| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Old Purgatory Trail, Spring Path, Chasm Loop Trail, Charley's Loop, Little Purgatory, Forest Road Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 31, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nearly empty at 10am. Much busier at 3pm, but still space. Parking is free between now and May 13: see https://www.mass.gov/locations/purgatory-chasm-state-reservation
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
At the end of Little Purgatory, there is a small round chamber inside the rock that is accessible by a rock hop; the water is higher than usual, making the little waterfalls pretty, but the rock hop is still of only moderate difficulty.
On Old Purgatory Trail north of the junction with Forest Loop Trail, there is a small stream crossing where one can walk across a short log (if you have a sense of balance) or you can just walk through the shallow mud. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trails are well blazed, with good signage almost everywhere.
If going clockwise on Old Purgatory Trail, at the end, just before it reaches the road, there is a fork - it would be good to have a sign here saying "Trail -->", encouraging people to take the right fork. A little later, 30 ft before it reaches the road, it would be good to have a sign encouraging people to turn right again. The reason for these two signs is so that when hikers emerge they don't have to walk along the road so much. There are orange blazes already, but signs at these two locations would make it clearer. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Allowed, but should stay leashed to avoid accidents on the cliffs. |
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 | Bugs: |
No problems. A few non-biting flies in the Old Spring House. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The Chasm Loop Trail is open for the season, though the ranger closes it when the rocks are wet. The other trails are open at all times, from sunrise to sunset. The water fountain near the chasm entrance is not turned on yet.
Make sure to see not only the chasm, but also the spectacular uprooted tree in the upper part of the loop at the end of the Little Purgatory trail.
The rocks inside "Fat Man's Misery" can be slippery, making it especially tricky to get through when wet (though it was dry today). It's better to enter at the low end. The exit at the high end is on the edge of a cliff.
The slanted rock near the beginning of Old Purgatory Trail is cordoned off for renovation.
There are pools of water in some places on Charley's Loop, but it is easy to go around them. There is water flowing down Spring Path. A few trails are a little muddy right now, but the mud is avoidable.
Print the trail map at https://www.mass.gov/locations/purgatory-chasm-state-reservation |
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 | Name: |
mathbp |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-31 |
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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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