Isabel Smith Monomoy River Conservation Lands
Harwich, Ma.
October 30, 2009
I was in this area this morning after my original plans fell through and decided to take a walk. It is 77 acres with a trail of one mile and a quarter.
Parking area trailhead sign off Bay Road
Trailhead information
The trails in this area are all open and easy walking. there are some rolling hills, but nothing difficult.
Beginning of the trail
The trails in this area are marked by limbs and branches alongside the path. Just over five minutes into the walk I came to an intersection.
Intersection
This intersection begins the loop hike. I continued straight ahead in the direction of the overlook. Another five minutes and the trail comes to a “T”. The overlook is to the left. Ths is about a 10 minute walk to the overlook which is a high spot that looks down on the Monomoy River, as known as Muddy Creek. There are two large benches at the overlook.
Overlook looking toward the east and Pleasant Bay
The Monomoy River below the overlook
Two benches at overlook
I back tracked to the “T” and continued the loop. The river is visible about 100 yards to the left from the trail, which runs along a high ridge.
Monomoy River thru the trees
Another look at the Monomoy through the trees
As the trail begins to descend from the ridge it forks. This wasn’t on the map, so naturally I took the fork to the left that I guessed went down to the river.
The trail forks
The fork to the left does lead to the river coming out at a small grassy point in the river.
This tree grows at the tip of the small point
As I walked out onto the small grassy point a group of about a half dozen ducks that had been floating lazily to the left let me know that I was interrupting there peace and quiet. They went flying off down the river to the east.
Ducks fly off river toward Pleasant Bay
Monomoy River looking east from point
Monomoy River looking west from point
Back on the main trail for another 10 minutes and you arrive at powerlines. The hike turns to the right and walks along the powerlines for about a quarter miles before returning to the woods.
Trail on the powerlines
Back into the woods
The woods in this area are almost all pitch pine and scrub oak. There are a few white pine and even fewer holly trees.
The loop trail begins its return
The trail winds its way home
This hike took 55 minutes. It was an overcast morning with the temperature in the mid 50’s.
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