Archive for the ‘Hiking’ Category

Fort Hill

Eastham, Ma.

Octoberr 9, 2009

Steele gray skies this early morning, with temperatures in the high 50′s and calm winds.  Rain was in the forecast, but not until later in the morning.  Off Route 6 in Eastham, just up from the Orleans Rotary there is a sign on the eastern side of the road for Fort Hill.

Fort Hill Topo Map

At Fort Hill in 1653 it was order that a “brest worke” be built to protect against the “numerous wild beasts,” and the Ducth during the Dutch-English conflict. Whether it was built is not known. Gradually the area was converted to agriculture.

Trailhead sign

With the Cape Cod National Seashore and Nauset Marsh to the east, the trail leaves the parking lot heading north.

Fort Hill Trail leaves parking lot

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Bourne Farm and Wing Pond Conservation Areas

West Falmouth, Ma.

October 8, 2009

Fall was in the air as I stepped out to walk the trails around the Bourne Farm and Wing Pond Conservation Areas maintained by the Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries off of Route 28A in West Falmouth.

Sign in front of property along Route 28A

The temperature was in the low 60′s with a slight breeze.  A few cumulus fair weather clouds drifted past.  I parked in the lot at the front of the farm. Before heading back to the trails,  I walked over to the old barn behind the farmhouse.  From there the property overlooks Crocker Pond.

Bourne Farm Faces Crocker Pond

Crocker Pond from barn

A two-lane dirt track leads back behind the farm buildings toward the trailhead. There is a pumpkin patch along the way. In two days there will not be a pumpkin left as they plan a sale.

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Murkwood Conservation Lands

Sandwich, Ma.

October 2, 2009

With free time on this Friday afternoon I thought I might get one more hike in. The Murkwood Conservation Area is nearby and has always been a favorite.

Trail sign on Route 6A

Murkwood Topo Map

The site of a former farm,  the area on the small 79 acrea penninsula off Route 6A in Sandwich has always been an attraction for birds and offers marsh views and views of Scorton Creek.  The trailhead parking has been moved a little more than 100 yards down Route 6A toward West Barnstable just behind the sign. The new lot offers more parking.

New trail entrance

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Indian Lands

Dennis, Ma.

October 4, 2009

The cloudy start to the day was suppose to turn to blue skies by 1 o’clock in the afterrnoon. Believing the forecast,  I got into the truck and drove down to Dennis to a spot I’ve wanted to explore.

Indian Lands Trail sign at Town Hall parking lot

Indian Lands Topo Map

The Indian Lands trails combine to make a 1.3 mile loop that begins tin the far right corner of the Dennis Town Hall parking lot.

Trail begins wide and sandy

The trail from the parking lot begins wide and sandy and follows a small row of power lines to the actual trailhead with is about a five minute walk.

Trailhead

The sign at the trailhead indicates that the trails in the Indian Lands are dedicated to Dr. Norton Nickerson, a benefactor of the area.  The arrows point to the left for the Lady Slipper Trail and to the right for the Nickerson Point Trail. The actual trail forks just beyond the sign.

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Quashnet River Trail

Falmouth/Mashpee, Ma.

Octoberr 2, 2009

After an earlier hike this day,  I drove over to the trailhead kiosk at th Quashnet River Trail off Martin Road. This hike would be different from my earlier walk along beach and marsh. The Quashnet River Area is wooded and a part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Quashnet River Trail Topo Map

The Quashnet River Trail is about a 3-mile loop.  I chose to hike up the western (left) side of the river from the small parking area along Martin Road.  The Quashnet River flows into the Moonakis River, then  into Waquoit Bay and Martha’s Vineyard Sound.

Kiosk at tralhead off Martin Road

The western side of the trail is an old road, wide and easy walking.

Early part of the Quashnet River Trail

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Great Flat Pond Trail

South Cape Beach

Mashpee, Ma.

October 2, 2009

I got an early start on this Friday morning.  Leaving home as soon as the kids were off for school,  I arrived at South Cape Beach by 8:10 am.

Great Flat Pond Topo Map

After a brief stop in the Mashpee Town Beach parking lot for a look at Martha’s Vineyard Sound, I backtracked to the Bayberry Lot across the road from the Great Flat Pond Trailhead.

Great Flat Pond Trailhead

It was about 8:30 when I walked off the road at the trailhead. The brush was still damp. The first 25 feet of the trail is very tight,  almost like no trail at all and with the morning dew still on the leaves,  I was getting wet fast.

First section of trail

Once I was out of the thick brush it dawned on my that there might have been a deer tick of two in those bushes. Just before reaching a plank trail the brush opened enough for me to see. My jeans were freckled with ticks and they were crawling on my arms and fleece pullover.  Great way to begin a hike.  I had to stop for a few minutes and pick them off.

Plank trail over wet areas

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The Knob Quissett Harbor

Falmouth, Ma.

October 1, 2009

I took an hour out of my day on a late October afternoon and drove to Quissett Harbor for walk out to the Knob.

Quissett Harbor & The Knob Topo Map

The sky was mostly overcast on this afternoon.  The temperature was 57 degrees  with a light breeze. The tide was drifting in with several feet yet to rise.

Quissett Harbor

The Quissett Harbor House stands at the entrance to the Knob. According to Quissett Harbor Land Trust, “In 1975, the Quissett Harbor House closed its doors for the last time, truly the end of an era. But, largely due to the generosity of Cornelia Carey, Helen Carey, other members of the Carey family and the work of individuals like Lewis W. Francis, Jr., Quissett did not go the way of developers, as did so many old summer resorts. Cornelia Carey left the outer part of the Knob property to Salt Pond Area Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. as a nature preserve, open for public access. The Carey family made possible the purchase of the central portion of the hotel property by the Quissett Harbor House Land Trust, thus preserving the social core of the old summer community and the historic buildings.”

the Quissett Harbor House a former summer hotel

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Bourne Four Ponds Conservation Area and Town Forest

Bourne, Ma.

Septemner 20, 2009

The Bourne Four Ponds Conservation Area off Barlows Landing Road is named for the four ponds within. From the northeast to southwest they are Upper Pond, Freeman Pond, The Basin and Shop Pond. A fifth outside the Conservation Area across County Road is Mill Pond. The Conservation Area abuts the Bourne Town Forest making the area a combined 280 acres of walking trails.

I spent better that two hours on a bright sunny afternoon strolling through this area. The temperature was in the low to mid 60′s with little wind; a perfect day for a walk.

Four Ponds off Barlows Landing Road

Topo of Four Ponds/Pocasset River

The trails are fairly well marked as you start out on the Pine Trail.  The trail is open and makes its way up the south side of Upper Pond, which at times is visable through the trees. A large rock, deposited by the glacier and a bench mark a trail intersection. Here the Pine Trail continues to the left, not along the more worn path straigh ahead.

Large rock left behind by the glacier

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Talbot’s Point

Sandwich, Ma.

September, 19, 2009

Talbots Point

Talbot's Point Topo Map

It was a beautiful afternoon with the temperature in the high 50′s, clear sunny skies anda light breeze. Talbot’s Point Conservation Area is off Old County Road in Sandwich. The loop trail is about a mile and a half, but there are several side trails worth the walk.

Sandy Trail

Most the the trails are wide, however, there are a few tight paths and in some areas there are roots to watch out for.

There are several marsh views along the trail

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