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October 30th, 2009 by
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
October 25th, 2009 by
East Head Pond/Reservoir
Myles Standish State Forest
Carver/Plymouth, Ma.
October 25, 2009
The Myles Standish State Forest is roughly 14, 635 acres of multy-use land that stretches across Plymouth and Carver. On this Sunday morning, Chris and I drove to one of our favorite hikes near the Carver entrance, East Head Pond, which is also known as East Head Reservoir. This three-mile loop trail around the 92-acre pond begins at the park headquarters where there are maps available as well as any updated information necessary for the hiker.
Myles Standish State Forest
East Head Pond Topo Map
Information at trailhead
Behind and to the left of this information board is the trailhead if you wish to hike it in a clockwise direction as we did.
The trail begins wide and easy and remains an easy walk all the way.
Right away there are views of East Head Pond. On this day it was 62 degrees, no wind and mostly sunny.
East Head Pond looking north
October 23rd, 2009 by
Lowell Holly Reservation
Mashpee/Sandwich, Ma.
October 23, 2009
The 135-acre Lowell Holly reservation is named for its donor, Abbot Lawrence Lowell, and has several hundred native American holly trees, which grow naturally only along the New England coast. Within the reservation, owned by the Trustees of Reservations, are four miles of trails and former carriage roads.
Lowell Holly Topo Map
The year-round entrance and parking area are off Sandwich Road in Mashpee.
Entrance sign on Sandwich Road
There is a small parking area at the trailhead.
Trailhead
October 12th, 2009 by
Jehu Pond Conservation Area
Mashpee, Ma.
October 12, 2009
Just after noon on Columbus Day I pulled into the parking are at the Jehu Pond Conservation Area off Great Neck Road in Mashpee. Jehu Pond Conservation Area is part of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge established in 1995 to preserve and protect the natural resources associated with the Waquoit Bay area. When complete the plan calls for the refuge to encompas 5,871 acres.
Jehu Pond Topo Map
Trail sign
The Jehu Pond Area enters on a wide dirt road. This is the Amy Brown Road which runs for just over a mile through the refuge. There are other dirt roads off the Amy Brown and several trails, some to Jehu Pond and others north in the direction of Red Brook Road. However, nothing is marked, so it’s important to maintain your bearings when wandering the trails.
The Amy Brown Road at the tralhead
October 11th, 2009 by
Eagle Pond
Cotuit, Ma.
October 11, 2009
Eagle Pond is at the heart of the Mary Lowell Barton Conservation Area in Cotuit. It is an area of 151 acres that includes Bell Farm/Little River tract and the Charles Almy Cedar Swamp and Ropes Field. All areas except the Charles Almy Cedar Swamp are connected by trails.
Eagle Pond is a “kettle hole” created by the retreating glacier over 12,000 years ago. It averages 18 feet deep and is fed by ground water, with a half-mile of shore line. Tall pines on the northern half of the Eagle Pond area were once a white pine plantation in the 1700′s with some of the tall trees reserved for British naval vessels. The southern and eastern side of Eagle Pond was once farmland.
Eagle Pond Topo Map
Mary Lowell Barton wass instrumental in placing protections on the land
The Eagle Pond Carriage Path Trail loops around the pond with numerous opportunities to walk down to the water for a better view. I entered from Putnam Avenue, however there are other trailheads that access the area.
Eagle Pond
October 11th, 2009 by
Crocker Neck Conservation Area
Cotuit, Ma.
Octoberr 11, 2009
Crocker Neck is a 97-acre town-owned conservation are in the southwestern corner of Cotuit. It is named for the old Barnstable family that once owned the land. According the the Barnstable Conservation Commission, “The Neck is part of the outwash plain, sands carried south off the melting glacier 12,000 years ago.”
Crocker Neck Topo Map
There are a mile and a half of walking trails on the Neck. On this midday Sunday it took me a little over an hour to stroll from the trailhead to the end of the Tidepool Trail on Popponesset Bay and back.
Trailhead
Most the the trail is open. The hike begins on the Dike Trail which is just a five minute walk to Fullers Marsh.
Dike Trail
Fuller's Marsh
October 9th, 2009 by
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
October 8th, 2009 by
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.
October 5th, 2009 by
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
October 4th, 2009 by
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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