilly-dally, but still took time to enjoy the scenery and having the whole summit to myself.

I took the Barlow Trail on the way down which was just beautiful. The biggest highlight was the alpine bog in full spring bloom - just gorgeous. A few more views were to be had,  and I was back at the car before I knew it! This time, however, all the bugs came with me. I've never packed up so fast in my life. The remaining drive to the NEK was spent looking at views off of I-89 and killing bugs in my car. 

Step-By-Step

• Park at Winslow State Park and walk toward "To Trails" kiosk.
• Turn right at junction for red-blazed Winslow Trail.
• Follow Winslow Trail until junction near summit.
• At junction, continue following trail to summit area. 
• Walk past fire tower to find summit cairn.
• When finished at summit, retrace steps back into the scrub to the Winslow/Barlow trail junction.
• At junction, turn right onto yellow-blazed Barlow Trail.
• Follow Barlow Trail back to parking lot. 

Mt. Kearsarge Hiking Map

Photo Album

Mt. Wachusett via Harrington & Jack Frost (Mt. Wachusett State Reservation)

Mt. Wachusett via Harrington & Jack Frost (Mt. Wachusett State Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop-ish Loop
Distance: 5.7 miles
Elevation: 1240 feet
Time: 2 hours, 34 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Wachusett Mountain Redliner

The Hike

Hike #2 of the Wachusett Mountain Redliner challenge! I loved my first hike up and was super excited to get up again. Something different about this hike was that I went after school on a Wednesday. Probably got started around 4:30 and finished around 7:00pm. Once I finish this challenge, I definitely see a sunset hike in my future. Just over an hour drive home, which really isn't that bad. The creator of the challenge patch curated four hikes that cover all the trails in the reservation, so that was my guidance for this one!

 

My hike started at the parking by Stage Coach Road. I wasn't alone due to other after-work hikers and many, many bugs (thankfully this was the last time I would see most people and bugs!). Stage Coach Road is an access road to the wind farm so it's a steady incline and wide wooded road. At the top of the wind farm there's room for wandering, but I headed right into the Stage Coach Trail. The map provided on Facebook has a "bushwhack" cutting across the wind farm, but I decided to hike the whole Stage Coach Trail to Harrington. I wrote bushwhack in quotes because there were a couple clearly defined herd paths cutting through the wind farm.

Once on the Harrington Trail, I headed away from the mountain to hike the short windmill footpath, which was poorly defined and seldom used, and to hike the Dickens Trail. The Dickens Trail was muddy and buggy but very scenic. At one point it crosses a view of a beautiful meadow/bog/swamp/whatever it's called, and at the height of land the trail technically ends and turns into the Mass Audubon property. I turned around at that point, took a few photos of the signs, and made my way back to the Harrington/Stage Coach junction.

 

I continued on the relatively featureless, yet still scenic Harrington Trail until it crossed West Road, which I followed towards Administration Road, and ultimately the Jack Frost Trail, which might be my new favorite trail. It starts through dense rhododendron which were probably a week or so away from blooming, then meanders through a hardwood forest, then climbs steeply, then wanders through a grassy pitch, and then a pine forest to round things out. I never got bored! Also, the Jack Frost Trail is blazed in blue with little white paw prints, which is just a plus.

 

At the terminus, I joined the Mountain House Trail for my final push to the top. This was the first and last time I would see people on this hike, which I was not upset about. The summit is nice once you get past the heavy infrastructure. The views are lovely and it's spacious enough to not be too crowded (as long as the auto road is closed). I contemplated staying for sunset, but I had two more new trails to hit and it was a school night - another time!

 

The return trip started off quickly - Mountain House back to Jack Frost. Just before the steep section of Jack Frost there is a junction for the High Meadow Trail, which I took. High Meadow and Jack Frost are very similar trails in terms of difficulty and terrain. The plus of Jack Frost is the rhododendron, and the perk of High Meadow is its namesake high meadow! I was so happy to see a bench and a lovely view - highly recommend going this way.

 

After the overlook, the High Meadow Trail leads to Echo Lake, Echo Lake Road, and eventually the Echo Lake Trail, which was relatively featureless, but it brought me back to the car! It was another great day on Wachusett and I'm excited to go for my (possibly) final hike of the redline challenge soon!

Step-By-Step

• Park at Stage Coach Rd. Parking.
• Walk up Stage Coach Road.
• At clearing, veer right to continue onto Stage Coach Trail.
• At terminus, turn left onto red-blazed Harrington Trail (aka Midstate Trail)
• At unmarked junction, turn left onto footpath to the Windmill Farm (faint blue triangles and footpath unclear at times). 
• Turn around, return to Harrington Trail, turn left to continue on Harrington Trail.
• Cross Westminster Road and enter Dickens Trail (aka Midstate Trail).
• At approximately the height of land, turn around at the entrance to the Mass Audubon Wachusett Meadow Sanctuary (clearly marked).
• Retrace steps across Dickens Trail and Harrington Trail to original junction with Stage Coach Trail.
• Continue on Harrington Trail to West Rd. 
• Turn right onto West Rd. and follow.
• Veer right onto Administration Rd. 
• Turn left onto blue-rectangle-with-white-pawprint-plazed Jack Frost Trail (appears to be Lower Link Trail on the map, but clearly marked as Jack Frost Trail in person).
• Follow Jack Frost Trail until it's terminus at the Mountain House Trail.
• Turn left onto Mountain House Trail and follow to summit.
• After enjoying the views, return to the Mountain House Trail and then the Jack Frost Trail.
• At junction, turn left onto the High Meadow Trail.
• Follow High Meadow Trail until it's terminus at Echo Lake.
• Continue on Echo Lake Road and then turn left onto Echo Lake Trail.
• Follow blue-blazed Echo Lake Trail back to the parking lot.

Mt. Wachusett State Reservation Map

Map for This Hike

Photo Album

Prospect Hill (Waltham)

Prospect Hill (Waltham)

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 3.1 miles
Elevation: 499 feet
Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge

The Hike

This hike was a continuation in the series "time to get hiking again so I don't die in Vermont next weekend." I've had this on my short list for a few months now, but always ended up going to either the Fells or Blue Hills - not any longer! This was the day! The parking area is right off of the busy busy Totten Pond Road and looks just like a municipal park. It was a little confusing getting started, but I used AllTrails and followed the track to a T and found my way at the "trailhead!"

After walking across the lawn of the park, I climbed what appears to be a sledding hill which had an opening into the woods, which I believe was the Hawks Run Trail. In the woods, the trail was short, steep, and to the point. Looked like an old power cut, ski run, or sled run? Not sure, but it was right up and straight. At the top of the first hill there is a cute picnic area with a view of the tops of trees, which is something! 

Continuing in the same direction (and after taking a breather at the picnic benches), the trail becomes the Hanson Slope Trail, which felt more like a hiking trail than an old ski path. Neither of the trails have had any markings at this point, but they were easy to follow. The concrete water towers were a cool industrial surprise - I walked counterclockwise around the closest one. After a very short road walk, the hike dips back into the woods past a gate on what seems to be the Whitney Trail. At the junction, I turned right to climb again to the radio tower, which seemed like it belonged in a lecture on post-moderism-concrete-industrial-brutalism. Kind of steampunk-y. Either way, I think I missed a view from the Sunset Shelter.

From the tower, I followed the sparsely blazed Ridge Trail that went down into a col before climbing to the magnificent view of the Boston area! I loved this view. There was a second view a little further down, but there were a group of friends there, so I let them be. 

The return trip followed a random network of trails - I just followed whatever the AllTrails recommendation was. There wasn't much to write home about here, but it was a nice walk in the woods. I ultimately ended up on the Malloy Trail, the Bond Trail, and then the Sunset Trail, all which paralleled I-95. The hike ended with a road walk back to the main parking area. I will definitely be back, but will adjust the route to probably add some mileage and avoid some road walks. 

Step-By-Step

• Park at main parking area off of Totten Pond Road.
• Walk to West side of parking lot, follow sidewalk towards the grassy area.
• Cross the grassy area towards what appears to be a sledding hill (Hawks Run Trail).
• Ascend the right side of the sledding hill and follow the steep, defined trail up. 
• Merge with unnamed trail at view with picnic tables.
• Continue along, following the Hansen Slop Trail (not blazed).
• At water tank, travel in either direction (I did counter clockwise because that's what the route I was following took, but I would have rather done it clockwise to avoid more road walking).
• Walk on road for brief moment, turn left at gated road onto unblazed Whitney Trail.
• At next junction, turn right onto unnamed trail and climb to radio tower. 
• I think there's a view at the Sunset Shelter just north of the radio tower, but I did not check.
• Turn onto the Ridge Trail (marked) and follow into the col, climb back up to the view of Boston.
• Descend briefly, and walk along paved road, pass Summer House Shelter, and turn left onto Summer House Trail.
• Cross the road, merge onto Buttrick Trail.
• At junction, turn left onto Barry Trail.
• At junction, turn left onto Blueberry Trail.
• At junction, turn onto Malloy Trail.
• At junction, turn left onto Bond Trail.
• At junction, turn left onto Sunset Trail.
• At road, road walk back to the parking lot. 

Map of Prospect Hill

Photo Album

Ponkapoag East via Fisherman's Beach (Blue Hills Reservation)

Ponkapoag East via Fisherman's Beach (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Spaghetti-Lolloipop
Distance: 8.7 miles
Elevation: 413 feet
Time: 3 hours, 7 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge

The Hike

Longest hike in a while! I started hiking again post-COVID last week, and I really am starting to feel like I'm getting back to normal again. The extra liter of water I'm now carrying around tells me otherwise, but I'm choosing to ignore that. I have been dreading this hike just due to it's proximity to Randolph, where I used to work. I knew the best parking was at the Donovan School, but I did not feel comfortable parking there, so I parked at Fisherman's Beach and added the extra ~1.75ish miles round trip.

 

The Green dot trail around Ponkapoag was lovely as always, and when I continued on the Pipe Line towards 5395 it got a little wet and grassy, but still very scenic. A short walk in the woods led to the bridge that crosses 24, and the next thing I knew I was in uncharted territory (for me). I first did the section of Pipeline that connects 5413 to 24, and it was pretty gross. Swampy, grassy, buggy, and there was a rotting squirrel carcass. Thankfully this turned out to be the worst of the trails on this side. 

 

From there I followed the footpath west of the Pipeline which turned out to be quite lovely, and turned left at the junction to get the short spur-path towards 24. I then realized that "short spur path" was the rest of the Smith Trail and it fully connected to 5425, so I turned around when I felt it was appropriate. I wonder why that section isn't mapped (this turned out to be a theme of my hike today)?

 

Back at the Pipeline I had a beautiful walk to the terminus at I-93, then hiked the Smith Trail. The Smith Trail came to an unmapped junction with one clear path and one overgrown path. The overgrown one was the Smith Path. After getting a little bloody, I turned around and checked AllTrails. This is one instance where AllTrails was excellent - it showed that the more defined path actually connected to the Middle Road, so I wouldn't have to backtrack at all! At the corner of unmapped path and Middle Street was a section of burnt trail - I imagine it's from the past few weeks since it smelled fresh.

 

Middle road was woodsy and easy. I returned to the PipeLine and turned at 5421 for some more easy hiking and discovering unmapped trails. I turned around at 5423 to finish out the Pipe Line. From there I turned at 5414 to hike the trails near Pasture Road. Lots of horse poop, two overgrown baseball fields, and two horses and riders that were adding sticks/limbs/logs to the trail for "cross country practice"... not sure what that meant but I hope they cleaned it up when they were done.

 

Back at 5414, I was feeling tired but really wanted to finish out these trails. I continued towards Meadow Road, passed the Donovan School, and tooked another unmapped trail to connect to the parallel footpath. The next footpath that leads towards Fawn Circle ended up near someone's backyard, so I cut that one short and hit up what I believe to be primarily mountain biking trails next. There were more unmapped trails here, so I did my best.

 

The return trip wasn't too bad, but I was sure feeling tired. My feet were starting to form blisters, but I was so happy to be almost done! I have one more hike around Houghton's Hill that I need to do, and then a few very short "clean-up" hikes to finish the challenge!

Step-By-Step

• Park at Fisherman's Beach
• At 5321, turn right onto Green-dot Acton Path.
• At 5355, continue straight onto Pipe Line (do not follow Green dot). 
• At 5395, turn left onto unnamed path.
• At pavement, turn right to cross MA-24.
• At 5413, turn right to hike short, overgrown section of Pipeline, return.
• Back at 5413, head north and turn left onto unnamed path.
• At next junction, hike for a short distance, return (this path fully connects to the Smith Trail at 5425, however I only hiked a short distance to cover what is officially on the map). 
• At same junction, continue onward to 5422.
• At 5422, turn left onto Pipe Line. 
• At 5425, continue to terminus at I-93, return and turn onto Smith Trail. 
• At next junction, turn left for short distance to continue on overgrown Smith Trail, return.
• Back at junction, continue on distinct footpath (not on map) that will connect to Middle Street/Middle Road.
• Cross Middle Street, enter Middle Road.
• Hike Middle Road until 5422.
• At 5422, turn left to Pipe Line.
• At 5421, hike path to 5423 and turn around (make sure to stay on path, there are unmarked/unmapped trails in this area).
• Back at 5421, turn left to continue on Pipe Line.
• At 5413, turn left towards 5414.
• At 5414, turn left to Pasture Road. 
• Hike Trails around Pasture Road and return to 5414.
• Back at 5414, turn left onto Meadow Road.
• Hike Meadow Road to 5420.
• Just before 5420, there is an unmarked/unmapped path connecting to the parallel footpath, take this.
• Hike remaining trails around the west side of Meadow Road.
• Return back to car via MA-24 bridge, 5395, and green-dot trail.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Five Corners, Raccoon Hollow, Skyline, Wildcat Notch (Blue Hills Reservation)

Five Corners, Raccoon Hollow, Skyline, Wildcat Notch (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Spaghetti Loop
Distance: 3.7 miles
Elevation: 715 feet
Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge

The Hike

 Second post-COVID hike and already starting to feel better! Planned to take it easy and simple today but when I realized how close I was to other trails that I needed, I created a whole mess of a hike, but enjoyed it! Started at the designated parking spot on the map just west of the stop sign on Blue Hill River Road and got started on the Five Corners Path. I did a bunch of wiggling in this section, focusing on the Half Way Path and the paths between Raccoon Hollow and Five Corners, which were clearly seldom hiked and overgrown. 

After my wiggling I was able to keep it simple and took the green-dot trail to the red-dot trail (the easy way up big blue) to enjoy a mostly-empty summit area. I usually skip the Eliot Tower since it's usually crowded, but nobody was up! To my surprise, enjoyment, and dismay I saw smoke from one of the wildfires that burned in the past few weeks. It was definitely cool but also uneasy. The spring leaves were starting to reach their final form of "summer green," and the weather was absolutely lovely. 

I kept it simple coming down by following Skyline South and then Wildcat Notch, did a few of the side trails/triangles, and made it back to the car! My biggest thought during this hike was "the bugs are back" - sung to the tune of "The Boys Are Back" from the hit movie "High School Musical 3." Starting to near the end of my 125-Mile club journey (even though I'm close to 200 miles total). 

Step-By-Step

• Park at pull-off lot on Blue Hill River Road, East of Brookwood Farm near Carisbrooke Road.
• Three trails leave this parking lot, use the middle one located on the west side.
• Ascend to first junction, hike back down to the parking lot and retrace steps back up.
• Hike to 1110 and turn left onto Half Way Path.
• At 1093, turn around and hike Half Way Path through 1110, through Raccoon Hollow Path, and stop at 1143.
• At 1143, turn right onto Houghton Path.
• At next junction, turn right onto unnamed path.
• At junction with Raccoon Hollow Path, continue straight on unnamed path.
• At next junction, hike on overgrown path towards road, return.
• Back at the junction, continue straight on unnamed path up the hill, which returns to the first intersection of this hike. with Five Corners Path.
• At Five Corners Path, hike towards 1110.
• At the junction with Skyline Trail, continue straight.
• At 1120, turn left onto Raccoon Hollow Path. 
• At 1092, Veer left onto unmarked Raccoon Hollow Path (not green, not blue - no markings).
• At 1082, continue up hill on red-dot Raccoon Hollow Path towards the summit of Great Blue Hill.
• Hike Towards 1066 and turn onto Skyline Trail South.
• At 1083, continue on Skyline Trail South.
• When the Skyline Trail has a sharp turn, continue down the hill, away from the Skyline Trail, along the Wildcat Notch Path. 
• At 1093, continue straight on Wildcat Notch Path.
• At 1086, turn right on to Accord Path.
• At 1081, turn right onto Halfway Path.
• At 1093, turn right back onto Wildcat Notch Path.
• At final junction, hike to the terminus of Wildcat Notch Path away from the parking area.
• Turn around, and hike back to the parking area.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Red Dot, Eliot Circle, Skyline South, Brookwood, Accord Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Red Dot, Elliot Circle, Skyline South, Brookwood, Accord Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: 591 feet
Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge

The Hike

Oh boy oh boy! First post-COVID hike. Truly it felt like this day would never come. I remember my first walk after starting to feel better had me feeling like I was 90 years old, but it slowly got easier. From the second I took my first vertical step up the red-dot trail I was in for a journey. I took it slow heading up, and I checked off the side trail that leads to the ski area near 1051 which was a well-welcomed break, and beautiful view. 

I continued my way up to the top thankful that I was (a) not dying and (b) just feeling winded, and not feeling like I was dying. I took the Eliot Circle as a walking break and stumbled upon a couple having a couples moment at the view, so I kept on my way. I headed down the Skyline Trail South for the first time (I've only ever ascended this stretch), and it's much easier to go down this trail than up. At the bottom of the steep climb I turned onto the Brookwood Trail for a wooded descent. 

Then I turned onto the Accord Path which was wooded, pollen-y (I swear I could feel the granules in my body), and very scenic stretch of the hike. It leads to numerous cool rocks, an old pump house (?), some really neat/interesting landscaping (?), and of course crossing the bottom of the ski slopes. 

I made it back to the car in no time, and I was just so happy to be back at it again!

Step-By-Step

• Park at Trailside Museum.
• Start hike at 1023, follow the red dot trail couter-clockwise.
• At 1051, take a detour onto the trail to the Ski Area for a nice view, retrace steps.
• Cross Summit Road to continue on red dot trail towards 1055.
• At 1055, turn right onto Eliot Circle. 
• At 1030, continue on circular trail that is now the Skyline Trail.
• At 1066, Turn right onto Skyline Trail South.
• At 1083, turn right, and immediately turn right again onto unmarked Brookwood Trail. 
• At 1062, turn left and hike to 1081, return.
• Back at 1062, hike down the hill to the road, return.
• Finally, back at 1062, coming up the hill, turn left onto Accord Path. 
• At 1003, continue straight on Accord Path.
• At 1050, quickly hike the section between 1050 and 1002, return.
• Continue hike on Accord Path.
• At 1010, enjoy views of the ski slopes and follow footpath to parking lot. 

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album