| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cedar Hill, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Crane Swamp Trail, Cedar Hill Trail, Plantation Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 2, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The trailhead is accessed by an unnamed dirt road opposite the old Westboro State Hospital on Lyman Street in Westboro. I was able to get most of the way to the trailhead, but the last several yards were muddy with deep puddles. I have AWD, but didn't want to risk it. High clearance would be fine. I backed up about 75 ft. and pulled off the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The very start of the CST is flooded and muddy. You will need waterproof boots here. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
As noted above, the start of CST is flooded, with a blowdown lying across the muck. No problems on the other two trails. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Only if they love mud! |
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 | Bugs: |
Not yet. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
A new to me little local hill, part of the Charm Bracelet trail system through Northboro and Westboro. I'm glad I still had the waterproof winter boots in the car, as I changed into them to traipse through the initial bog that was the trail. After that, this 1.7 mile loop is less muddy.
Along the way there's a cool abandoned pump station which once served the old hospital. It's wide open and you can go in and poke around.
Just after the pump station, the CHT leaves left and is a proper woods trail (CST is a continuation of the access road). It ascends at easy grades to the cleared (on the ground) summit, which has a couple of bluebird boxes and a kiosk. No views to speak of. I continued over the summit and picked up the PT, which was rocky and muddy. This led me back to the CST, which I followed back to the car.
Not a bad little loop, but I think I will wait until it dries out before coming back. :) |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-04-02 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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